Secondary Story H eadline Tikvatenu The Newsletter for Congregation B nai Tikvah The Established Conservative Congregation Serving San Diego s North County Message From Our Rabbi A Place for God and a Community There is a famous story told of the question the Rabbi of Kotzk (the Kotzke Rebbe) asked a number of learned men: Where is the dwelling place of God? They laughed and responded: What a thing to ask! Is not the whole world full of his glory? Then the Kotzke Rebbe answered his own question by saying God dwells wherever man lets him in. We at Congregation B nai Tikvah wish to invite everyone in to celebrate not only our new home of worship, but to celebrate the presence of God in our midst. We hope to fulfill our people s dream of becoming a light and source of inspiration to all. To that end, please participate at the highest level you can, with your presence, your energy, and your means... For the first synagogue opening in the city of Vista on its own location in fifty years, you will become an important part of history, and your deeds of support will echo far beyond what you can imagine at present in their significance. B nai Tikvah 830 S. Melrose DR. Vista Dr. Vista, CA 92081 760-941-9858 Year 6, Issue 10 Sept 1, 2007 Editor and Publisher Honey Haskell Email submissions & comments to: the_haskells@msn.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS Shabbat Saturday Morning Services 10 AM., Every Saturday Kiddush afterwards Friday Evening Services 7 PM. (2nd and 4ht Fridays of every month) August 24th September 14th September 28th Inside this issue: Rabbi Continued Page 1 Notes From the Cantor Page 2 -- B Shalom, Rabbi David Barnett Hebrew School Page 3 Words from the President Page 4
Year 6, Issue 10 Page 2 Notes From The Cantor By Larry Kornit What we have purchased for our small Synagogue is not just a house of worship, make no mistake, our goal is to make it a home. A home of worship, fellowship, Torah, learning, joy, music, prayer and fun. Why am I adamant about the word home as opposed to house I hear you ask? Well I ll tell ya. A house is a structure but it can become a home with love and care and commitment, and we have it all. We obviously have the commitment of the leadership of our synagogue. Mark and Mark and Jerry and Perry and Stu and Mel and everyone who has made sure that we have the support we need to accomplish what we can not do alone. But the one thing that it is going to take to grow our membership is a commitment from you! Be proud of what you are part of and wear it on your sleeve. You will find it contagious and hopefully so will others. Shalom Cantor Larry Kornit CONGREGATION B NAI TIKVAH ANOUNCES NEW HOME TORAH PROCESSION AND RIBBON CUTTING AUGUST 24 TH, 2007 VISTA, CA, AUGUST 17, 2007: Congregation B nai Tikvah, A Jewish conservative congregation serving San Diego s North County s Jewish Community for over 10 Years has purchased a permanent home. This is the first time in over 50 years that a conservative congregation in North County has acquired a permanent home of their own. A Torah procession will take place on August 24 th starting at 3:00 PM, transporting on foot the 5 books of Moses in scroll form, from our old location to our new location at 830 S. Melrose Dr. Vista, CA, 92081. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 3:45 PM. One of B nai Tikvah s founding members, John Bergeisen, a Holocaust survivor will cut the Ribbon and carry the Torah that he purchased and donated in memory of his parents Rachel and Gershon Bergeisen, who perished in the Holocaust, into the new sanctuary. Mayors Morris Vance of Vista and Jim Wood of Oceanside have confirmed attendance as well as representatives from the Interfaith Community, Rev Beth Johnson and other members of the community. Previously, Congregation B nai Tikvah rented space from the Palomar Universalist Unitarian Church, (PUFF), 1600 Buena Vista Dr. in Vista. The press is invited to capture this historic event. The timing of events is as follows: 3:00PM Torah Procession from 1600 Buena Vista Dr. with Police Escort 3:35PM Arrival at 830 S. Melrose, Vista 3:45PM Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Remarks by dignitaries. 4:05PM Refreshments
Year 6, Issue 10 Hello! From Naomi Fisher Our Hebrew and Religious School Page 3 Tikvataynu, August 2007 Religious School Bruhim ha-ba im! Welcome back to our students and families to the Religious School after a busy summer. Join us as summer continues into September at the Parade of Torahs and Dedication of our new facility on Friday, August 24 th. Visit our B nai Tikvah table at the San Marcos Street Fair on the 26 th. Religious School Schmooze - Shabbat morning, September 8 th from 11 to 12 noon Meet your teacher, see your new classrooms, schmooze with your friends, have a snack and join the congregation for Kiddush after the Shabbat service. This is also a time to register your child for the Religious School and hear about highlights for the upcoming year. Our project this morning will be getting bags ready for distribution to the congregation on Rosh ha-shanah. Our tzedakah will help our local San Diego poor including the Western Service Workers. Our students begin the New Year with Actions of Kindness Gemilut Hesed and Tzedakah. Mitzvah for the Month of Elul Our Mitzvah for the Month of Elul is Gemilut Hesed actions of kindness. This includes the mitzvah of Tzedakah providing items to those who need them. Our congregation will do this mitzvah by collecting non-perishable food items for the low-income families of the Western Service Workers and monies for Project Mazon. At the Religious School Schmooze on Sept. 8 th our students will prepare bags for distribution to the congregation on Rosh ha-shanah. We will be collecting non-perishable food items during the High Holidays as social action project. These types of activities bring joy to the recipients as well as encourage our young people to a life of mitzvot. Even children can make Tikun Olam, repair of the world, an important and reachable goal. Children s Services for the High Holy Days New for this year at B nai Tikvah is our Children s Services for the High Holy Days. We are beginning at 11:15am in the outside sukkah enclosure, outside the main building. Led by Naomi Gabai-Fisher, our service will have a new family-friendly mahzor. The children will be with us at our kid-friendly Kiddush just outside after the Children s Service. Services are at 11:15am on both days of Rosh ha-shanah and on Yom Kippur morning. Following the service and Kids Kiddush at 12:30pm, parents who are in the main service are to pick up their children. Opening Day Schedule Saturday, Shabbat morning, September 29 th at 10am The teachers will greet all the students as they report to their classrooms/homerooms. Pick-up by parents and new carpools for students is from the classrooms remember to sign out on the clipboard each session. Pick-up is at 12noon. Catch our weekly e-mail Shabbat message to see what is coming up at the Religious School and at B nai Tikvah. If you do not receive our e-mails, send your address to Naomi at hngfishr@san.rr.com L Shanah Tovah, Naomi and Harold, Charles, Sarah and Natan PLEASE ADD TO THE Tikvataynu : in a separate box High Holy Days Food Drive We dedicate the month of Tishre for collecting food items for the hungry and Tzedakah for others - food for our community and dollars for Mazon (a Jewish response to hunger). Our students stapled an envelope from Mazon for your contributions on a grocery bag that you will get at the High Holy Days services. Give what you and your family would have spent on food for this one day of Yom Kippur or an amount which you feel is appropriate. Through our gifts to Mazon we support programs in our state, in Israel and around the world, that feed people and lift them out of the poverty that causes hunger. Please fill the bag with non-perishable food items (boxed, bagged or canned please no glass). Bring the bag back to B nai Tikvah on Yom Kippur. Our gifts of non-perishable food will go to the Western Service Workers Association which assists low-income families here in San Diego County. (For those away for the High Holy Days, we will continue our Tzedakah food drive through Sukkot) While we live in a nation with extraordinary abundance, millions do not have enough to eat. As you break your own fast, see that you help break the fast of another. L Shanah tovah and thank you for your generosity.
Page 4 Words From Our President - by Mark L Haskell The End The Best Kept Secrets In North County B nai Tikvah - Stepping Out What a wonderful way to begin the year! We are moving into our own synagogue, on our own property that we own! Two and a half years ago we shared and adopted a vision for B nai Tikvah together. We wanted a rabbi we would be proud to call our own. For over two years now we have benefited from the spiritual leadership, guidance and leadership of our own Rabbi Barnett. He has proven not only to be a wonderful source of inspiration but a personal friend as well. How fortunate we are to have Rabbi David Barnett as our Rabbi. We have the joy of hearing the wonderful voice of our cantor, Larry Kornit. Not enough can be said about how much he adds to our services every time he fills our ears with his song. Privileged best describes our good luck in having him as our cantor. A Hebrew school led by one of the most talented and well qualified people I have ever seen. Naomi Gabai-Fisher turns learning into joy. Watching the faces of our students as they participate in our holidays is a genuine reward in and of itself. The hour students have to be there, every week to learn about our heritage, our traditions and our religion every attests to Naomi s skill as an educator. Thank you Naomi for all that you do. The Congregational willingness to get in there and help out has made it so that everything is now possible thanks to the giving nature, hard work and get it done attitude of our wonderful members. This is one of our brightest spots and reason to be excited about our future. Our new property, all things we have wished for now become possible. Now we can plan for more than just services. Adult education, social gatherings, barbeques, a pre-school and a summer day camp are already in the discussion and planning stages. Poker, barbeque or mahjong any one? Get ready, they are on the way. Our busy schedule! The last week in August is very hectic. Please be sure to be there for the Torah procession and dedication, we will be hosting mayors, press and community religious leaders. Refreshments hosted by our sisterhood follow the festivities. Don t forget to stop by the San Marcos Fair. We have a booth. We will be sharing information with the community about our services, our Hebrew school, membership, High Holiday Tickets, etc. There will be a raffle. A lucky family will win a free membership for the coming year. Please visit us. I am looking forward to sharing the exciting year ahead with you all. B Shalom, Mark