Hanukkah Edition - Mishkon Tephilo

2014
Hanukkah Edition
Galim
Rabbi Dan Shevitz
The Synagogue By the Sea
Serving Jewish Communities in
Venice & Santa Monica
Since 1918
We Are Mishkon!
Every year,
Mishkon
members,
family, and
friends meet at
the steps of the
shul to
light the
Hanukkiah.
Clergy
Rabbi Dan Shevitz, rabbi@mishkon.org
Leadership
President: Melissa Tarsky
Vice President: Itai Klein
Vice President: Lonnie Friedman
Vice President: Ben Singer
Secretary: Dayna Greenspan
Treasurer: Marvin Wolf
Board Members
Phil Bell, Jeff Fleck, Cindy Goldstein,
Carol Felixson, Rena Panush
Contents
President’s Message, by Melissa Tarsky  3
Bat Mitzvah: Claire Freedman  3
Staff
Executive Director:
Kelley Courtney, executive@mishkon.org
Administrative Assistant:
Lisa Anne Klein, office@mishkon.org
Religious School Director:
Hazzan Laurie Rimland-Bonn,
director@mishkon.org
Preschool Director: Elisa Coburn,
preschool@mishkon.org
Bookkeeper: Nicole Saacks
Galim & Newsletter Designer: Lisa Anne Klein
Preschool Teachers:
Fran Schifrin, Hagar Elfi, Rachel Ober,
Vicky Kahle & Ellen Aiken
Religious School Teachers:
Shifra Raz & Aliza Wine
Rabbinic Intern:
Jeremy Szczepanski
A Tashlich Story, by Dayna Greenspan  4
Reaching Out to the Divine, by Jeremy Szczepanski  4
Religious School, by Hazzan Laurie Rimland-Bonn 5
AKCESS, by Phil Bell  5
Preschool Spotlight  6
Book Club  7
Latke Recipe  7
Crossword Puzzle  8
Committee Chairs
Adult Education: Phil Bell, shalvah@aol.com
Building & Grounds:
Stacy Feinberg, stacy@cypressllp.com
Fundraising: Ben Singer, bsinger@ushv.com
Kiddush: Andy Bender, andy@andrewbender.com
Membership & Book Club:
Rena Panush, rapan18@gmail.com
Communications:
Marvin Wolf, marvinjwolf@gmail.com
Social Action: Aliza Wine, winealiza@gmail.com
Tephila: Jeff Gornbein, gorbein@ucla.com
Congregation Mishkon Tephilo
Services at a Glance
Fridays
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Shabbat Evening Services
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Shabbat Morning Services
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Galim  Hanukkah 2014
President’s Message
By Melissa Tarsky
We recently redesigned the Mishkon website. If you haven’t checked it out, you should. In addition to some
very cool, new features (such as the ability to RSVP and pay to attend a program, the ability to make
donations to specific funds and a complete calendar with detailed descriptions), it also has a lot of
information about Mishkon. However, until this morning, the ‘About Us’ page was blank. None of us
involved in the website redesign had created content for the page.
Writing a Galim article can be challenging, but trying to encapsulate Mishkon in a few paragraphs for the
website and make it sound enticing to someone new is really, really challenging. I started by saying,
“Mishkon Tephilo is a traditional synagogue with a Venice flair,” which I think is a decent description of
who we are. However, it got me thinking about who we want to be. I am not a huge fan of spending
countless hours creating a mission statement. I’ve read the articles about how important they are, but I
usually find mission statements to be generic and devoid of true meaning. What Mishkon does need,
however, is an idea about who we, as a community, are now and who we want to be in the future. Then we
need to figure out how to get there. It’s a difficult thing to do because, although we are all part of the
Mishkon community, we comprise a number of groups with different needs. Even within each group are
smaller groups that have different desires and different expectations.
In addition, the neighborhood is changing. Venice and Ocean Park used to be funky, reasonably priced
neighborhoods with a mix of bohemian and more-traditional inhabitants. However, with the arrival of
Silicon Beach, the neighborhoods are becoming increasingly pricey, with new, trendy restaurants and shops
opening all the time. Older inhabitants are being pushed out as younger, wealthy tech gurus move in. How
do we stay true to ourselves at Mishkon while serving the needs of the changing community? How do we let
the newcomers know about all Mishkon has to offer? What things are we comfortable changing, and what
things need to stay the same? Finally, who gets to decide?
It’s not an easy conversation, and it’s certainly not one about which we are all going to agree. The board has
started considering some of these issues in our monthly meetings (to which all members are invited – see the
online calendar for dates and times). The conversation is difficult but critical. I’d love to hear your thoughts
on this, too. Whether you’re a member of Mishkon or part of our greater community, please send me
your ideas and your thoughts. My email is president@mishkon.org.
Bat Mitzvah
Claire Lee Freedman, will be a Bat Mitzvah on December 20, 2014.
Claire is the daughter of Gail and Bernard Freedman. She is one of five
children in the Freedman family.
Claire attends John Adams Middle School (JAMS) in Santa Monica, where
she is a student in the Spanish immersion program. She began the
immersion program in kindergarten and is now quite proficient in Spanish.
She has studied Hebrew for the last three years with Shifra Raz of the
Mishkon Tephilo Religious School.
Claire Lee Freedman
Claire is devoted to her artwork, is an avid reader and has played volleyball
at JAMS for three seasons. She has studied archery, as well.
She is loved and greatly admired by her family.
Congregation Mishkon Tephilo
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Galim  Hanukkah 2014
Reaching Out to the Divine
By Jeremy Szczepanski
During the November Simcha/Family Shabbat, I led a breakaway session during the Musaf service to begin examining
the following question: “What does it truly mean to pray to God?” As with many things in the Jewish tradition, there is
an abundance of opinions. While we have the fixed liturgy of regular daily prayer – three times a day during the secular
week and four times on Shabbat – we can often get lost in the mechanics, the choreography of service. When do we
stand? When do we bow? What am I supposed to be thinking of right now when I pray? We focus so much on the
technical aspects at times – asking questions of “how,” “what,” and “when” – that we forget sometimes the question of
“why.”
The Maharal of Prague (1525-1609) says, “The whole idea of the prayer one prays to God is that since he/she needs God
and is dependent on God, and has no existence independent of God, therefore he/she prays to God for all his needs.” In
other words, we pray to remind ourselves that God is the source of all life and sustenance. Another thought on prayer
comes from Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook, the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of British Mandatory Palestine (18651935): “We can pray the way prayer is supposed to be when we recognize that in fact the soul is always praying.
Without stop, the soul soars and yearns for its Beloved. It is at the time of outward prayer that the perpetual prayer of
the soul reveals itself in the realm of action.” We are, according Rav Kook, always at least subconsciously linked to God.
Prayer then constitutes a constant reaching out for God; our formal fixed liturgy represents when those subconscious
constant prayers awaken us to this reaching out.
I would like to invite you all to examine how you experience God in your own lives. Do you feel that God is a
constant presence? Are there times where God feels more present than others? When do you think of God? Do you think
your soul is constantly praying to God, even when you may not be consciously aware of it? I look forward to examining
the question of prayer, as well as other questions of Judaism, as we move along through the year together as a holy
community.
A Tashlich Story
By Dayna Greenspan
‫כל העולם כולו גשר צר מאוד‬,
‫והעיקר‬- ‫לא לפחד כלל‬
Kol ha-o-lam ku-lo gesher tzar me'od
V'ha-i-kar lo l'fached klal
The whole world is a very narrow bridge;
the important thing is not to be afraid.
-Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav
A clear blue sky and crashing waves served as a magical backdrop for the Tashlich family service. My 3-year-old and 6year-old were itching to get their feet in the ocean, but we made them stay and listen to Fisherman Phil’s songs. He
strummed his guitar and sang “The Whole World Is a Very Narrow Bridge” and gave us an inspirational rundown of how we
all have to face our fears, get across that bridge, and get back up if we fall off it. The day continued. We sang more songs
and chatted with friends. The kids got to splash around in the ocean.
Two weeks later, I was driving my daughter to school. I had a misunderstanding with another parent the day before,
and I was embarrassed and nervous to see them. I explained this to my 6-year-old, and then I heard her mumble
something under her breath that sounded too incredible to be true. I asked her to repeat what she said, and sure enough
she replied, “Mama, life is a narrow bridge.” Hearing her say those words actually took my breath away; my daughter had
become my teacher.
I had never been more proud of her, or more grateful to be raising my children in this community.
Congregation Mishkon Tephilo
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Galim  Hanukkah 2014
Keeping Up With the Religious School
By Hazzan Laurie Rimland-Bonn, Director of Religious School and Family Education
We’ve been doing so many interesting and exciting things in the Mishkon Tephilo Religious School! Recently,
we took a field trip to Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary to bury Shemot. This is a meaningful way to
discard our holy texts and garb; we bury these items with love and appreciation. Here at Mishkon, there is an
area upstairs in the synagogue building where we were storing many boxes of books and tallitot that were no
longer usable and that needed to be taken to the cemetery.
Families came and helped load cars, and then off we went. When we got to Hillside, we were greeted by Jill
Glasband, whose family has been in the Jewish mortuary business for many years. She was good enough to help
facilitate our trip and worked very hard to make our experience a meaningful one. Everyone placed these
articles in a special plot called a Geniza, designated for this purpose. Then Rabbi Dan led us in a short service.
We all learned so much from the experience.
Another day, we were fortunate to have a wonderful visit from our own Ezra Steinberg, son of member and
teacher Aliza Wine. Ezra is serving in the Israel Defense Forces as a medic. He surprised our students with a
day of Basic Training and Survival Skills. Ezra taught us to work together as a team. He pointed out how
important each of us is in relation to one another.
We performed drills, conquered obstacle courses and learned to follow orders. At the end of our time together,
everyone received a badge to acknowledge that they passed basic training. Then Ezra gave each child a token
from the IDF. A great time was had by all!
I pray that, this year at Hanukkah time, we will rededicate ourselves to working together as a vibrant
community that is committed to learning, friendship and hope for our future. Chag Samayach!
Religious School
students (left)
pray over books
for the Geniza.
Israeli Defense Force Medic Ezra
Steinberg (left) instructs the Religious
School students and his mom, Religious
School teacher Aliza Wine (right), to do
push-ups like the Israeli army. They put
in a good effort!
Adult Education's New AKCESS Program Thrives at Mishkon
By Phil Bell, Chairperson of Adult Education
AKCESS is the After Kiddush Cultural, Educational, and Spiritual Shiurim that take
place after kiddush lunch on Shabbat.
This series provides Mishkon members and friends access to some great teachers on Shabbat.
AKCESS is also an easy acronym to remember and easy to publicize. And AKCESS is easy to
access and attend because congregants are able to stay and learn after kiddush lunch in the
social hall.
Since the High Holy Days, we have had outstanding AKCESS teachers: Rabbi Dan, discussing
"Noah's Rotten Sons"; Rabbinic Intern Jeremy Szczepanski, discussing "The Meaning of
Chayye Sarah”; Jeff Fleck’s occasional “Rashi Moments”; and Sandy Helman, discussing "The
Amazing Mishkon Library." Attendance has been excellent. For example, more than 30
people attended Rabbi Dan's shiur on Noah's sons.
Starting in January, we will add Rabbi David Stein, Carol V. Davis, Jerry Helman, and Jeff and
Michele Prince. Rabbi Dan, Jeremy Szczepanski, and Jeff Fleck will also continue to teach till
the end of the year.
AKCESS will have other exciting teachers to announce later in the year. So stay after kiddush
lunch, and AKCESS our outstanding Adult Education teachers at Mishkon.
Congregation Mishkon Tephilo
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Galim  Hanukkah 2014
Susan Sims Bodenstein Preschool
We appreciate our amazing teachers,
Hagar Alfi, Ellen Aiken,
Vicky Kahle, Rachel Ober,
& Fran Schifrin,
and our invaluable
Preschool Director,
Elisa Coburn.
Preschool Kids Say the
Darndest Things
By Our Preschoolers
Dressing up for playtime, singing,
learning, enjoying homemade
challah on Shabbat: These are a few of
our preschoolers’ favorite things!
“I have a dinosaurnorah at
home. You light its teeth
and it goes ROAR.”
“Kosher is when you’re a
bad pig.”
“I spilled my water.
I’m so unlucky!”
“I dip my apples in purple
paint, because they taste
better that way.”
“Thanksgiving is the turkey
Shabbat.”
Congregation Mishkon Tephilo
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Galim  Hanukkah 2014
Jerusalem Artichoke Latkes
By Susan Bloch
1 lb Jerusalem artichokes
(sunchokes), scrubbed, dried
and grated
2 green onions, trimmed and
chopped
⅔ cup minced red pepper
4 T flour
1 t sea salt
1 t herbes de Provence
¼ to ½ t cayenne
4 eggs, lightly beaten
In a large mixing bowl, combine the
artichokes, green onion, red pepper,
flour, salt and spices. Toss to mix.
Stir in eggs and mix well.
Drop by spoonfuls into oil that has
been heated in a frying pan or deep
fryer.
About the Mishkon Tephilo Book Club
By Adrienne Enzer
Mishkon's Book Club is very active and going strong. Started
several years ago by Mishkon member Barbara Wiesenfeld, the
group was renamed Barbara’s Book Club in her memory. The club
meets every four to six weeks in the home of one of the
participants.
We read books of Jewish interest, both fiction and non-fiction.
We read about Israel, the Holocaust, Jews in the Diaspora Egypt, Iraq, England, Argentina, and the American Jewish
experience. We read American, Israeli and European authors,
both newly published and more well-known.
Three years ago, we began what has become an annual tradition of
having local authors come to a meeting to talk about their books.
Our first speaker was Professor Yona Sabar of UCLA, who spoke
about My Father's Paradise, a biography written about him by his
son, Ariel Sabar. Yona was the last bar mitzvah in his small village
in Kurdish Iraq. He has taught Aramaic and Hebrew at UCLA for
more than 40 years and was a fascinating speaker.
In 2013, Marthe Cohn spoke about her book Behind Enemy Lines, in
which she tells the story of her experiences as a young Jewish
woman spying for the French during World War II. This year,
2014, our speaker was Jonathan Kirsch, the book review editor for
the Jewish Journal, who discussed his recent book, The Short, Strange
Life of Herschel Grynzspan, with us.
Our discussions are very lively because our members have varied
life experiences and professions ̶ and, of course, opinions. We
often have members who have not read the book come anyway,
because then they can decide whether they do want to read it!
Write a New Tagline for Mishkon!
Our current tagline for Mishkon
Tephilo is “Devotion by the Ocean,” but
we are looking for a new tagline to
encompass all that our shul has to offer.
Email ideas to executive@mishkon.org
Apart from the intellectual stimulation, the book group has
provided its stalwart members with an added, priceless
benefit: the creation of a family within the family of Mishkon.
Mishkon
Social Hall
Venue Rental
For your life-cycle
celebrations, b’nai
mitzvot lunches
and parties,
dinners, classes,
meetings, and
cultural events.
Call our office for
a tour
(310)392-3029
Congregation Mishkon Tephilo
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Mishkon is the cover
story of the
December issue of
Kehilla magazine!
Galim  Hanukkah 2014
Galim  Hanukkah 2014
Congregation Mishkon Tephilo
Holiday Puzzle
By D.R.S.
ACROSS
1 Near the stern
4 Head of New Year
5 Note after a hot
game of dreidl
6 What Judah said
to his horse
9 Schach
13 Parisian “yes”
14 Between
Hellenists
and Macabees
15 "An ___ kid"
17 A scribe's fingers
after work
18 Least amount (abbr.)
20 Brain and spinal
Cord (abbr.)
21 Beginning of
Hellenist King
DOWN
1 Operatic song
2 I don't like it
3 Maoz ___
6 What you pitch
to your sweetie
7 Attila
8 A little goes a
long way
10 It's at the end
of town
11 Grows acorns
12 Do a latke
16 Village People
song
17 In physicist
Albert's last
name
19 Holiday motel
201 Hampton Dr
Venice, CA 90291
Hanukkah Galim  www.mishkon.org9  office@mishkon.org  310.392.3029