From Cantor Felder-Levy 2 Tu BiSh vat Service 3 Shir Kids Tu BiSh vat 3 Purim Sneak Peek 3

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1 JOIN A HAVURAH Calling All Families T his is a wonderful time for your family to consider joining a havurah. Being a member of a havurah deepens your feeling of being a part of the community. A havurah can offer opportunities for religious and spiritual growth. You will also meet other members, making new friends and broadening your family s Jewish social network. Getting to know people in a larger congregation can be intimidating for some. A havurah is a terrific way to become acquainted with others who live near you and have similar interests, and to help make our synagogue feel more like a family. Partisans Lookout at Yad Vashem (Photo by Avishai Teicher) ד ר אבישי טייכר : צילום WHAT S INSIDE From Cantor Felder-Levy 2 Tu BiSh vat Service 3 Shir Kids Tu BiSh vat 3 Purim Sneak Peek 3 Havurah 31 dinner Havurah 11 gathering One havurah might enjoy a Shabbat dinner, have a Hanukkah party, or build a Sukkah, while another goes camping or on a retreat. Other activities can include inviting a speaker to address questions on a chosen topic or together participating in a special mitzvah project. Whatever you and your fellow haverim (friends) decide to be, that s what you can do. For example, Havurah 33 is a new havurah, in its first year of existence. It includes of families with children ranging in age from infant to 8 years old. Beth Sidlow Mann and Meiko Bauchman report that since their first meeting in April, they ve had several nice events, including hikes, park play dates, a concert, and Shir Fun events. They are looking forward to a 2017 filled with more fun, and are open to additional families with young children joining their havurah. The Lady in Gold 6 Gala & Auction 6 Retirees Lunch n Learn 7 Jewish Baby Play Date 7 Happy Hour & Havdalah Film Festival 7 Shabbat Shirah and a World Premiere 8 If you have a lot of time, or just a little, or if you have been a member of Shir Hadash for decades or just days, we have a spot for you! If you are interested in becoming a part of our exciting program, please contact Elyse Elconin-Goldberg and Sharon Samuels, at havurah-coordinator@shirhadash.org VOLuME 38, ISSuE 5 F E B R u A R Y S H VAT A DA R

2 FROM CANTOR DEVORAH FELDER-LEVY Jewish Music Through the Years Music is a language of its own, and its impact on the mind, heart, soul, and body exceeds and complements the richness of words. Music transcends language and holds a special place in our hearts and memories. Shabbat Shira, the Sabbath of Song, is a special Shabbat on the Jewish calendar when the role of music in the synagogue is especially celebrated. Throughout our time, we have seen many trends and styles come and go, and some come and stay in regards to Jewish music. Pieces that have been around for a long time are often referred to as MiSinai, as if they came from Sinai. Some of these are the melodies we hear during the High Holy Days and festival holidays. The most famous of MiSinai tunes is the Kol Nidre. In addition to the MiSinai tunes, we also have nusach, the special modes and melodies that are used in the service. For example, almost every Friday night, you might hear me chant the V neemar after the Mi Chamocha using nusach. And you are very likely to hear the same nusach in other synagogues you may find yourself in around the world! Beginning in the 19th century, Jewish composers not only composed individual pieces for the liturgy, but also composed whole services. Composers like Salomon Sulzer (Sh ma), and Louis Lewandowski (Enosh, L cha Dodi, Tzaddik Katamar) created whole services that could be sung by cantor and choir to lead the congregation in prayer. As we enter more modern times, and following this tradition, some of the most prolific Jewish composers, including Max Helfman, Max Janowski, Ben Steinberg, and Michael Isaacson, have also composed entire services. At Shir Hadash, we have enjoyed singing Jose Bowen s Klezmer Service and Craig Taubman s Friday Night Live. Shabbat Shirah, the Sabbath of Song, is a special Shabbat on the Jewish calendar when the role of music in the synagogue is especially celebrated. This year the choir joins me in introducing the congregation to a new service called Ladorot Habaim For the Generations to Come. Shir Hadash, along with many other congregations, commissioned Dr. Michael Isaacson to compose this service. My colleague Cantor Kerith Spencer- Shapiro says, Isaacson s musical style is innovative. He sets a unique tone by filtering each liturgical setting through a midrashic point of view. I hope to see you on Friday night, February 10, at Shabbat Shirah, to experience this new musical service. For more information, please see the back page. 2 CONGREGATION SHIR HADASH

3 SUSTAINABILITY Tu BiSh vat Service YOUNG FAMILIES CELEBRATION Shir Kids Tu BiSh vat Saturday, February 11, The holiday of Tu BiSh vat is observed on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Sh vat. This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle. Originally Tu BiSh vat was an agricultural festival, marking the emergence of spring. Today it is a moment to acknowledge the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and our obligation to safeguard all we see around us. Saturday, February 11, 3:00 pm Tu BiSh vat is the New Year for Trees, and our celebration of all of nature. Join us for some fun activities involving plants, trees, and treats. Shir Kids events are for families with children in Kindergarten through Grade 2. Come join in the fun! This year s celebration will feature a creative service with reflections and recipes on the theme of a Sustainable Tu BiSh vat, followed by a tasting of products of California and Israel. Grapes, citrus, wheat, olives, greens, and vegetables, in the form of wine, beer, bread, smoothies, and other treats will be available. SNEAK PEEK Purim Celebrations Saturday, March 11 & Sunday, March 12 Join us on Saturday for Tot Purim, dinner, and the Purim Service and Shpiel; and Sunday at noon for the Purim Carnival. Can you guess the theme for this year s shpiel? Try rapping to the words below! And if that doesn t work, here s a poster! Services at a Glance Fri., Feb. 3 7:00 pm Family Shabbat Service Sat., Feb. 4 9:30 am ESTHER Check next month s Notes for more details. Shir Shabbat Service Fri., Feb. 10 8:00 pm Shabbat Shirah: The World Premiere of Ladorot Habaim Sat., Feb. 11 9:30 am A PERSIAN MUSICAL We re not going away, no lots We re not going away, no lots Oy vey! We re not bowing to youse We re strong, faithful, and Jews And we re not going away, no lots! Torah Study Torah Study Tu BiSh vat Service 3:00 pm Shir Kids Tu BiSh vat Fri., Feb. 17 Sat., Feb. 18 8:00 pm Shabbat 2.0 Service Shir Shabbat Service Fri., Feb. 24 8:00 pm Shabbat Service Sat., Feb. 25 9:30 am Torah Study Shir Shabbat Service FEBRuARY 2017 NOTES 3

4 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY FEBRUARY Please visit for the full calendar. 6:30p Christian Jewish Dialogue 7:15 Beginning Yiddish Course 1 2 6:00p Free Range Torah 6:00 Family Shabbat Dinner 7:00 Family Shabbat Service 3 Shabbat Bo 9:30a Torah Study 10:30 Shir Shabbat Service 4 5 9:30a Adult B nai Mitzvah Group 9:30 Religious School 10:00 Religious School Board Meeting 10:00 Men s Club Board Meeting 11:00 Confirmation Class 12:05p Jr. Choir 1:00 Super Bowl 10:30a Chair Yoga 7:00 Sisterhood Program 6 6:00 HS Faculty Meeting 6:30 Hebrew High School 7:15 Choir Rehearsal 7 6:30p Christian Jewish Dialogue 7:15 Beginning Yiddish Course 8 11:30a Retirees Lunch n Learn 9 8:00p The World Premiere of Ladorot Habaim 10 TU BISH VAT Shabbat B shalach 9:30a Torah Study 10:30 Tu BiSh vat Service 3:00p Shir Kids Tu BiSh vat :30a The Lady in Gold: The Story Behind the Nazi Art Theft 9:30 Religious School 9:45 Confirmation Class at EWJ 10:30a Chair Yoga Shabbat Yitro 10:30a Shir Shabbat Service 18 12:05p Jr. Choir 12:30 RS Faculty Meeting 6:30 Hebrew High School 7:00 Finance Committee Meeting 7:15p Beginning Yiddish Course 7:30 Board Meeting 5:00p Jews Around the World Travel 8:00 Shabbat 2.0 Service No Religious School 19 PRESIDENTS DAY Office & ECC Closed No Hebrew School 20 No Hebrew School Shabbat Mishpatim 9:30a Torah Study 10:30 Shir Shabbat Service 25 7:15p Beginning Yiddish Course 8:00p Shabbat Service 4:00p Confirmation Class at Film Festival 6:00 Happy Hour & Havdalah: Teenage, Director Matt Wolf 26 9:30a Adult B nai Mitzvah Group 9:30 Religious School 9:30 You ve Got Your Date Now What? 10:00 Jewish Baby Network Play Date 10:00 SHOC Meeting 10:45 One Year and Counting 12:05p Jr. Choir ROSH CHODESH ADAR 10:30a Chair Yoga 27 6:30 Hebrew High School 28 SAVE THE DATES! Hybrid Judaism: Irving Greenberg, Encounter, and the Changing Nature of American Jewish Identity With Rabbi Darren Kleinberg Sunday, March 5, 9:30 am Gala & Auction Honoring our Behind-the-Scenes Volunteers Saturday, May 6 4 CONGREGATION SHIR HADASH FEBRUARY 2017 NOTES 5

5 EXPLORING THE WORLD OF JUDAISM The Lady in Gold: Klimt, Nazis, and Art Sunday, February 12, 9:30 am Join us for this engaging lecture, a part of the Exploring the World of Judaism series, with Professor Van A. Harvey. Investigate the saga of the Klimt portrait of Adele BlochBauer. Seized by the Nazis in 1941, it was acquired by the Austrian state gallery and housed in the Belvedere Palace in Vienna for decades. After a long legal process, in 2006 ownership was restored to its Jewish heirs. The story is told in the movie Woman in Gold (2015). Harvey s research includes correspondence with Anne-Marie O Connor, author of the book Lady in Gold, and Randol Schoenberg, who successfully prosecuted the case for Maria Altman, the rightful heir to the painting. Professor Harvey is the George Edwin Burnell Professor of Religious Studies (Emeritus) at Stanford University. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1957, and t aught at Princeton, Southern Methodist University, and the University of Pennsylvania, before coming to Stanford in Editor s note: This event was originally scheduled for October 30, but had to be rescheduled due to illness. Exploring the World of Judaism and Exploring Jewish Culture are programs of Congregation Shir Hadash and Jewish LearningWorks, and are supported in part by the Newton and Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust and the Myra Reinhard Family Foundation. GALA & AUCTION Honoring Behind-the-Scenes Volunteers Saturday Evening, May 6 Mark your calendar! Join us for an evening in honor of ten behind-the-scenes volunteers an evening of dinner, drinks, and fun. You don t want to miss this premiere event. Tickets go on sale February 1. Tributes can be submitted online at This is an opportunity to honor our behind-the-scenes volunteers and support the work of Shir Hadash. Check next month s Notes for more details. 6 C O N G R E G AT I O N S H I R H A DA S H Honoring Josh Bernstein Steve Jackson Cary Coutant Julee Ogawa Berdeen Coven Dianne Portnoy Brad Gordon Jan Rose Rusty Gralnik Shell Rubenstein

6 RETIREES LUNCH N LEARN Billy Crystal 700 Sundays Thursday, February 9, 11:30 am JEWISH BABY NETWORK Jewish Baby Play Date Sunday, February 26, 10:00 am Need a good laugh? Come see Billy Crystal 700 Sundays. This comedy special is based on Billy Crystal s Tony Award winning one-man Broadway show. Beginning in the 1950s, Crystal revisits the family and friends who provided him with creative material that would inspire his unique talent. The New York Daily News says, big-hearted and seat-shakingly funny! Join our retirees group for a monthly (second Thursday) lecture, discussion, performance, or film. For the program and a light lunch, a nominal donation of $5 per person is requested. Looking for a fun family activity for Sunday morning? Bring your babies and toddlers (up to 36 months) and join other Jewish Baby Network families for snacks, playtime, and family fun. Older siblings will love the playroom and activities and are always welcome! JBN Director Carol Booth will lead Baby and Me Jewish songs, movement, and PJ Library story time. There will also be plenty of time for free play and schmoozing. We welcome everyone, including unaffiliated, interfaith, single parent, and LGBTQ families. No RSVP is necessary, and please come when you can. This event is free, but please consider a $10 donation to support all of the Jewish Baby Network s other wonderful programs. HAPPY HOUR & HAVDALAH FILM FESTIVAL, PART II Teenage, Directed by Shir Hadash Alum Matt Wolf Saturday, February 25, 6:00 pm Havdalah, followed by a screening of Teenage Teenagers did not always exist they had to be created. In this living collage of rare archival material, filmed portraits, and voices lifted from early 20th Century diary entries, a struggle erupts between adults and adolescents to define a new idea of youth. Those who get the youth get the future. Release your inner teenage self and hang out in our theater lobby, enjoying all your favorite treats from pizza to popcorn, licorice to milk duds, adult beverages, and more. Better than staying home with Netflix! Shir Hadash members have produced a wealth of creative talent children who have grown up to become awe-inspiring filmmakers! We are highlighting award-winning films directed and produced by congregants adult children. Tickets can be purchased on the Shir Hadash website. Adults $20, Children (age 4 10) $10. Give Once Donors and children are no charge. Jointly sponsored by the Adult Education and Membership Committees. Editor s note: This film was originally slated for the January 21 event, but was rescheduled after the last issue went to press. The film The Promised Band, produced by Ian Reinhard, was screened instead. F ebr u ary N O T E S 7

7 Congregation Shir Hadash 20 Cherry Blossom Lane Los Gatos, CA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Eco-friendly paper SPECIAL CHOIR SERVICE Shabbat Shirah and a World Premiere Friday, February 10, 8:00 pm Shabbat Shirah (Sabbath of Song) puts a special focus on the importance of music in our tradition and in modern practice. The Torah reading of the week contains the Song of the Sea, the song the Israelites sang after they crossed the Red Sea. The haftarah includes the Song of Deborah. Our congregation, along with twenty-one others around the country, cocommissioned a new service called Ladorot Habaim (For Generations to Come), composed by Dr. Michael Isaacson. Ladorot Habaim will be debuted in synagogues across America on this Shabbat. The Shir Hadash choir has been enjoying learning the service and innovative musical style. Some of the pieces are straight-forward, while others invite new insights into the prayers. This national event will unite Jews across America through music and prayer. Through this music we will all be plugged into this premiere on a most appropriate occasion of Shabbat Shirah.