HAMIGDALOR CONGREGATION AM HAYAM Market Street, Unit C, Ventura, Ca Phone (805) Fax (805) Website:

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1 HAMIGDALOR CONGREGATION AM HAYAM Market Street, Unit C, Ventura, Ca Phone (805) Fax (805) Website: From From The The Rabbi s Rabbi s Study Study JULY June Ensuring the Wall Stands Firm From the Rabbi s Study An ancient rabbinic tale reports of the High Priest who went to the Holy Temple המקדש/) Beitבית HaMikdash) on the very last night before it was destroyed by the Romans on the ninth of Av/Tishah B Av. [NOTE: The Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 C.E. It had previously been destroyed, also on the ninth of Av, by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.] The High Priest prayed and wept, and, finally, he fell asleep, exhausted. In his dream he saw the Temple sway, about to fall over. He placed all his weight against the wall from within, but soon the wall started to sway in the opposite direction. He called for help. A passerby on the outside of the wall saw the Temple shake, and so immediately went and placed his weight against the outside wall. The combined strength of the High Priest from within and the passerby from without supported the wall, and stopped it from swaying. This story speaks to me on many levels. On one level, it shows how we each feel as if we live on the other side of the wall from others. We sometimes make assumptions or even, Heaven forbid, judgments about the life of the person on the other side of the wall, who we do not know. But the story also shows that in so ignoring those about us, we can t help ensure that the walls of our lives do not tumble down, injuring others, This happens in all areas of our lives--as friends, neighbors, fellow congregants. But the story shows how when we regard others as they are--fellow humans traveling through this world who reflect G!d s Divine Image, then we, whether we feel like a religious insider (the High Priest) or not (the passerby), we rush to shore up the walls of each other s lives. But the story speaks to me at this time in the Jewish year as we approach the Holy Day of Tishah B Av not on a personal level but a communal one. We often see Jewish tradition and Jewish life as something we are apart from, and only the High Priests, those most involved, are really doing the job of keeping Judaism alive. However, this story suggests something quite different. Perhaps we should see the shaking wall in the story as the wall of Jewish tradition and Jewish living. From this perspective, we can see that what the Jewish enterprise needs, is everyone--leaders and lay people, the rabbi and the Jew in the pew, cantors and those in the community, those who believe and those who protest; in short, every Jew is valuable and every Jew has their role to play in the maintenance of Jewish life. We need not only to find our Jewish figure who can lead us; we also need to find our Jewish spark within--and keep it lit. It was the great figure of Anglo Jewry, Claude Montefiore ( ) who stated that It was not an ibn Gabirol or a Maimonides...who fulfilled the Jewish mission most truly or rendered the greatest service to the Jewish cause. No, it was the many little continued continued

2 2 Every area where Jews strive to be Jews, who do their part to engage our past and help the Jewish enterprise to move forward, is a holy area, a place of Jewish significance. Jewish communities, persecuted and despised through the ages, who kept alive the flame... Every area where Jews strive to be Jews, who do their part to engage our past and help the Jewish enterprise to move forward, is a holy area, a place of Jewish significance. The Jewish community of Ventura is such a place. And within this community, Am HaYam has a significant, holy role to play. But it is played not merely by the Rabbi or the President, or even by the Board. It is, rather, a joint role, and it is best played when we all work together to build and maintain a vibrant Jewish life. This sometimes means not merely shoring up what we see as an unstable wall, and holding it up temporarily. It sometimes means not waiting until the Romans or some other acknowledged danger is near the wall. Rather, we must build stronger walls with the best materials, and we sometimes can build a retaining wall, or we can move the wall to a better location. However our future finds itself charted, we cannot merely be passive. Rather, we must claim our own stake, our own responsibility, and our own capacity to ensure that the wall of Jewish creativity and the Temple we call Judaism stand firmly. We can create. We can build. Our lives can feel renewed, that is filled with new life, new strength, and new meaning if we but will it. Remember Tishah B Av? Of course. But let us ensure that the walls do not fall a third time. Rabbi J.B. Sacks

3 3 Message from Brenda Rich Greetings: Welcome to the summer months. School may be out but CAH is not. We continue to hold our services on the 1 st and 3 rd Fridays and Saturdays of every month. Our next service will be on Friday, July 6 th at 8 p.m. and Saturday, July 7 th at 10 a.m. During Kiddush on July 7 th, Fran Lande, Adult Education V.P. and chair of the Significant Book club will be spearheading a discussion on Rabbi Akiva, Sage of the Talmud, by Barry W. Holtz. You will not want to miss this most informative discussion. Services continue on Friday, July 20 th at 8 p.m. and Saturday, July 21 st at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 21 st at 8 p.m., Erev Tisha B Av services start at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, July 22 nd Tisha B Av services begin at 10 a.m. Read Rabbi Sack s article to find more information about the significance of this holiday. On July 1 st our Congregational meeting was held and our slate of officers for July 1, 2018 through June 30 th, 2019 was passed as well as the passage of our budget. You will read those results in our August Migdalor. Don t be shocked regarding the information that is contained in the July Migdalor. Believe it or not you will be reading about High Holy day information. The schedule for services for the High Holy days is being published so that you can mark your calendars for these special and very important dates. You will also find a form for apples and honey to fill out and a very interesting article on the importance of your participation in this fund raiser. There is also a flyer regarding S lichot and Break the Fast. S lichot is celebrated on Saturday, September 1 st. It s really important for each one of you to stand up and be counted. To say, Here I am!! I can be counted on! Minyans are needed for every one of our Services. That means we need a minimum of 10 people at each and every one of our Services. CAH is the home of your extended family and needs your support. Come to services!! Help serve and clean up at Onegs and Kiddushim!! Attend and support our fund raising efforts!! CAH is always here for you. And now, please be here for CAH. Shalom, Brenda

4 4 HIGH HOLY DAY SCHEDULE OF SERVICES 2018 S LICHOT (Inauguration of the High Holy Days): S lichot Italian Dinner Saturday, Sept. 1 6:45 p.m. [NOTE: $20.00 per person or $18.00 per person if combined with paid Yom Kippur Break Fast Reservation. See flyer.] S lichot Services Saturday, Sept. 1 8:00 p.m. ROSH HASHANAH (R.H.): Erev (First Evening) R.H. Services Sunday, Sept. 9 7:00 p.m. R.H. First Morning Services Monday, Sept. 10 9:00 a.m. Tashlikh and Reception Monday, Sept. 10 1:30 p.m. or conclusion of services at 4030 Nice Court; Oxnard 93035] R.H. Second Morning Services (and Tuesday, Sept. 11 9:00 a.m. including 9/11 Commemeration) SHABBAT SHUVAH Kabbalat Shabbat Services Friday, Sept. 14 8:00 p.m. Saturday Morning Services Saturday, Sept :00 a.m. YOM KIPPUR (Y.K.): Kol Nidre/Y.K. Evening Services Tuesday, Sept. 18 6:30 p.m. Y. K. Morning (through Torah service) Wednesday, Sept. 19 9:00 a.m. Yizkor (Remembrance of Loved Ones) Service 11:30 a.m. Study Session 4:15 p.m. Y. K. Minchah (Afternoon Service) 5:15 p.m. Ne ilah (Concluding Service) Ma ariv & Havdallah Final Shofar Blasts Bountiful Break Fast 6:15 p.m. 7:25 p.m. 7:42 p.m. following Shofar blasts CONGREGATION AM HAYAM, 4839 MARKET ST. (rear) VENTURA, CA ,

5 5 High Holy Days On Saturday, September 1st Italian- Buffet Dinner 6:45P. M. S lichot Services 8:00 PM Dessert Following All Ages Welcome Community Break The Fast Wednesday, September 19th 7:30 P. M. PLEASE R. S. V. P. By August 27th, 2018 Check Payable To: CAH Mail to: Brenda Rich 4030 Nice Court Oxnard, CA MILITARY NO CHARGE RSVP NEEDED U s h

6 Apples, Honey & More Yes, I would like to participate in the CAH Apples, Honey and More Program. Please return by August 24th. Deliveries will be week of September 4 th. You may pick up orders at CAH September 1st or 7th and 8th after services Name: Phone Number Price: 1-3 Apples and Honey $ 18 each 4 or more Apples and Honey $ 15 each Entire Congregation $ 118 Entire Congregation plus additional Apples and Honey is $ 118 plus $ 13 each additional I would like to order one for the whole congregation. ($ 118) I would like to order an Apples and Honey for the following CAH members: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: $ I would like to order an Apples and Honey for the following non members: Please circle I will Please Name: Pick up Deliver Address: Name: Pick up Address: Deliver Name: Pick up Deliver Address: Please attach another piece of paper for additional orders if necessary. Total number Apples and Honey ordered: at $ each = $ TOTAL $ Please make checks payable to CONGREGATION AM HAYAM and mail to: Ruth Resnick 2578 Neptune Pl. Port Hueneme, CA

7 7 In Honor Of CAH Eva Lowe Remembering June 1943 In Honor Of Eva Lowe IHO all the July s In Memory Of Myra Matlin IMO Nathan Matlin Renee Becker IMO Sydney Becker Elaine Hanig IMO Rabbi Gerald Hanig Myrna Winer IMO Benjamin Weiner

8 8 From the Ways & Means Committee Apples, Honey and More Project Returns Celebrate and Help Others to Celebrate Rosh HaShanah and the New Year! No, this is not a mistake. Yes, it is only July and some of the articles are about preparation for the High Holy Days! We know that you have so many things to think about and do to ensure that the High Holy Day season is meaningful for you and your family and friends. Congregation Am HaYam is again helping you by providing an opportunity to wish others L shanah Tovah ( New Year) with a gift basket containing apples, honey and other goodies. Not only will you be able to send your token of friendship but you will be participating in the tradition of dipping apples in honey to begin the year with sweet wishes and hopes. In addition to symbolizing our hopes for a sweet new year, according to Jewish mysticism, the apple represents the Shekhinah (the feminine aspect of G!d). During Rosh HaShanah, some Jews believe the Shekhinah is watching us and evaluating our behavior during the past year. Eating honey with apples represents our hope that the Shekhinah will judge us kindly and look down on us with sweetness. Each recipient will receive the goodies along with the blessings associated with home ritual, enabling them, with family and friends to express their joy in the New Year. A reminder that this fundraiser will take the place of our tradition of High Holy Day greetings that were published in the MIgdalor in previous years. Each will receive one basket with all the names of those who purchased it attached. A short explanation will also be included. Your gift will enhance one s celebration of Rosh HaShanah and help to raise funds for CAH. Please look for the order form elsewhere in this issue of the Migdalor for costs and other information. For questions, please feel free to contact Fran Lande at fblande@gmail.com or Brenda Rich at brenda.bashful16@gmail.com. Thank you for your participation. (Fran Lande, on behalf of the Apples, Honey & More Subcommittee of the Ways & Means Committee)

9 Mondays with Mort 9 During the month of July there WILL BE sessions of Mondays With Mort at CAH at 10:30 AM every Monday except on Monday, July 16th. Everyone is invited to join us as we continue with the Book of Numbers (BaMidbar). Question of the Month: Who made sure to circumcise his children as long as his father was alive, but not after his father s death? The answer can be found at doyouknow.htm, Also be sure to check out the entire Mondays with Mort web site at and the CAH web site at Mort Remember!!!!!! SCRIP = GIFT CARDS Purchasing scrip means buying gift cards!! CAH can meet all your needs: Markets; Restaurants; Dept. Stores; Entertainment; Gas Cards; Brent s Deli; Ventura Kosher Market and more Contact Brenda Brenda.bashful16@gmail.com

10 10 JULY s Mort Resnick 7 Lee Rothschild 13 Elaine Hanig 14 Donna Gustafson 15 Brenda Rich 16 Norma Van Riper 16 Judy Margolis 20 Eva Lowe 21 Joanne Glick 23 Alma Golden 27 Cantor Maurice Glick 28 Roz Resnick 28 Bev Rosen 30 JULY Anniversaries Brenda & Arnie Rich 3 Sydell & Bernie Bubman 3 Judye & Rick Newberger 14 Janice & Amnon Aharon-Ezer 16 If your birthday or anniversary is not acknowledged please me at bfrosen@gmail.com

11 11 SIGNIFICANT BOOK CLUB POSTPONED DUE TO ILLNESS RESCHEDULED TO SATURDAY, AUGUST 4TH SIGNIFICANT BOOK CLUB The final book for this series will be Rabbi Akiva: Sage of The Talmud by Barry W. Holtz. This is a compelling and lucid account of the life and teachings of a founder of rabbinic Judaism and one of the most beloved heroes of Jewish history. Drawing on the latest historical and literary scholarship, this book goes beyond older biographies, untangling a complex assortment of ancient sources to present a clear and nuanced portrait of Talmudic hero, Rabbi Akiva. The discussion will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 after Shabbat Services. Participants will get food from the kiddush and then sit down to discuss this important book. All are welcome, even if you have not read the book. The book can be purchased at the following link: Akiva Book Link: with the following 40% Off Discount Code: AKIVA. Additionally, the book can be bought on Amazon, using Amazon smile of course. As participants in Jewish Lives, we will again have access to their phenomenal resources, including a reading guide and a recording of the live stream/ recording of the author discussing the book. The Akiva Reading Guide: The recording of the live event can also be found at the site. For more information, please contact Fran Lande, Adult Education Chair, at fblande@gmail.com..

12 12 Food Share Collection Food Share The Good News and the BETTER News The good news is Food Share came and emptied an entire barrel of non-perishable food donated by members of CAH. The BETTER news is that the barrel is again empty, sitting in the lobby, and waiting for more of your donations! Please take a paper bag and return it full of non-perishable foodstuffs to help the one in six people of Ventura County who are food insecure. Let this be your first Mitzvah of the New Year! A Community of Caring We are a family, and sometimes our members need to know there are people who are concerned about them. If you or someone you know in the CAH family is ill, bereaved or in need of consolation, condolence or acknowledgement of a happy event, please contact Brenda Rich so she can alert our volunteers who will reach out to offer a caring voice or helping hand.

13 13 Get Well Bob Packer Sheila Myles Fran Lande Gail Packer Irv Jacobs Arnie Rich Nancy Stein Donna Gustafson Jerry Cordova Judith Jacobson Judye Newberger Steven Karash Eva Lowe Norma Van Riper Mort Resnick Dianne Ruthman Fred Rosen Ann Sperber Herb Stein Roz Resnick Lee Rothschild Beth Morales Betty Abramson Bruce Irvine Lois Lebman Fil Barton ATTENTION ALL JEWISH WAR VETERANS MEMBERS JWV Post 602 meets in the Veterans Administration Clinic, Recreation Building 22, Plummer Street, North Hills, CA. They meet the 1st Sunday of each month, at 10:00 am and all Jewish Veterans are welcome to attend. Please join us there.

14 YAHRZEIT 14 July 6 Jerome Kattan, Brother of Fil Barton *Nettie Halpern, Mother of Kenny Halpern *Rabbi Gerald Hanig, Husband of Elaine Hanig *Fannie Silberman, Mother of Judy Margolis July 20 Freda Fingerhut, Mother-In-Law of Neill Fingerhut David Perlmutter, Father of Buddy Perlmutter Leon S. Lebman, Brother-In-Law of Lois Lebman Alexis Rothschild, Father-In-Law of Lee Rothschild Hyman Silverman, Father of Phil Silverman Khana Shmidt, Grandmother of Marina Skuratovsky David Cohen, Father of Nancy Stein *Inscribed on Memorial Wall

15 July 2018 Sivan/Tammuz Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Mondays with Mort 10:30 AM Anniversary Sydell & Bernie Bubman & Brenda & Arnie Rich Services 8PM Light Candles at 7:54PM Services 10 a.m. Book Club Mort Resnick Shabbat Ends 8:55PM Mondays with Mort 10:30 AM Lee Rothschild Light Candles at 7:52PM Elaine Hanig Shabbat Ends 8:52PM Donna Gustafson Tisha B'Av Services 10 a.m Brenda Rich Norma Van Riper Anniversary Janice & Amnon Aharon-Ezer NO Mondays with Mort Judy Margolis Services 8PM Light Candles at 7:49PM Eva Lowe Services 10 am Shabbat 8:47PM Erev Tisha B'Av Servic es 8:30 pm Mondays with Mort 10:30 AM Joanne Glick Mondays with Mort 10:30 AM Bev Rosen Alma Golden Light Candles at 7:49PM Cantor Maurice Glick & Roz Resnick Shabbat Ends 8:47PM Ritual Meeting

16 16 PAST PRESIDENTS Mort Resnick Arnie Fingerhut z l Jerry Ruthman z'l Peter Shack z'l Brenda Rich OUR VOLUNTEERS Kiddushim - Brenda Rich Oneg Shabbat -Fil Barton Librarian -- Programming Tributes Telephone Purchasing Yahrzeits Migdalor Sunshine Donna Gustafson Lois Lebman Ruth Resnick Bev Rosen Bev Rosen Webmaster Mort Resnick Publicity Rabbi J. B. Sacks rabbijb@aol.com phone# BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Brenda Rich brenda.bashful16@gmail.com phone# VICE-PRESIDENT TREASURER- Lois Lebman SECRETARY - Donna Gustafson CORRESPONDING SECRETARY-Ruth Resnick WAYS & MEANS VP - Marc Goldman MEMBERSHIP VP - Miriam Mack RITUAL VP - Roz Resnick RITUAL VP Emeritus Milt Rothschild z l HOUSING VP - Neal Abramson IMMEDIATE PAST PRES - Brenda Rich ADULT EDUCATION VP - Fran Lande DIRECTORS Betty Abramson, Andrea Massion Lee Rothschild