SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 7:30 P.M. SOCIAL HALL & SANCTUARY

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1 IN THIS ISSUE: AUGUST 2018 AV/ELUL 5778 three ways to order your prayer books Order your High Holy Day prayer books by August 20 to get them in time for Rosh Hashanah. Please note that Beth Am has only a limited supply to lend visitors. betham.org/hhdbooks Preparing for the HHDs with Dr. Louis Newman PAGE 2 T H E B E T H A M Summer worship outdoors is a tradition at Beth Am, giving congregants an opportunity to appreciate the natural beauty of our campus. If you wish, feel free to bring friends and a picnic dinner to enjoy before or after the service. To the right is a listing of summer outdoor services and featured congregant speakers. Child care will be available on the playground throughout August; we re also providing special familyfriendly snacks, including yummy mac and cheese! Experience S lichot Film, Discussion and Worship Shabbat Outdoors FRIDAYS, AUGUST 3 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7 6:15 P.M., OUTDOOR CHAPEL* August Speakers Prospective Member Month 3 Tina Kim, Sh ma Groups Representative 10 to be announced 17 Joanna Tasch, recently returned from URJ s Heller High Semester in Israel program 24 Camp Shabbat featuring Zimriyah, Beth Am s youth choir. We will also welcome Alana Green, Beth Am s new Youth Advisor (see page 6 for details)! Dinner is free, but RSVP by August 21 at betham.org/campdinner. 31 Interfaith Shabbat September Speaker 7 Stephanie Martinson *These services will be live video streamed. By entering the Outdoor Chapel, you give Beth Am permission to record you BETH FILY CPING TRIP / PHOTO BY MIKE FRIED Youth Ed Programming PAGE 3 High Holy Days 5779 PAGE 8 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 7:30 P.M. SOCIAL HALL & SANCTUARY Each year, the Beth Am community enters the High Holy Day season on the night of S lichot (meaning prayers for forgiveness ). This year we re screening Brad s Status, a smart, perceptive and poignant comedydrama about the American obsession with success and the toll it can take on one s soul. Brad (Ben Stiller) should be quite content. His devoted wife, Melanie (Jenna Fischer), loves the life they ve built together, and their son, Troy (Austin Abrams), is a talented musician who s likely to be accepted at a first-rate college. Yet Brad, a nonprofit entrepreneur, is racked with feelings of inadequacy. Brad s Status finds a universality in the uncomfortable truths it explores: the human tendency to take stock, especially around middle age, and to compare our lives against both our friends achievements and our youthful visions of our future selves. Following the film, Rabbi Marder will lead a discussion of how its themes relate to the High Holy Days. Then we ll join in a short S lichot service featuring the beautiful music and liturgy of these Days of Awe. CONTACT US AT (650)

2 Rabbi Janet Marder Life Is Not a Picnic: Spirituality, Religion and Why Both Matter Worship under the trees with our new prayer book, Mishkan HaLev: Prayers for S lichot and the Month of Elul, edited by the Rabbis Marder. Recently I learned an acronym that was new to me: SBNR spiritual but not religious. Historically, and certainly in Jewish tradition, there was no split between these two terms, but these days spirituality most often refers to the interior life what is experienced by our spirit, heart or mind. Religion, usually linked with organized, suggests what is communal rather than personal, fixed rather than fluid, defined by rituals, rules and requirements. Most members of the clergy are used to hearing, I may not be religious in the traditional sense, but I m a very spiritual person. In fact, according to a 2017 Pew report, more than a quarter of Americans now identify in this way up 8 percentage points in five years. There s an implicit hierarchy in this way of identifying oneself, suggesting that spirituality is a higher, more beautiful and satisfying life path than religion. It may also reflect disillusionment with corrupt or abusive religious leaders, and with religious institutions perceived as rigid, impersonal or materialistic. People who call themselves SBNR often tell me that they don t find meaning in archaic beliefs and practices or rote recitation of prayers. On the other hand, they consider themselves sensitive to the beauty of nature, highly attuned to the unity of all life, and compassionate to their fellow beings. Forced to choose between rote recitation and a compassionate spirit, I d certainly opt for SBNR myself. But that s never been the choice Judaism sets before us. Our sages created prayers, rituals and sacred practices designed to break us open spiritually to make us cry, to lift us up to joy, to connect us with others and also to make us think, to disturb us, challenge us and impel us to act. No one would deny that organized religion can be spiritually barren frustrating, ridiculous or offensive. For example, Rev. Lillian Daniels, a Congregational minister and author of When Spiritual but Not Religious Is Not Enough (2013), derides touchdown theology a primitive, chauvinistic way of thinking that imagines God is sitting up in Heaven on a Barcalounger, with a beer, a bratwurst and a Bronco s jersey, handing out touchdowns to the team He prefers. Similarly, spirituality not anchored in a religious tradition often devolves into a kind of shallow selfsatisfaction. We experience moments of gratitude or awe, we feel at one with the great outdoors, soothed by the sound of the ocean or entranced by the beauty of the sunset. Such moments may be very powerful, and life would be impoverished without them but religion is about something quite different, and equally essential. Religion brings us into relationship with a tradition we did not invent for ourselves. In our religion, Judaism, we study and grapple with a system of spiritual teachings and values which demand something of us righteous and compassionate deeds, continual work on the self, moral striving, resisting temptation, an effort to eat, work and conduct our relationships in a holy way. Religion compels us, again and again, to focus on the gap between the life we re living and the life we ought to live. Religion also brings us into relationship with a community individuals as imperfect as we are, whom we learn to accept, respect and perhaps even to love as we join with them in turning ideals into action. One more thing: life is not all about sunsets, butterflies and the adoring look in a child s eyes. It s also about pain, struggle, disappointment, anger and fear. In those dark times, religion offers us ancient wisdom to contemplate and help us grow. It guides us with time-tested rituals that remind us we re not alone. And in religious community we find fellow travelers who will walk with us through our own dark valley, or sit by our side and listen. The very fact that they are organized stable, enduring, wellstructured allows religious communities to sustain individuals through the most difficult and chaotic periods of their lives. When we need them, others will sing and pray with us, give to us and nourish us, as we will do for them in their time of need. Life is not a picnic, writes Rev. Daniel, and the people who finally dig in and put down roots in one tradition bigger than themselves figure that out. There is a middle ground between the rigidity of touchdown theology and the superficiality of make-it-up-yourself spirituality. It is called a mature faith, practiced in community over time, reasonable, rigorous, real, grounded in tradition, centered in worship, called to serve and free to dream. On Saturday, August 11 we begin the month of Elul a time of spiritual (and religious) preparation for the Days of Awe. May it prompt us to draw closer to tradition and community, hear the call of service, embrace the life we want to live, and reconnect with our dreams. Shabbat Salon with Dr. Louis Newman The Long and Winding Road: Overcoming Obstacles on the Path of Teshuvah SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 3:30 TO 5 P.M., BEIT KEHILLAH There are real physical and psychological obstacles we face when we attempt to do teshuvah (literally turning ; repentance and spiritual return). For example, how can we do teshuvah if we can t find the person we harmed, or the person has died? What fears, habits and ingrained ways of thinking hinder our ability to engage in the work of teshuvah? This session will explore traditional wisdom that addresses these roadblocks and can help us on our spiritual journey towards the Days of Awe. PAGE 2

3 MESSAGE FROM BETH S INCLUDE Committee Can You Help a Child with Special Needs? The Beth Am INCLUDE Committee is proud to report that with the help of our Inclusion Director, Nirit Zandman, we have made a strong start to fulfill our vision of making all aspects of congregational life, especially youth education, accessible and welcoming to every child and teen in our community. To keep our momentum going in this new school year, we need your help. We have students who need a volunteer helper in the classroom. This volunteer position would be approximately two hours per week on either a Sunday morning or Sunday afternoon from September 2018 through May It would entail attending classes and recess with the student and providing support with classroom learning and social interactions as needed. Volunteers will receive guidance from Beth Am staff on specific accommodations and strategies that can be used to support the student. Ideal candidates might have past experience teaching or in special education. The most important qualification, however, is a willingness to help! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Rabbi Miriam Philips at rabbi_philips@betham.org, (650) Thanks for making Beth Am a warm and inclusive community for all our kids. CALLING ALL Kids Who Like to Sing Zimriyah: Beth Am s Junior Choir for Students in Grades K-6 SUNDAYS FOLLOWING SUNDAY PROGR, BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 23, 11:30 A.M. 12:30 P.M., SANCTUARY & SOCIAL HALL Do you have a child who loves to sing? Sign up today! Rehearsals will be held on Sundays following Sunday Program. A pizza lunch will be served. All kids are welcome! Note: If your child will be attending Sunday Hebrew Program, s/he can still be a part of Zimriyah. We will rehearse during the break and choir kids will join their Hebrew class a few minutes late with their pizza lunch. Our first rehearsal will be held on Sunday, September 23 immediately following Sunday Program. Don t miss out on the fun! Sign your child up to participate at betham.org/zimriyah2018. Youth Ed Programs Are Beginning We Are Looking Forward to Seeing You! It s time to welcome your children back to campus! We are excited to see everyone and are looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, growth, friendship and fun. Please note: For the first day of Sunday Program (9/23), non-registered students will NOT be placed in classrooms. Walk-in registrations may be accepted, but please understand that students will not attend class until the following week. Program dates are subject to change. A full program calendar is available online at betham.org/yecal5779. Below are specific program start dates (in alphabetical order): beit midrash, B nei Mitzvah Students Sunday, September 23 camp beth am sessions, 5th-8th Grades Sunday, September 30 civil rights journey, 11th-12th Grades Sunday, October 7 confirmation, 10th Grade Tuesday, September 4 hagigah, 2nd-5th Grades Wednesday, September 5 hebrew program, 3rd-7th Grades Sunday, September 23 Wednesday, September 26 [Individual and group tutoring: first tutoring session should be on or before Thursday, September 27.] lunch and learn, 6th-9th Grades Sunday, September 23 sunday program, Prek-5th Grades Sunday, September 23 PAGE 3

4 Calendar SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY CONGREGATION BETH AUGUST :00 Thursday Morning 2 3 8:30 Bagels and Coffee 4 1:00 BAW Book Club 5:00 Jewish Baby Network: Tot 10:15 Torah 7:00 Adult Modern Hebrew Level A Shabbat in the Park (offsite) 7:00 BAW Board Meeting 7:00 BAW Book Club Service *: Speaker Tina Kim, Sh ma Groups Representative 5:30 BAW Rosh Chodesh 8:00 Volunteer with LifeMoves (offsite) 10:30 Chicken Soupers :00 Thursday Morning :00 Bagels and Coffee 11 6:15 Beit R fuah 7:00 Adult Modern Hebrew Level A :00 Thursday Morning :00 Bagels and Coffee 18 4:00 INCLUDE Committee Meeting (tenors and basses only) 12:30 B Book Club 7:00 Adult Modern Hebrew Level A 7:00 BAW Mah Jongg :00 Thursday Morning :30 Bagels and Coffee 25 7:30 Board Meeting (sopranos and altos only) 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level E 7:30 Executive Committee 5:00 Jewish Baby Network: Tot Shabbat in the Park (offsite) Service *: Speaker Eric Rosenblum Service *: Speaker Joanna Tasch 7:30 Oneg Shabbat (sponsored by Susan and Dana Marks) 5:00 Jewish Baby Network: Tot Shabbat in the Park (offsite) Service *: Camp Shabbat with a Performance by Zimriyah :15 Torah 10:30 B nei Mitzvah Service: Loeb/Makower 10:15 Torah 10:30 B nei Mitzvah Service: Longwell/Longwell 3:30 Shabbat Salon: Guest Speaker Dr. Louis Newman 10:15 B not Mitzvah Service: Prouty/Simon 7:00 Poltava Sing-A-Long Event 8:00 B Breakfast 4:00 Hagigah 8:00 Thursday Morning Service *: Interfaith Shabbat *Prospective Member Shabbat Fridays in August

5 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Weingrod Family Isaac and Serena Weingrod s family has grown during the 10 years they have been members of Beth Am, from the two of them to a family with three adorable young children. The Weingrod family has participated in several youth education programs along the way. The two girls, Adah (9) and Elza (5), were founding members of our children s choir, Zimriyah. They love performing with the choir at Shabbat services and other occasions. Younger brother Ira (almost 2) is often seen toddling around after his big sisters. Outside Beth Am, Isaac works as an engineer and Serena is involved with Blossom Birth. Through Beth Am, Serena serves on the advisory board of the Jewish Baby Network (a joint program of Beth Am and other congregations), which helps new families connect with each other and the Jewish community. Isaac and Adah recently participated in the Beth Am family camping trip, which is a passion the whole family shares. The Weingrod family is in the spotlight as an engaged and truly engaging family who brings so much warmth to the Beth Am community. A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT BACK TO SCHOOL I always liked school, but I was not as enthusiastic about religious school. As I look back on my Jewish education, what I value most are the friendships it helped me to build and the foundation it gave me for connection to other Jewish communities at different stages of my life. I see the same with my kids as they move through high school and college. They seek out their Beth Am friends at their high school. They engage with Hillel in college and connect to former Beth Am classmates when they are home on break. They invite their non-jewish friends to share in holiday celebrations. It is wonderful to see. The value of these connections to Jewish traditions and Jewish friends would never have been apparent to them when they were whining about Sunday school or Hebrew lessons. They may not even be apparent to them now. But they are very clear to us, their parents. The opportunity to build lasting friendships and to create a foundation that will help them be part of communities with shared values for the rest of their lives is precious, indeed. That s why at Beth Am we offer so many ways for kids to engage in Jewish education, from Camp Beth Am to Sunday Program, from learning through service and travel, to learning through theatre, from family learning to Hebrew classes. We package the gift of a Jewish education in many ways because we know the lifelong value of opening that present. L Shalom, Bruce Ives President@betham.org WELCOME OUR NEW YOUTH ADVISOR: Alana Green Dinner & Dessert After the Outdoor Camp Shabbat Service FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 6:15 P.M., OUTDOOR CHAPEL Meet Beth Am s new Youth Advisor, Alana Green, after the Camp Shabbat service and enjoy some dinner and a tasty frozen treat! (Dinner is free, but RSVP by Tuesday, August 21 at betham.org/campdinner.) Originally from Southern California, Alana has been part of the URJ Camp Newman community for years, most recently spending this summer as a song leader and counselor. She is a recent graduate of the University of Oregon, where she was a leader of the campus Jewish community, culminating in serving as Student Board President at Hillel. At Beth Am, Alana will continue to build and strengthen our teen community. We know you ll enjoy getting to know Alana as she shares her gifts with the Beth Am community! *This service will be live video streamed. By entering the Outdoor Chapel, you give Beth Am permission to record you. PAGE 6

6 A POLTAVA EVENT: An Evening of Music SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 7 P.M.; RSVP FOR LOCATION INFO. Listen to the sounds of music wafting through the summer night sky as you sing-a-long to the music of Beth Am s talented trio, Richard, Laura and Diane. Come sing, then enjoy delicious refreshments. This event is limited to 18 participants so sign up soon! Cost is $30 per person. Please sign up by Tuesday, August 21 by downloading, completing and returning the sign up form at betham.org/augsing along with a check made out to Congregation Beth Am with Poltava Sing-A-Long Event in the memo line, and mail to Fred Half, 3679 Ross Road, Palo Alto, CA Reservations are required. This Poltava event is sponsored by Laura and Richard Bloomfield and Diane Stadlen, and held in memory of Michael Stadlen. Poltava events are fun, social gatherings where you can meet new people and connect with Beth Am members. By attending Poltava events, you will perform a mitzvah, helping support our sister congregation, Congregation Beth Am in Poltava, and promote progressive Jewish life in Ukraine. Learn more at betham.org/poltava. Matching Gift Program You might be missing out on free money for Beth Am! Does your employer have a matching gift program? You may be able to double or even triple your contributions to Beth Am! Many Bay Area companies will match charitable donations dollar-for-dollar, or even two dollars for every one you donate. Contact your company s matching gifts program manager to determine whether your donation to Beth Am is eligible to be matched. We receive thousands of dollars per year from the matching gift programs at Google and Apple, but many smaller companies have matching programs too. Some companies have exclusions on religious usage, but Beth Am has certain vital nonreligious funds and initiatives (such as Equal Start and Hunger and Homelessness) that these monies can be directed to. The best way to use corporate matching gift programs is to make your own gift (such as for dues or for Annual Campaign) to Beth Am first, then apply for matching funds from your employee program. That way, your initial portion can be directed anywhere you want, even if the second matched portion has usage exclusions. Your company s matching gift program manager will be able to best assist you in securing the most funding for Beth Am. Take advantage of it! In Jewish community life, and especially at Beth Am, it s not uncommon to hear someone say, May you go from strength to strength when anticipating a new challenge, a new chapter, a new endeavor or a new era. That s why the expression was so perfect for the ambitious new fundraising campaign Beth Am began earlier this year, to fortify our congregational infrastructure, make much-needed facility upgrades and develop innovative programs for the next generation. We are a strong and vibrant 63-year-old community, engaging over 700 people each week in our wide array of programs for all ages. Our campus is overflowing every Friday evening and every Sunday morning with the sounds of kids and adults learning, laughing, praying and singing. Our clergy spend hundreds of hours each year in one on one pastoral care or lifecycle moments with our members. Our congregants engage in acts of tzedakah together, go on retreats together, travel to Israel and participate in social action trips together. We have so much to be proud of. But it s not enough to rest on our laurels and times are changing. Beth Am must continue to evolve as an organization and be poised to respond to the changing needs of the generations to come, who may be seeking different ways to do Jewish. By building up our endowment, increasing our capacity, to assist our clergy in purchasing homes in the area, implementing upgrades on our unique and beautiful campus, and ushering in a new era of innovative programs for young adults and for our members with special needs, From Strength to Strength will better position our congregation to build on our many successes and ensure our strong future. For a full description of the campaign, visit betham.org/fs2s. We are eager to share more about this exciting campaign in the months and years to come, and we always welcome your questions. To learn more, please contact Campaign Chair Loree Farrar at loreelfarrar@yahoo.com or Campaign Manager Mandy Eisner at meisner@betham.org. PAGE 7

7 50% Recycled Chlorine Free Printing CONGREGATION BETH Arastradero Road Los Altos Hills, CA NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #121 CONGREGATION BETH LOS ALTOS HILLS, CA High Holy Days 5779 to access sign up and order forms, visit betham.org/ HHD5779 or call the Beth Am office at (650) All High Holy Day services and programs will be held at the SE LOCATION AS LAST YEAR but with a new name Redemption Bay Area Church, unless otherwise noted. Redemption is located at 105 Nortech Parkway, San Jose, CA 95134, approximately 25 minutes by car from Beth Am. purchase your prayer books: We use Mishkan HaNefesh, A Machzor for the Days of Awe. Beth Am has only a limited supply to lend out for visitors; members should purchase their own set by August 20 to receive them in time for the High Holy Days. Visit betham.org/order5779 for details. ticket orders: Orders for tickets to be mailed must be placed no later than Thursday, August 30. Tickets ordered after Thursday, August 30 must be picked up in the Beth Am office or at the Will Call Box at Redemption. special seating: (disability-related) Contact the Beth Am office. book of memory: The deadline for submission of listings is Wednesday, August 8. The Book of Memory will become available on Yom Kippur Day, Wednesday, September 19. youth programs sign-up for preschoolers through 5th Grade: Register online by Thursday, August 30. Walk-in registrations accepted as space permits. s lichot service: Saturday, September 1, 7:30 P.M. Beth Am Social Hall & Sanctuary (see cover for details) rosh hashanah services: Sunday, September 9, 8 P.M. Monday, September 10, 10 A.M. services for families with young children: Rosh Hashanah: Monday, September 10, 1:30 P.M. Yom Kippur: Wednesday, September 19, 1:30 P.M. teen programs schedules: For 6th-12th graders Rosh Hashanah: Monday, September 10, 10 A.M. Yom Kippur: Wednesday, September 19, 10 A.M. tashlikh: Monday, September 10, 4 P.M., Baylands Sailing Station shabbat shuvah service: Friday, September 14, 6:15 P.M. Beth Am Sanctuary & Outdoor Chapel high holy day food drive: Bag distribution on Rosh Hashanah: Monday, September 10 Food collection on Yom Kippur: Wednesday, September 19 yom kippur services: Tuesday, September 18, Kol Nidre at 8 P.M. Wednesday, September 19: Morning Service at 10 A.M.; Afternoon Service at 3:30 P.M.; Yizkor & N eilah (Concluding) Service at 4:45 P.M. (concludes at approximately 6:45 P.M.) yom kippur afternoon study sessions: Wednesday, September 19, 1:30 P.M. sukkot for families with young children: Saturday, September 29, 9:15 A.M., Beth Am Sukkah simchat torah celebration: Sunday, September 30, 5 P.M., Beth Am Sanctuary shemini atzeret festival/yizkor service & brunch: Monday, October 1, 9:30 A.M., Beth Am Beit Kehillah