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9:00AM Ethics-Mussar with Rabbi Miriam Hamrell and
Greg Metzger 10:00AM –12:15PM
Shabbat Service 12:15PM-Potluck
Dairy Lunch
AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION 343 South Church Lane, Los Angeles, CA
90049 (310) 362-1111
ONE TORAH, ONE COMMUNITY, MANY TEACHERS COMMITTED TO REPAIRING
THE WORLD
Click on to ahavattorahla.org
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TO
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Torah Portion: Ekev Deuteronomy 7:12 -
11:25 Torah Teacher:
Judy Weinberger Torah Chanter:
Jonathan Troper and Jean Katz
Greeter: Helene Silber
AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION P.O. Box 442 Santa Monica, Calif.
90406
August 4, 2015
In Ekev, Moses promises the Israelites that if they follow God’s
rules they will enjoy all the benefits of the covenant made by God
with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He recalls all the suffering the
people endured in their 40 years of wandering in the desert but
after all that, they had survived. Moses reminds the people that
the first generation had rebelled against God but that God forgave
them. He describes the land they shall enter as flowing with milk
and honey. Throughout this parshah Moses warns the Israelites that
they must obey God’s commandments describing the rewards if they do
so and
the punishments if they don’t.
Rabbi: Miriam Hamrell MHL,MAEd Cantorial Soloist: Gary Levine
Associate Cantorial Soloist: Kimberly Haynes Co-Presidents: Judy
Kollack & Shoshi Wilchfort Treasurer: Hal Jaffee Secretary:
Linda Badger Board Members: Debra Barrath Barbara Burbank Vicki
Crawford Gary Levine Jonathan Troper Co-Social Action: Vivian Gold
Renee Schwartz Past Presidents Michael Stevens Rena Jaffe Jean Katz
Ron Estroff Sid Rosenblatt Blanche Moss Ex-officio Members: Rabbi
Miriam Hamrell & Charles Hamrell, MD
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THE WEEKLY ARTICLE
FROM OUR CO- PRESIDENTS JUDY AND SHOSHI
MESSAGE FROM CO-PRESIDENTS
Another week has come and gone. Some of us may remember the song
made famous by two Jewish boys in the mid 1950’s (Irving Berlin
wrote it and Eddie Fisher sang it) that says “When I’m worried and
I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall
asleep counting my blessings!” In a world as riddled with problems
as ours is, with senseless murder, violence, starvation, human
trafficking, discrimination, ignorance, poverty, etc. (the list is
long), it behooves us all to count our blessings, if not 100 times
per day as we are instructed, but at least in the morning, at the
“aha” moments we encounter throughout the day, and when we entrust
our souls to God for safe-keeping at night.
Amidst all the turbulence (which unfortunately was reflected in
Israel this past week as well) we indeed have much to be thankful
for not the least of which is our little synagogue in the Glen
which weekly anchors us to our traditions and fosters a very
important sense of community. How does it do that? We have not only
our thought provoking Mussar class each Shabbat morning and our
exuberant Shabbat services and potluck, but we also find all sorts
of ways to celebrate simchas, holidays, special events and to take
advantage of special learning opportunities provided by members of
the congregation as well as the classes offered by Rabbi Miriam who
will be back from Israel and with us this coming Shabbat.
Please read this newsletter in its entirety so you won’t miss
any of the events coming up this month - our Rosh Hodesh observance
on Sunday, Aug. 16, our Havdalah on the Beach Aug. 22, the second
preparation of the hygiene kits for the PATH homeless on Aug. 22,
bringing in gently used clothing for our participation in the VA
event in December, our special 5th Shabbat with speaker Rabbi
Jonathan Klein, Executive Director of Clergy and Laity United for
Economic Justice on Aug. 29…… -the list is long!
We want to thank Bernice Brown for being such a conscientious
JNF tree coordinator for the past few years, and since Bernice will
be leaving us for Orange County in a few weeks we welcome Shayna
Lester who will be taking over the JNF tree project.
We want to thank Sasha for coordinating the Torah chanters for
the past few years. Sasha will still be involved but Michael
Stevens has graciously offered to step up to take the lead in the
scheduling of the chanters. Jonathan will work with him as
needed.
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CO-PRESIDENTS’ ARTICLE CONTINUED
There will be a Board meeting on August 8 beginning at 1:15.
Board meetings are always open so if you have a pressing issue,
please feel free to attend – even if you don’t have a pressing
issue, feel free to attend and share your thoughts.
Please send in your registration forms for all of the things
associated with Ahavat Torah’s Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
observance ASAP so we can plan appropriately.
We are thankful for the close to 100 “blessings” we have in our
congregation who are you, its members. We look forward to your
continuing support as we approach the New Year.
B’shalom, v’brachot, v’ahava – Shoshi and Judy
B’YADO
B’yado afkid ruchi
b’eit ishan ve’a’i’rah
Ve’im ruchi geviati
Adonai li v’lo irah
My soul I give to you
My spirit in your care
Draw me near,
I shall not fear
Safely in your hand
by Craig Taubman
THIS SONG IS NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS. WHEN GARY AND KIMBERLY
SING IT AS A DUET IT IS JUST AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL
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LAST SHABBAT Ahavat Torah is definitely one community and many
teachers. Gary you amaze us. Greg you will always be our teacher.
Michael we can depend on you.
Revital Goldreich please come back soon. Your chanting touched
all of our souls. Thank you so very much.
Phil you make our service a little more special with your
music.
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Shoshi always brings out the dancer in us all.
Jean we look forward to your next drash. You are such a special
teacher.
LAST SHABBAT CONTINUED
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Led by Rabbi Miriam Hamrell and Ariella Shira Lewis, M.A.,
SLP
ELUL- a month for self improvement and coming closer to God.
Gathering the women in sacred circle to observe Rosh Hodesh, the
Festival of the New Moon is an ancient and deeply nourishing part
of our Jewish tradition. Come and take part in this celebration of
ourselves, of our uniqueness as women, of our relationship to each
other, to the Earth, to the Universe and to the Divine.
Ahavat Torah Congregation invites you to a
ROSH HODESH GATHERING IT’S A GIRL THING!
DATE: August 16, 2015 @2:00 pm to 4:00 pm PLACE: Sybil Michelson
10560 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., Ca 90024 - Recreation Room on Main
Floor Free Valet Parking RSVP To: Linda Badger at (310)625-3146 or
[email protected]
COME AND BRING A FRIEND!
mailto:[email protected]?subject=http://yahoo.commailto:[email protected]?subject=http://yahoo.com
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WHERE: 6 Fleet St., Marina del Rey, CA WHEN: 6:00 -9:00 pm
JOIN AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION FOR A POTLUCK DAIRY DINNER AND
HAVDALAH ON THE BEACH SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2015
Bring: Your friends, a beach chair, warm clothes & your
dairy/vegetarian potluck. Admission: $10
YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT! We will be having a duet
from the Band Mostly Kosher!
CAN WE ALL KEEP A SECRET? THIS IS ALSO A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION FOR RABBI MIRIAM
DONATIONS TO THE RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND AT AHAVAT TORAH
WOULD BE A WONDERFUL WAY OF RECOGNIZING HER BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION
Violinist Janice Mautner Markham will be performing with Leeav
Sofer
MOSTLY KOSHER
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YOU ARE INVITED! To our Ethics-Mussar class on
Saturdays at 9:00 - 9:50AM
Rabbi Miriam and Greg Metzger are teaching this very special
Mussar class at Ahavat Torah.
Come, enjoy and bring your friends.
Dear Members and Friends,
Let’s keep this Surprise Birthday Celebration for Rabbi Miriam a
Secret. Can we all do it? As
the editor, I will delete the information from the Rabbi’s copy
of the newsletter.
This promises to be a great evening. You may drop off your
potluck and chairs in front of the house (someone will be there to
assist you) then park in the public parking lot at the end of
Washington Blvd. and come back to the house and walk down Fleet
Street to the beach. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THROUGH THE HOUSE.
THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE THERE.
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JOIN AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION FOR THE
HIGH HOLIDAYS
To our members and friends, if you have not received your High
Holidays’ brochure or have any questions, please call AT at (310)
362-1111. We look forward to ushering in the High Holy DAY season
with you.
AHAVAT TORAH’S BOARD MEETING is scheduled for this Shabbat after
our potluck lunch at 1:15 PM. in the Fireside room. Board meetings
are always open to our members. Please feel free to attend.
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Please join Rabbi Miriam Hamrell,
Cantorial Soloists Gary Levine
& Kimberly Haynes and our
warm and welcoming congregation for reflective, spirited and
song-filled services.
Ahavat Torah’s High Holiday services are held at Kehillat
Ma’arav Synagogue
1715 21st Street, Santa Monica. For ticket information see below
or go to:
www.ahavattorahla.org or call (310) 362-1111. We hope to hear
from you. B’Shalom!
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WHEN: AUGUST 29TH, 2015 TIME: 9:00 a.m. Mussar Class (with
emphasis on
Economic Justice) 10:00 a.m. Services with Kavanah to
emphasize parallel prayers 1:00 p.m. Educational/Activism
Workshop
WHERE: 343 S. Church Lane, Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 362-1111
ahavattorahla.org
AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION’S 5TH SHABBAT
JOIN US
for a thought provoking class with special guest speaker Rabbi
Jonathan Klein, Executive Director of Clergy and Laity United for
Economic Justice (C.L.U.E). Rabbi Klein will speak about his work
uniting the religious communities together to advance economic
justice.
"You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and
needy,
whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who
are in your land within your
towns.”
http://ahavattorahla.orghttp://ahavattorahla.org
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PURSUING JUSTICE AT AHAVAT TORAH: Seeking Workers' Rights and
Economic
Justice in Los Angeles
WHEN: August 29th, 2015 WHERE: 343 S Church Lane, Los Angeles,
CA
90049
Our Greg Metzger has done it again. What an inspiring and
informative 5th Shabbat he has organized for us. Rabbi Jonathan
Klein, Executive Director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic
Justice (C.L.U.E), will speak about his work uniting the religious
communities together to advance economic justice.
Get info about CLUE’s work: CLUE-LA’s mission is to bring
together clergy and lay leaders of all faiths to join low-wage
workers in their struggles for justice. CLUE and its network of
leaders and congregations partner with activist community
organizations and unions to increase workers’ capacity to influence
their working conditions, to attain worker-friendly public
policies, and to pressure commercial/industrial developers to agree
to a community benefits package in exchange for permits and
subsidies.
To further the work of economic justice in our region, CLUE-LA
collaborates with over 600 religious leaders and 1200 lay people
throughout the Los Angeles County area. These churches represent a
very broad range of ethnic and denominational constituencies,
including Christian Evangelicals, Muslim leaders, all of the Jewish
denominations, historic African-American churches, Hispanic
Pentecostals, and Korean congregations.
Workers seeking justice face intimidation, unjust
treatment, and harassment on and off the job. They can grow weary
and afraid. As in every conflict, we can serve as counselors,
chaplains, and friends. Also, faith communities have ways to
provide direct assistance to workers and families facing
unemployment and hardship. Ahavat Torah has responded to members
who find themselves in exactly these situations. Corporations
effectively discourage community involvement by portraying the
struggle as a private competition between economic interests. We
know better. Workers aren’t just workers – they are
friends, neighbors, spouses, children, parents, parishioners and
synagogue members. A good job affects a person’s life and
relationships with others everywhere. Our faith calls us to love
our neighbors and seek justice for each other – in the workplace
and every space in our lives. When CLUE-LA speaks, we speak with
the conviction that faith demands justice always and
everywhere.
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SAVE THE DATE
JUNE 2016
Rabbi Miriam will be leading a trip to Israel for Ahavat Torah
members and their friends!
Watch for further news.
MORE NEWS TO COME!
On December 4th, 5th, and 6th Ahavat Torah Congregation will
have a booth at the Veterans’ Celebration at the V.A in West L.A.
We are asking our congregants and friends to bring to the Synagogue
their gently used clothing to distribute to our Veterans and their
families. Some of our Veterans are homeless. We also need new
underwear and socks. Linda Badger is accepting all clothing
donations now.
The incarcerated female veterans and their supporters at VIP
Post One at the California Institution for Women are crocheting
afghans, hats, scarves and eye glass cases. PLEASE look in your
closets for that yarn you never used and donate it to these causes
near to our hearts. 100% of any money donated will be used to buy
yarn and sewing materials.
WE CAN HELP!
The Torah - Tanya - Haftarah Study the Mystical Torah, the
Kabalistic Tanya, and the Awesome Haftarah
Every Thursday @ the Rabbi’s home
11:00 pm - Kabalistic Tanya ($5)
12:00 - Potluck Dairy Lunch
12:15 pm -Torah Portion of the Week
1:30 pm -Awesome Haftarah of the Week
You may bring a friend!
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“LIFE ON THE BRIDGE “ OUR MEMBERS JUDY WEINTRAUB AND JOEL WARREN
PRESENT THIS FOR YOUR INFORMATION. YOUR SUPPORT IS WELCOMED. WHEN:
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30TH FROM 4-6-P.M. WHERE: TEMPLE BET AM 1039 LA
CIENEGA BLVD., LOS ANGELES, CA 90035
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Donations June/July TRIBUTE CARDS
Ellen Dubois -- Happy 90th birthday to her mother; to Dr. Gwen
L. DuBois, congratulations on her retirement
Shoshi & Izydor Wilchfort – to Ben Greenberg, Mazel Tov on
your Torah chanting – terrific; to
Raphael and Judith Ohayon, wishes for healing; to Andrea
Yahudian, wishes for a speedy recovery
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Natalie Roberts
Judy Kollack
GENERAL FUND
Lynda J. Jackson
Dolores Stern, in honor of her niece, Sherry Modell
JFS TREES
Shoshi & Izydor Wilchfort -- to Bill & Jackie Adams,
wishes for a speedy and complete recovery
Rabbi Miriam and Dr. Chuck – in memory of the life that could
have been
Rabbi Miriam -- in memory of “Cookie” by the Ya, Ya sisters,
Dorryce, Mimi, Mindy and Robin
SPEAKERS FUND
Shoshi & Izydor Wilchfort
SOVA
Shoshi & Izydor Wilchfort
LOX FUND
Shoshi & Izydor Wilchfort
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