April 29, 2017 AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION P.O. BOX 442 SANTA MONICA, CA 90406

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1 Torah: Tazria - Metzora Leviticus 12:1-15:33 Torah Teacher: Rabbi Miriam Hamrell Torah Chanters: Sasha Firman Greeter: Marilyn and Marvin Warsofsky A.T. Receives Rebates From Purchases Through Our Site Double CLICK HERE TO SHOP smile.amazon.com /ch/ AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION P.O. BOX 442 SANTA MONICA, CA THIS SHABBAT 9:00AM Ethics/Mussar Rabbi Miriam Hamrell 10:00-12:15 PM Shabbat Services 12:15 PM - Potluck Dairy Lunch A.T. S 5th SHABBAT AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION 343 South Church Lane, Los Angeles, CA (310) ONE TORAH, ONE COMMUNITY, MANY TEACHERS COMMITTED TO REPAIRING THE WORLD April 29, 2017 Israeli Artist Yoram Raanan s painting of parsha Tazria is depicted. After a woman gives birth and the days of her purification have been completed, she shall bring a sheep in its first year as a burnt offering, and a young dove or a turtle dove as a sin offering, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, to the kohen priest.!1

2 This week we have two parshot: Tazria and Metzora. Tazria is Hebrew for she conceives. Metzora is Hebrew for one being diseased. These parshot deal with the laws of purification relating to childbirth and leprosy. There are two distinct views regarding to the laws of purity and impurity. One is that the laws are based on hygiene and the prescribed purification whether by water or fire is really disinfection. At no stage in the purification is there any prayer to be recited. The sacrifice takes place after purification and is a token of readmission into the camp. The second view is that they are purely religious or levitical. The Scripture passages repeatedly state that the purpose of these laws is to lead one to holiness. These two points of view are not mutually exclusive. As the issue relates to the Sabbath there is both a religious motive (Exod. xx, 11) and a social motive (Deut. v, 14.) Most of the laws of purity and impurity apply only to the Sanctuary and the holy objects connected with it. They did not apply to ordinary life or to persons who did not intend to enter the Sanctuary. God tells Moses to instruct the children of Israel on the rituals for a woman following childbirth. All male children shall be circumcised on the eighth day. And when the days of a woman s purification have been completed she is to bring a lamb not older than one year as a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtle-dove for a sin-offering to the door of the Tent of Meeting to the priest. God instructs Moses on the methods of diagnosing and treating a variety of skin diseases including leprosy. The Rabbis deduced that the laws applied only to one about to enter the Sanctuary who will come into contact with sacred things by Leviticus XV, 31 where it is stated defile my Tabernacle. THE WEEKLY MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT SHOSHI WILCHFORT Shalom Haverim and Haverot! There are so many great opportunities to express your spiritual, compassionate and adventurous aspects at A.T.! After a beautiful Shabbat evening and morning of observing Yom Ha'Shoah, and Sunday Interfaith chanting, etc, we have the Jewish Film Festival on Thursday evening at the Royal Theater; on Saturday we will have a Shabbat dedicated to learning about and helping with mental illness and then on Sunday morning we will participate at the Pan Pacific Park with Jewish World Watch in the March to End Genocide. NEWS FLASH!!! There is time now to reserve your place at our festive Gala on Saturday May 27th and to include a tribute to our great honorees, Kimberly, Judy and Joel and Woman of Valor, Rita. Please join us for an outstanding evening of music, fun, song, food, silent auction, 50/50 drawing, dance and friends. B'Shalom, Shoshi!2

3 We are excited to announce that this year we are opening up the Tribute Book to everyone who would like to honor their loved ones. Take this time to share your feelings and thoughts to all those who are playing or have played important roles in your life. If you have a special photo of your loved one or icon you would like to include in your tribute we would love to include it. This might also be the time to place a special tribute to Rabbi Miriam, Cantorial Soloist Gary, and all the members and friends from Ahavat Torah. You may also share news of an organization with whom you have volunteered. The donation schedule for the tributes are in the reservation forms. If you have any questions, please don t hesitate to contact Linda Badger. If you order a tribute and would like an extra copy of the book to send to your family and friends, please add $5.00 to your request. Dear Fellow Congregants Our Silent Auction is a major part of our fund raising efforts at our Gala. The money we make from the Auction of donated gift certificates helps us with our programs during the year. Coleman Colla, who is in charge of this part of the Gala, indicates that we are a bit behind where we were last year at this time. PLEASE, PLEASE, GET FORMS FROM JUDITH WEINBERGER ON SHABBAT OR PRINT OUT THE ENCLOSED FORMS IN THIS NEWSLETTER TO GET DONATIONS FROM THE MERCHANTS AND SERVICES THAT YOU PATRONIZE. The success of the Gala and the Silent Auction is in each of (your) OUR hands. AHAVAT TORAH IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CHAPLAIN RUTH BELONSKY WILL ALSO BE PLAYING THE VIOLIN DURING SERVICES AT OUR 5TH SHABBAT - THIS SHABBAT APRIL 29TH! Chaplain Ruth Belonsky has Diplomas of Licentiate in Violin Playing from the Trinity College of London,( LTCL) and Licentiate in Violin Teaching from the Royal Schools of Music, London (LRSM.) She has taught and performed as a soloist, and with many Orchestras, at numerous Synagogues and uses her violin to comfort the sick. YOU DON T WANT TO MISS AHAVAT TORAH S 5TH SHABBAT!!3

4 Chaplain Ruth Belonsky MJS,BCC Brittney Weissman Executive Director NAMI AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION SPECIAL 5TH SHABBAT ENDING THE SHAME AND SILENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS! FAMILIES FACING THE CHALLENGES OF THEIR LOVED ONE S MENTAL ILLNESS WHEN: WHERE: April 29th, 1:00 PM Ahavat Torah Congregation 343 S. Church Lane, LA Guest Speakers: Chaplain Ruth Belonsky Brittney Weissman!4

5 COME AND ENJOY A.T. S THURSDAY CLASSES RABBI MIRIAM AT HER HOME TANYA - Time: 11:-12:00 Noon - The Seeker & the Perplexed Study Our Jewish Manual for Ethical Life world and our place within it. The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions about life. It has revolutionized the way we think about God, the human soul, the Time: 12-12:20 Potluck Dairy Lunch 12:20-2:00 -A deep study of the Torah Portion of the week 2-2:30PM - A deep study of the Haftarah Portion of the week Cost: $5 Members; $10 Non-members Come and bring a friend to these fascinating and rare classes. Last week s Torah class AHAVAT TORAH CLASS In the Mid-Wilshire Area Rabbi Miriam Hamrell is teaching a class on the TORAH PORTION OF THE WEEK Date: Wednesday, April 26th, 2017 Time: 10:00AM-12:00 Noon Place: A Private Home Thank you M & Ms for your gracious hospitality for hosting these fantastic classes. Please RSVP to mwarsofsky@roadrunner.com, or pooshieboy@roadrunner.com. Enjoy learning Torah like you never did before! Come and bring a friend.!5

6 THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL Ahavat Torah is one of the sponsors of the Jewish Film Festival. After the film an interfaith panel discussion will occur. Our AT s Jean Katz and Nouria Boutellier from the Musallah Tauhid will give the blessings at the end of the evening. Anyone who wants to join us at 5:45PM for a quick Japanese dinner at AKI next door to the theater, may meet us there. For dinner reservations please contact In this PG-13 adventure Rachel, a Jewish-American doctor, and Jake, a Muslim-American U.S. State Department agent, come together in a perilous quest to solve the mysterious death of Rachel s biblical archeologist brother and stumble onto a conspiracy that could plunge the world into a real Armageddon.!6

7 JOIN TEAM AHAVAT TORAH AS WE WALK TO END GENOCIDE On Sunday, April 30th, 2017 we will be TEAM AHAVAT TORAH as we support Jewish World Watch s efforts to End Genocide. The Walk (5 K) will take place in the Pan Pacific Park between 8AM-12 noon. A generous AT member is providing partial subsidies for AT members who may want to participate in the walk ( $28 registration fee) and find the registration fee a bit high for their budget. Contact Linda Badger if you think you need help with the registration fee. She is coordinating AT's Team and will advise you on how to register on the registration site: la.walktoendgenocide.org. We are hoping for many AT members to join the AT Team on this walk which is the major fundraising activity for the Jewish World Watch. This organization supports many necessary projects in Sudan, Darfur, Chad, and other African countries where genocide is rampant and must be stopped! For more info, you may check the JWW website jww.org.!7

8 YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION S MEMBERS AND FRIENDS FOR OUR BOOK SALON WITH AUTHOR DAVID COOPERSON When: Sunday, May 7, :00-4:00 p.m Jean Katz s home Address will be given at time of RSVP Limited to the First 30 David A. Cooperson, MSW, MA, LCSW, brings you the impressive book, The Holocaust Lessons on Compassionate Parenting and Child Corporal Punishment, an evocative look at corporal punishment on children. Rabbi Miriam Hamrell from Ahavat Torah Congregation will be moderating the discussion. Light dessert and soft drinks will be served. Suggested donation for expenses $5.00 RSVP to lindabadger0713@yahoo.com (310) !8

9 Celebrate Lag B Omer with Ahavat Torah s Bonfire WHEN: WHERE: Sunday, May 14th, 5:00 PM Debra Bonner s Fire Pit in her backyard in West Los Angeles Address Provided Upon RSVP Be a Part of the Evening and Enjoy Good Teaching, Good Friends, Good Music, Good Food, (Potluck dairy, vegetarian) and Fisherman Phil s famous Bouillabaisse fish stew, and AT s Famous S mores RSVP to: Linda Badger (310) or lindabadger0713@yahoo Bring a friend! Join the fun!!9

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12 AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION One Torah, Many Teachers, One Community Committed to Repairing the World IT S A WIN-WIN SITUATION Rabbi: Miriam Hamrell MHL,MAEd Cantorial Soloist: Gary Levine Associate Cantorial Soloist: Kimberly Haynes President: Shoshi Wilchfort Treasurer: Hal Jaffe Secretary: Mary Kalifon Board Members: Sophia Avants Linda Badger Debra Barrath Barbara Burbank Vivian Gold Ben Greenberg Gary Levine Rita Reuben Renee Schwartz Jonathan Troper Andrea Yahudian Executive Director and Newsletter Editor: Linda Badger Past Presidents Judy Kollack Michael Stevens Rena Jaffe Jean Katz Ron Estroff Sid Rosenblatt Blanche Moss Ex-officio Members: Rabbi Miriam Hamrell Charles Hamrell, MD WE PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE PUBLICATION THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT OUR ANNUAL GALA ON MAY 27, YOU DONATE A GIFT CERTIFICATE OR MERCHANDISE TO OUR AUCTION THAT WILL BE HELD THAT EVENING. WHO WE ARE: Ahavat Torah Congregation is deeply committed to Tikkun Olam (healing the world through social action) within the community and the world. This past year, Ahavat Torah Congregation participated in a Thanksgiving Celebration for over 5000 veterans and their families (many of whom are struggling financially and are challenged in other ways as well). We collected over 250 boxes of gently used clothing, over 200 pairs of brand new sneakers and shoes, bought hundreds of new toys and distributed all for free to some very appreciative men, women, and children at our booth on the Veteran's Administration's campus. Some of our other Social Action activities include: Feeding the Hungry through SOVA, conducting Interfaith Activities, activities and outings with Children s Institute, and supporting Jewish World Watch. Social Action is an important part of our philosophy and the money that is collected from the Auction of your merchandise or gift certificates at this year s Fifteenth Annual Anniversary Party on May 27, 2017 will be used to help fund these programs. Your donation to Ahavat Torah is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and a written acknowledgement will be sent to you for your records. Please fill in the enclosed Donation Form and return it by May 7, Please send the donation to: Ahavat Torah, c/o Coleman Colla, 535 S. Curson #3H, Los Angeles, CA With much appreciation, Arlene Rosenblatt Silent Auction Chairperson Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Ahavat Torah is a 501C(3). Tax identification number is P.O. Box 442, Santa Monica, CA South Church Lane, Brentwood CA (310)

13 AHAVAT TORAH One Torah, Many Teachers, One Community PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW AND RETURN WITH YOUR GIFT CERTIFICATE BY April 27, 2017 DONOR INFORMATION Name (Business or Individual): Contact Person (If different than above) Address: City, State, Zip Address: Phone DONATION INFORMATION Please describe in detail the item you are donating, and any restrictions, blackout dates, or expiration date: Fair Market Value ; if you do not know, what starting bid should be used: I will provide gift certificate Please design one for me Donor Signature Solicited by Phone # Your donations are greatly appreciated. There will be a business size card advertisement for your company in our SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS publication. MAIL TO: Ahavat Torah c/o Coleman Colla 535 South Curson Ave. #3H Los Angeles, CA Your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law IRC Section 501C (3)Tax I.D. # P.O. Box 442, Sata Monica, CA Church Lane, Brentwood, CA (310)

14 RESERVATION FORM Your Name Ahavat Torah s 14th Anniversary Celebration Mulholland Tennis Club Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 5:00 P.M. DONATIONS FOR THE CELEBRATION, TRIBUTE BOOK AND DRAWING: GALA $136 = $ TRIBUTE/AD JOURNAL WITH GREETINGS Emerald Full Page $1,000 $ Platinum Full Page $ 500 $ Diamond Full Page $ 300 $ Gold Full Page $ 150 $ Silver Half Page $ 75 $ Bronze 1/4 Page $ 50 $ Pearl 1/8 Page $ 36 $ Please tributes by May 10th to lindabadger0713@yahoo.com SPECIAL PACKAGES Full Diamond Page & one dinner $235 $ Full Diamond Page & two dinners $370 $ 50/50 DRAWING 50/50 Drawing proceeds split between the winner and Ahavat Torah. Winner need not be present. Individual $10 $ Book of three $25 $ Return stubs - keep main part to redeem award. Regret Donation Sponsor Donation $ $ TOTAL OF ALL ABOVE AMOUNTS: $!14

15 Please see reverse side for contact & payment information PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND SEND TO: Ahavat Torah Congregation, P.O. Box 442 Santa Monica, CA RSVP and payment for the dinner, Tribute/Ad Journal, and 50/50 tickets for drawing must be in by May 10th Name Address City State Zip DINNER CHOICES: Sumptuous Dinners -For More Information Contact Linda Badger or PLEASE COMBINE YOUR DONATIONS FOR DINNER, TRIBUTE/AD JOURNAL, 50/50 TICKETS FOR DRAWING, AND SPONSORSHIP INTO ONE PAYMENT. Total Amount $ CHECKS PREFERRED Please make payable to Ahavat Torah Congregation Credit Card if necessary Visa Master Card Card Number Expiration Date Billing Address City State Zip Signature Print Cardholder Name For additional information on Tribute Book:!15

16 OUR RABBINIC INTERN FLORENCE DANN IS GRADUATING! THE ACADEMY FOR JEWISH RELIGION CALIFORNIA PROUDLY INVITES YOU TO JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 2017 RABBINIC AND CANTORIAL ORDINATION AND CHAPLAINCY GRADUATION OUR RABBINIC ORDINEES Avraham Alpert Shira Kaplan Freidlin Melvin Alexander Young Florence Lois Dann Joshua M. Ginsberg-Margo Rebecca Ilana Birken Yussman Allison Lawton OUR CANTORIAL ORDINEES Daniel Eli Friedman Bruce Steven Shapiro OUR CHAPLAINCY GRADUATES Michael Benjamin Salonius Mitzi Ellen Jacobson Schwarz MONDAY, MAY 29, 2017 ORDINATION BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 2:00 PM STEPHEN WISE TEMPLE STEPHEN S. WISE DRIVE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Send response to AJRCA 3250 Wilshire Blvd #550, Los Angeles, CA Phone: (213) !16

17 By Rabbi Simon Jacobson Wednesday Night 4/26/17 Day 16: For compassion to be effective and healthy it needs to be disciplined and focused. It requires discretion both to whom you express compassion, and in the measure of the compassion itself. It is recognizing when compassion should be expressed and when it should be withheld or limited. Discipline in compassion is knowing that being truly compassionate sometimes requires withholding compassion. Because compassion is not an expression of the bestower's needs but a response to the recipient's needs. Am I more compassionate with strangers than with close ones? Am I helping others at the expense of helping myself? Is it respectful? Do I apply myself to determine this person's needs and help him in the best way possible? Exercise for the day: Express your compassion in a focused and constructive manner by addressing someone's specific needs. Thursday Night 4/27/17 Day 17: Examine the compassion of compassion, the expression of compassion and its intensity. True compassion is limitless. It is not an extension of your needs and defined by your limited perspective. Compassion for another is achieved by having a selfless attitude, rising above yourself and placing yourself in the other person's situation and experience. Am I prepared and able to do that? If not, why? Is my compassion compassionate or self-serving? Is it compassion that comes out of guilt rather than genuine empathy? How do I express compassion? Is my compassion beautiful? Is it well rounded? Does it contain the other six elements of tiferet, without which my full compassion remains unrealized. Exercise for the day: Express your compassion in a new way that goes beyond your previous limitations. Express it towards someone to whom you have been callous. Friday Night 4/28/17 Day 18: Is my compassion enduring and consistent? Is it reliable or whimsical? Does it prevail among other forces in my life? Do I have the capacity to be compassionate even when I m busy with other activities or only when it's comfortable for me? Am I ready to stand up and fight for another? Exercise for the day: In the middle of a busy day take a moment and call someone who needs a compassionate word. Defend someone who is in need of sympathy even if it's not a popular position. Saturday Night 4/29/17 Day 19: Compassion must include humility for it not to be condescending and pretentious. Hod is recognizing that my ability to be compassionate and giving does not make me better than the recipient; it is the acknowledgement and appreciation that by creating one who needs compassion God gave me the gift of being able to bestow compassion. Thus there is no place for haughtiness in compassion. Do I feel superior because I am compassionate? Do I look down at those who need my compassion? Am I humble and thankful to God for giving me the ability to have compassion for others? Exercise for the day: Express compassion in an anonymous fashion, not taking any personal credit.!17

18 Sunday Night 4/30/17 Day 20: For compassion to be fully realized, it needs bonding. It requires creating a channel between giver and receiver -a mutuality that extends beyond the moment of need and a bond that continues to live on. That is the most gratifying result of true compassion. Do you bond with the one you have compassion for, or do you remain apart? Does your interaction achieve anything beyond a single act of sympathy? Exercise for the day: Ensure that something eternal is built as a result of your compassion. Monday Night 5/1/17 Day 21: Examine the dignity of your compassion. For compassion to be complete (and enhance the other six aspects of compassion) it must recognize and appreciate individual sovereignty. It should boost selfesteem and cultivate human dignity - both your own dignity and the dignity of the one benefiting from your compassion. Is my compassion expressed in a dignified manner? Does it elicit dignity in others? Do I recognize the fact that when I experience compassion as dignified it will reflect reciprocally in the one who receives compassion? Exercise for the day: Rather than just giving a person charity, help him or her in a fashion that strengthens his or her dignity. WEEK FOUR - NETZACH Endurance and ambition is a combination of determination and tenacity. It is a balance of patience, persistence and guts. Endurance is also being reliable and accountable which establishes security and commitment. Without endurance, any good endeavor or intention has no chance of success. Endurance means to be alive, to be driven by what counts. It is the readiness to fight for what you believe, to go all the way. Without such commitment any undertaking remains flat and empty. It is an energy which comes from within and stops at nothing to achieve its goals. This, of course, requires that endurance be closely examined to ensure that it is used in a healthy and productive manner. Ask yourself: How committed am I to my values? How much would I fight for them? Am I easily swayed? What price am I ready to pay for my beliefs? Is there any truth for which I would be ready to give my life? Effective endurance needs to encompass the following seven ingredients: love, discipline, compassion, endurance, humility, bonding and dignity. The problems people have with endurance and commitment are due to a lack of one or more of these seven components. Tuesday Night 5/2/17 Day 22: Day One of Week 4: Hesed of Netzach For anything to endure it needs to be loved. A neutral or indifferent attitude will reflect in a marginal commitment. If you have difficulty making commitments, examine how much you love and enjoy the object that requires your commitment. Do I love my work? My family? My choices? For endurance to be effective it needs to be caring and loving. Endurance without love can be counterproductive. Out of sheer determination one may often become controlling and demanding, driving others away. For endurance to be successful it needs a loving and caring attitude, it requires patience. Does my endurance cause me to be, or seem to be, inflexible? Does my drive and determination cause me to be controlling? Am I too demanding? Do others (my employees, friends, children) cooperate with me out of the sheer force of my will and drive, or out of love? In order to get my way would I allow others to get hurt? Do I believe that the end justifies the means? Would I stop at nothing to achieve my goals? Even when defending myself and others against unhealthy influences, am I driven by love or hate (see week two, day one)? Exercise for the day: When fighting for something you believe in, pause a moment to ensure that it is accomplished in a loving matter.!18

19 LAST FRIDAY NIGHT SOUL SHABBAT Our Friday Night Soul Shabbats held on the 3rd Friday of each month are very special. Rabbi Miriam is inspiring and loving. Our musicians Rev Eli Lester and Phil Bell bring the blessings to life. We share, we eat and get to know each other a little better. Our Shabbats are family style as we make new Shabbat memories together. Please join us next month May 19th.!19

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21 LAST SHABBAT Rabbi Miriam led us in a very moving service as we observed Yom HaShoah. As a second generation survivor her descriptions were heart breaking. We were honored to have Holocaust survivor and author Roman Ward as our guest speaker. There are no words to express his journey. Thank you Roman for sharing your story with us. Rabbi Miriam described the Holocaust as darkness covered the earth and death was everywhere. As to the murder of the children she said the earth opened its mouth and screamed. When she was sworn into the Israeli Armed Forces she held a Bible in one hand and an Uzi in the other. Never Again! In the early 1980 s on a trip to Auschwitz Rabbi Miriam took many pictures this is the one of the poison canisters. Roman Ward with Rabbi Miriam and Estee Lumer asking questions!21

22 and Board Meeting Private Residence in West LA -see flyer!22