Kedoshim Leviticus 19: 1-20:27 Bea Smetana and Rena Jaffe. Torah Portion

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Rabbi Miriam Hamrell Cantorial Soloist Gary Levine AHAVAT TORAH ONE TORAH, MANY TEACHERS, ONE COMMUNITY http://www.ahavattorahla.

1 Rabbi Miriam Hamrell Cantorial Soloist Gary Levine AHAVAT TORAH ONE TORAH, MANY TEACHERS, ONE COMMUNITY Associate Cantorial Soloist April 26th, 2014 Kimberly Haynes Co-President Michael Stevens Judy Kollack 9: am Mussar with Rabbi Miriam and Rabbinic Intern Gregory Metzger 10:00 am PM Shabbat Service Vice President Shoshi Wilchfort Secretary Lynn Stevens Treasurer Dan Sterling Board Members Debra Barrath Barbara Burbank Vicki Crawford Judy Freeman Gary Levine Florene Rozen Jonathan Troper Past Presidents Rena Jaffe Jean Katz Ron Estroff Sid Rosenblatt Blanche Moss womenofthebook.org Ex- Officio Members Rabbi Miriam Hamrell Charles Hamrell MD Torah Portion Chanter D var Torah Kedoshim Leviticus 19: 1-20:27 Bea Smetana and Rena Jaffe Gregory Metzger Cantor Gary Levine Greeter Helene Silber Unless otherwise indicated, all events and services are at Village Lutheran Church, 343 S. Church Lane, L.A

Rabbi%Miriam%Hamrell%%% Dear friends, Two weeks ago there was a big model Passover Seder at the Corona Women s Prison. I was also honored on that occasion for my seven years of volunteering there.

2 Rabbi%Miriam%Hamrell%%% Dear friends, Two weeks ago there was a big model Passover Seder at the Corona Women s Prison. I was also honored on that occasion for my seven years of volunteering there. I was very touched to see about 150 people from the larger Jewish community in the area, family and friends present in the big prison s auditorium. Many of you were there. I thank you from the deepest part of my heart for being the witnesses to one of the most Magical Days of my life. A day I experienced God s miracle and enchanted miracle in the world. First Rabbi Moshe Halfon & Eli Lester were chanted many parts of the Haggadah, while inmates choir were helping them. Then, we had a hot catered Kosher lunch. Shortly after that, some inmates I counsel and teach got up and shared some sweet words about me. My heart was filled with deep gratitude and I cried I thanked the audience and spoke to the women about hope and never loosing their dreams. Many of you have asked me to share my speech I delivered on that day. The following is a part of it: Before I say anything, I would like to thank the people who made this event happen. PLEASE just look around you. It takes many months to plan this event. It takes many people to make all this happen. Please remember what it took for most of you just to get approved to enter the prison, get your reservations in for the food, having to remember the rules and regulations of your clothing and what you are allowed to bring into the prison area and what you are not allowed. Just look at the smallest details on your tables, or the decorations, and know that it is very special and the women devoted many hours to it. I would like very much for all the people who had a hand in making this very SPECIAL event come true to please stand up. Ladies and gentlemen, this is just one example of the many people it takes to coordinate this event, to make "The Impossible Dream" come true Toda Rabbah. Thank you VERY much. The mission of each of us who volunteers here; each of us who are here with Rab Moshe, is to be like a true knight. We do it with love, and personal duty. We do it out of sense of responsibility. We do it out of a sense of accountability. Each of us volunteers are here, because we are COMMITTED to our Jewish ladies We are committed NOT TO FORGET our Jewish sisters who missed the mark and slipped off the road of their lives. Please know dear ladies, that this prison, God willing, is ONLY a temporary place. Yes, now, as you well know, you are in MITZRAIM, in Egypt. We understand Mitzraim to be a Narrow Place. A place where misery dwells. But you are not alone. We the volunteers are coming to Mitzraim on our own free will, in order to: Support you. Support you like a parent to his/her child. We the volunteers are coming to Mitzraim on our own free will, in order to sustain you emotionally and spiritually, like God s angels. We are here to carry you through this MITZRAIM as an eagle carries it eaglets. Therefore, I would like you to know that volunteering here is NEVER a burden it is a great privilege and honor. For me, I feel, that more than I give to you (Torah, Talmud, Mishnah, Song of Songs, Holidays, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, etc.) you give to me. I love you. I have lived nearly 65 years, and I have seen life as it is. At times life is wonderful, and at times life is miserable. I have heard the singing from concert halls, and the moans from the filthy streets of India. I have been a soldier and experienced my friends fall in battle

3 At times, when life just gets the best of us, we ask, Why? We ask, Why does life seem at times so crazy? Why is the world filled with so much insanity and pain? I do not know the answers - they are far too difficult and complicated to try to figure them out. But my ladies PLEASE REMEMBER Do not surrender your dreams To surrender your dreams is to seek slow death - this is NOT Jewish. However To seek treasure where there is only trash - is Jewish. To seek sanity where there is only madness - is Jewish. To be a good human being where only evil exist -is Jewish. To be kind where there is no kindness - is Jewish. To be moral where there is no morality - is Jewish. To seek the tiniest light where there is only darkness - is Jewish. To have and keep hope when one is chained - is Jewish. My dear ladies, please treasure your hopes and dreams, NEVER give them up Pause. For our beautiful grand finally, I asked Ahavat Torah s Cantorial Soloist Gary Levine to sing, To Dream the Impossible Dream from the musical, The Man of La Mancha. "The Impossible Dream" To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear the unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go To right the un-rightable wrong To love pure and innocent from afar To try when your arms are too weary The reach the unreachable star This is my quest, to follow that star No matter how hopeless, No matter how far To fight for the right Without question or pause To be willing to march into Hell For a heavenly cause And I know if I'll only be true To this glorious quest That my heart will be peaceful and calm When I'm laid to my rest And the world would be better for this That one man scorned and covered with scars Still strove with his last ounce of courage To reach the unreachable star

4 POST SCRIPT Gary was amazing When he sang this tremendous song, he filled the huge auditorium with his fantastic voice. The walls were tremble. There was no dry eye in the room, including the tough guards. THANK YOU GARY. LETTERS RECEIVED AFTER THE EVENT Thank you in advance for your devotion to the women of B not Or. (Daughters of Light) What you missed and would have really appreciated was Rabbi Hamrell's speech to the assembled group. It was a very powerful talk about the journey of the inmates on the one hand, and about why our volunteers do what they do. I will get a copy of it (on computer) to share with you and the Administration. It also speaks a great deal about the unique Jewish spirit and our tradition's approach to incarceration, healing, hope, and recovery, which I think the Administration might appreciate. Linda Malerstein Our AT members who had never been to the prison before were really moved as were those of us who had been out there before. B'shalom, v'brahot, v'ahava - Judy Kollack Last night as I fell asleep the events of the day at the prison rocked me to sleep. The women are so holy and so much of it thanks the you, Rabbi Miriam - all of you and what you have brought to these women who indeed have found liberation within the walls. I felt like the whole reason I came out besides talking to the women who train the dogs - was to dance with the blonde lady. We never touched but our contact was very deep. In entering into an ecstatic state. Yes, I am ready to come out and share dance with the women -It can be Jewish women or anyone who wants to find connection in the spirit of the dance. Paulette Rochelle-Levy My heart is filled with love and gratitude for the wonderful experience of being at the California Institute for Women's Passover Seder, along with many of our AT members. Our own Rabbi Miriam was honored for her Torah teachings and support for the women in prison for the past 7 years. Many of the inmates gave their personal testimony for her support to them. It truly was a rich experience filled with love, joy and music. Bernice Brown

5 ****A Note from Vivian Gold**** THIS SUNDAY April 27th IS THE JWW March to end Genocide, as well as Holocaust Day. PLEASE COME, and let all of your friends join us in this anti- GENOCIDE, anti- MASS ATROCITY movements Thanks to all of you who have given your support so far Please call me at for any questions. And my cell number is , in order to get together on Sunday morning. We will meet at the same place as last year, right on the hill in front of the Holocaust Museum at the park, with our YELLOW BANNER. AHAVAT TORAH, KOL TUV & INTERFAITH FRIENDS Are walking together to create a world without genocide Sunday, April 27th, Pan-Pacific Park 7600 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, Ca (323) Parking at Pan Pacific Park & CBS Parking lot off of North Genesee AVE.

DEAR FRIENDS AND MEMBERS OF AHAVAT TORAH Beth Devermont OUR MAY 3 rd GALA IS ONLY 1-1/2 WEEKS AWAY Hal & Rena Jaffe DEADLINE FOR TRIBUTES IS THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 25.

FOOD, LISTEN TO AN EXCITING ENTERTAINER, AND HANG OUT WITH YOUR AT PALS. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE Barbara, Debra and Shoshi Questions, please contact Barbara at burpurr@sbcglobal.

6 DEAR FRIENDS AND MEMBERS OF AHAVAT TORAH Beth Devermont OUR MAY 3 rd GALA IS ONLY 1-1/2 WEEKS AWAY Hal & Rena Jaffe DEADLINE FOR TRIBUTES IS THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 25. IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT IN YOUR RESERVATION, NOW IS THE TIME TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR A FUN EVENING HONORING OUR WONDERFUL HONOREES AND CELEBRATING FRIENDSHIP AND COMMUNITY WHILE YOU DINE ON DELICIOUS FOOD, LISTEN TO AN EXCITING ENTERTAINER, AND HANG OUT WITH YOUR AT PALS. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE Barbara, Debra and Shoshi Questions, please contact Barbara at burpurr@sbcglobal.net, Debra at dbarrath@hotmail.com, or Shoshi Wilchfort at motek2222@gmail.com FROM THE CITY DIRECTIONS TO THE MULHOLLAND TENNIS CLUB TAKE LAUREL CANYON TO MULHOLLAND DRIVE AND TURN LEFT. GO 1 MILE AND MAKE A LEFT TURN ON SKYLINE DRIVE (THERE WILL BE AHAVAT TORAH BALLOONS AT THE BOTTOM OF SKYLINE.) TAKE SKYLINE TO THE TOP OF THE HILL AND MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON CRESTVIEW DRIVE. THE MULHOLLAND TENNIS CLUB ENTRANCE IS IMMEDIATELY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. GO UP THE DRIVEWAY TO THE PARKING LOT. SHOULD THE PARKING LOT BE FULL, SOMEONE WILL DIRECT YOU TO PARKING ON CRESTVIEW DRIVE. THERE IS HANDICAP PARKING AVAILABLE AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY. IF NEEDED, GO STRAIGHT UP THE DRIVE, DO NOT TURN LEFT AT THE CLUB ENTRANCE. THE HANDICAP PARKING LOT IS AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY. FROM THE VALLEY TAKE LAUREL CANYON TO MULHOLLAND DRIVE AND TURN RIGHT. GO 1 MILE AND MAKE A LEFT TURN ON SKYLINE DRIVE. THERE WILL BE AHAVAT TORAH BALLOONS AT THE BOTTOM OF SKYLINE. TAKE SKYLINE TO THE TOP OF THE HILL AND MAKE A RIGHT TURNH ON CRESTVIEW DRIVE. THE MULHOLLAND TENNIS CLUB ENTRANCE TO THE PARKING LOT IS IMMEDIATELY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. CONTINUE AS DIRECTED ABOVE.

7 Would you like to Carpool to the Annual Fundraiser? As a loving AT community we ask your support to help guests with a ride to the gala Please note: We will not be organizing the rides. We will leave that to you. The organizers will simply share names and contact information between people offering rides and people requesting rides. Please answer the following questions I AM REQUESTING A RIDE TO THE GALA I CAN OFFER A RIDE TO THE GALA NAME.. ADDRESS CITY ZIP CODE.. PHONE NUMBER .. COMMENTS: You can complete this form & hand it to Barbara or Debra or submit the form via the AT

The mailing address for all Ahavat Torah business including membership payments, tribute cards, JNF trees, donations, yartzheit contributions, submission of receipts, etc.

8 The mailing address for all Ahavat Torah business including membership payments, tribute cards, JNF trees, donations, yartzheit contributions, submission of receipts, etc. (except for the Gala) is changing as of April 1, The new mailing address will be the old mailing address P.O. Box 442, Santa Monica, CA which has been kept open for this past year. If mail mistakenly goes to our existing address (P.O. Box ), it will be forwarded to the new one. Our treasurer, Dan Sterling, is preparing for some surgery and can no longer handle the demands of this position. Hal Jaffee and Sid Rosenblatt, both of whom have been treasurer in previous years, are stepping in to take over until new officers are installed. Thank you to Dan for all the work he has done and to Hal and Sid who have graciously offered to help out (and for Hal, this is the peak of tax season) AHAVAT TORAH P.O. BOX 442 SANTA MONICA, CA Dear AT Members, Carolina has cancelled this Thursday's pot-luck dinner 4-24, since she is out of town and will not be able to coordinate it. Renee and I will meet with her to plan our next dinner and/or event with Community Corps. I talked to Aida today, and they are really pleased with how it has gone so far. Thanks to all of you who have made the effort to make these dinner beautiful Vivian Our own member Marion Klein will be participating in A Night of Song A Choir Concert at the American Jewish University with soloists and members of the LA Jewish Symphony Sunday, May 4, 7:00 PM at Ghindi Auditorium at AJU Reserved Seating $36.00; General Admission $18.00 To register call (310) or visit wcce.aju.edu/choir/ or aju.edu/onlinecatalogue

Day Shabbat, 10 10am Simchat Shabbat & Brief Discussion of Yom HaZikaron & Yom HaAtzma ut + Thoughts on the Jewish Matriarchs for Mother s Day 1pm Board Meeting Shabbat, 17 1pm Social

9 2014 / 5774 April Shabbat, 26 Thoughts on Yom HaSho ah during services. Monday, 28 Yom Hashoah May Shabbat, 3 10am 6pm Midrashah Gala Fundraiser Sunday, 4 Mother s Day Monday, 5 Yom HaZikaron Israel Memorial Day Tuesday, 6 Yom HaAtzma ut Israel Independence Day Shabbat, 10 10am Simchat Shabbat & Brief Discussion of Yom HaZikaron & Yom HaAtzma ut + Thoughts on the Jewish Matriarchs for Mother s Day 1pm Board Meeting Shabbat, 17 1pm Social Action Committee meeting Sunday, 18 11am 6pm Monday, 26 Wednesday, 28 Ahavat Torah Booth at the Celebrate Israel Festival at Rancho Park American Memorial Day Yom Yerushalayim ForfurtherinformationcontactDebraatAhavatTorahLA@gmail.com AHAVATTORAHCONGREGATION,P.O.Box422SantaMonica,CA90406Phone310O362O1111

Ahavat Torah Congregation

Torah Portion: Numbers 1:1-4:20 Torah Teacher: Greg Metzger Torah Chanter: Glynnis Ortiz Greeter: Judy Kollack CLICK TO SHOP AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION P.O. Box 442 Santa Monica, Calif. 90406 9:00AM Ethics-Mussar