Hayad April 2009

April 2009/Nisan– Iyar 5769

“With our young and our old we will go”

EILAT CONGREGATION

www.eilat.org

We are certainly living in interesting times. During the past several months, we have experienced some amaz-ing historical events. Our country elected and inaugu-rated its first African American President, our economy has taken the most dramatic downturn since the Great Depression, many of our retirement savings are worth

less than half of what they were worth only 6 months ago, and we have the largest unemployment in recent history. None of this is news to you all, I know. As the Hebrew calendar turns to the month of Nissan, we prepare to celebrate the Festival of Pesach and are reminded of the journey from slavery to freedom. We gather with our families and friends to retell the age old story, to remind us of the events long ago, to educate our children and to attempt each year to find some new meaning within the story and our seder rituals. This year in particular, we are reminded not of what we have lost or of what we do not have, but of what we do have. We are blessed to live in freedom; freedom to worship as we choose, to live as we choose and to pursue our dreams in whatever manner we choose. During these difficult times, we should be reminded of those things that are most important; the things that we have that cannot be taken away by an economic downturn; our faith, family and community. These difficult times provide us with a unique oppor-tunity to “refocus” our lives away from material pursuits and on to those things that truly define us. Our identity and self esteem are not defined by the size of our house, the kind of car we drive, the clothes we wear, or anything else we “own”. All of these things are tempo-rary in every sense of the word. Our identities are defined by our deeds and our actions and the way we choose to live our lives. Our spirituality and our connections to each other allow us to live and act in a way that builds a lasting legacy that will endure throughout good times as well as bad times. Steve and I have frequently used the term “Kehilla Kiddusha” or “holy community”. Here at Eilat, we are striving to build a Kehilla Kiddusha. When we come together as a community and live and act in a matter that is consistent with Mitzvot and our Jewish values, we become a Kehilla Kiddusha. In doing so, we elevate G-d’s presence in the world and at the same time, we build a lasting legacy for ourselves and our children. I hope you will all join us and become involved / more involved in our Kehilla Kiddusha. As always, I welcome and look forward to your feedback. I wish you all a Hag Sameach, Evan

Congregation Eilat Gift Shop

We have all your Passover

needs and then some.

Gift shop hours by appointment

Please contact Sue DeLiema

at 949.951.2700

From My Jewish Learning

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the three major pilgrim-age festivals of ancient Israel. Originally a combination of a couple of different spring festi- vals, it is a commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt-- especially the night when God "passed over" the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague--and of the following day, when the Israelites had to leave Egypt hurriedly. Centered on the family or communal cele-bration of the Seder (ritual meal), Passover is one of the most beloved of all Jewish holi- days. History: The origins of Pass- over lie in pre-Israelite spring celebrations of the first grain harvest and the births of the first lambs of the season. Within a Jewish context, however, it celebrates God's great redemptive act at the time of the Exodus, leading the Israelites out from slavery in Egypt to freedom. Together with Shavout (the Festival of Weeks) and Sukkot (The Festival of Booths), Pesach is one of the ancient Israelite pilgrimage festivals, during which adult males journeyed to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices and bask in the divine presence. Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the focus of Pesach celebration shifted to the ritual meal, called the Seder that takes place either in the home or in the community. At Home: In anticipation of Pesach, it is traditional to engage in a thorough spring cleaning. During the holi-day, Jews' food reflects the major theme of Passover, reliving God's great redemptive act, albeit in a vicarious manner. Because the Israelites had no time to let their bread rise, Jewish law forbids eating (or even possess-ing) any food that can contain leaven. Therefore, a major part of the preparations for Pesach consists of re-moving all traces of leavened foods from the home and replacing them with unleavened foods (though many Jews prefer to "sell" their unused leaven products to a non-Jew for the duration of the holiday). This necessi-tates both a massive cleanup and the replacement of one's ordinary dishes with special Pesach ones. It also re-quires a shopping expedition to stock the kitchen with special Passover-kosher foods. Seder: The central ritual of Pesach is the Seder, a carefully choreographed ritual meal that takes place either in the home or in the community. A number of symbolic foods are laid out on the table, of which the most impor-tant are the matzah, the unleavened "bread of affliction," and the shankbone, which commemorates the Pesach sacrifice in the Temple. The Seder follows a script laid out in the Haggadah, a book that tells the story of the redemption from Egypt and thanks God for it. Although the Haggadah is a traditional text, many people--particularly in the modern world--add to it and revise it in accord with their theology and understanding of God's redemptive actions in the world. In the Community: Although the focus of Passover observance is on the home, it should not be forgotten that Pesach is a holiday, on the first and last days of which traditional Judaism prohibits working. There are special synagogue services, including special biblical readings, among which one finds Shir ha-Shirim, "The Song of Songs" and Hallel, Psalms of praise and thanksgiving for God's saving act in history. The last day of Passover is one of the four times a year that the Yizkor service of remembrance is recited. Theology and Themes: The overarching theme of Passover is redemption. After all, this is the holiday that celebrates God's intervention in history to lead the Israelites from slavery to freedom. It is a time to celebrate God as the great liberator of humanity. The divine redemption of the Israelites thus becomes the blueprint for the Jewish understanding of God and divine morality and ethics, which can be seen in Jewish participation at the forefront of movements for social justice.

Pesach is just around the corner, but you still have time to spice up your menus with some new reci-pes! Come to Sisterhood’s PASSOVER RECIPE EXCHANGE on THURSDAY, APRIL 2ND @ 6:30 PM. Bring your favorite dairy or parve Pesach dish along with it's recipe. Location TBD based

on number attending, so please RSVP A.S.A.P. 

Our Book Club continues to meet the last Monday evening of each month. New women are al-ways welcome to join in! The book for April is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. For location, time and other information contact Lezlie Schreiber at [email protected] or 949-348-0642. Our FIRST Game Night with the NEW 2009 MAHJ CARD is THURSDAY, APRIL 30TH @ 7:00

PM at Eilat. Please RSVP by Monday, April 27th so we know how many tables and sets we need. PSW WOMENS LEAGUE CONFERENCE is SUNDAY & MONDAY, MAY 3RD & 4TH. For more information, please contact me.

I’d like to remind you once again that this is my last term as Sisterhood President, SO IF YOU ARE IN-TERESTED IN SUSTAINING THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN, please let me know. Co-Presidents are possible as well as other positions on the Sisterhood board. Installation will be at our Closing Event on June 7th. Kol Tuv, Caryn [email protected] 949-951-3829

News from Barbara Fleischer The Kindergarten Chagigah/Senior Service was wonderful!! Students marched in proudly with their teachers Neal Linson and Stella Linson, sing-ing and playing instruments. They were given certificates and their own book of prayers entitled, Thank You God. As a Tallit was held over their heads, parents blessed their children for a life of learning and love for Torah

and a future of good deeds and establishing families of their own. A thoughtful drosh was given by our cherished and beloved senior trustee, Bea Wohl. Thank you to our Seniors and

Kindergarten parents for coordinating the lovely Oneg. !! Thank you to Neal Linson for the yummy Ugah. (decorated cake). Our Purim carnival was a great success and fun was had by all who participated. A big thank you goes out to our USY director Scott Onufer, USY president and VP, Omead Kohanteb and Rebecca Kurland. USY members and friends, Lori Freundlich, Matt Minsky, Mike Minsky, Matt Pincus, Mi-chelle Ezroj, Avi Attal, Stephanie Tomovich, Melissa Miranda and Dana S. Students and Eilat friends attended the reading of the Megillah by Cantor Sue Deutsch at Heritage Pointe Thanks to our student volunteers who read so beautifully: Moshe Wohl, Jacob Rothberg, Benjamin Field, and Gabby Suares. Sunday, March 29 Leslie Tatel will lead Family Connections program, entitled Freedom. This is for all 4-7th graders and their parents. Sunday, April 5th. Our annual Passover Model Seder for all students. 11:15am. – 12:15. Sunday, April 19th Mitzvah Day April 8 through 18 Religious School Offices will be closed for the Passover holiday. Sunday, May 5th, Yom Ha’atzmaut Program. Let’s celebrate Israel’s Birthday as we learn about the special people who made Israel what it is today.

Anniversaries

CELEBRATIONS CELEBRATIONS April Birthdays

Evan Wohl 1 Dirk Van Tatenhove 1 Susan Wallach 2 April Wachtenheim 2 Annette Levinson 5 Mel Glass 5 Helen Sack 7 Brenda Glass 13 Vida Kohanteb 14 Bert Zucker 14 Elliot Fein 14 Steven Lund 15 Janis Uffenheimer 16 Gloria Friedman 18 Norma Levenson 18 Sidney Golden 18 Zahava Morgenshtern 19 Gershon Shamay 20 Sue DeLiema 24 James Marr 24 Sharon Manko 26 Wendy Schwartz 30

Debbie & Elliot Sternberg 4/1 Kourosh & Vida Kohanteb 4/1 Joseph & Helen Sack 4/2 Samuel & Selma Rosen 4/5 Lewis & Sheree Finkelstein 4/21

SAVE THE DATE of Sunday, May 31st for Israel 61: A Free Community-Wide Celebra-tion of Israel's 61st Inde-pendence Day, from 1-4pm on the Samueli Jewish Campus in Irvine. With live entertain-ment by Israel's Tzofim Friend-ship Caravan and the InJoy Orchestra with Gilat Rapa-port, delicious food and won-derful attractions, Israel 61 will be a memorable day for everyone! And best of all - it's FREE thanks to generous local sponsors. Details to follow!

A Bisl Yiddish Remembering the language of our bub-

bes and zeydes

Just for fun, HaYad will periodically devote a column to a language that our grandparents and great-grandparents spoke – Yiddish. Yiddish was a language that linked our people together. It crossed borders and boundaries. Many of its words have even entered mainstream English usage. Words such as mensch, gelt, oy vey, chutzpah and drek can be heard on the streets of cities and towns large and small throughout this country as well as on the floor of Congress. To help keep the language alive, HaYad will provide a short list of Yiddish words and phrases that can be used to connect you with your past and to spice up your con-versations. Zayt gezunt! kveln to beam with pride rachmonis to have compassion or pity of someone shlmiel, der an inept person shrek, di fear, terror (and you thought it was a cartoon character) schlimazel, der an unlucky person

Senior League’s Nosh & Drosh Functions Focused on Health

During the last few month’s the Senior League’s Nosh & Drosh functions have focused on health. Speakers have reviewed the positive affects of

foods enriched in Omega-3 and various diet and exercise programs that will enhance overall health and well-being. Dr. Katherine Manasson of Monarch Healthcare in Mission Viejo has a few tips to reduce the potential for heart disease. Dr. Manasson states that women are at as much risk of heart disease and heart attacks as men. Women though seem to develop heart issues later in life, typically 7 to 8 years later than a man. Below are a few suggestions for reducing the risk of heart disease:

Don’t smoke. 

Control your blood pressure. 

Control your cholesterol level:  diet is key, monitor your level with doctor visits. 

Maintain a healthy weight. 

Exercise regularly. 

Eat a low‐fat diet:  keep fat calories to 30% or less of the total   calories you consume. 

Take care of diabetes:  monitor this carefully with you doctor. 

Be aware of chest pain:  don’t ignore this, seek your doctor          immediately.  

Nausea and shortness of breath can be symptoms as well. 

Know your family history:  if heart disease is within your family your susceptibility is higher. 

The Senior League intends on continuing this series of health re-lated functions so watch for future announcements.

Yahrzeits

Beatrice S. Saphra In memory of Herman D. Goldberg & Alan H. Schuster Lin & Howard Goldman In memory of Mae Goldman Sylvia Schweitzer In memory of Esther Schweitzer Harry Martin In memory of Helen Martin Sandi Mordkowitz In memory of Paul Levine Tina & Buddy Freedman In memory of Abraham S. Lasher Rita LeVine & Edith Kramer In memory of Toby Kramer Helen Sack In memory of Belle Klepner Schwartz Amy & Albert Gazzar In memory of Flore Tawil Eunice Broude In memory of Sol Caplan Robin, Jan, Dave & Geoff Keith In memory of Ruth Keith Sue & Max Deliema In memory of Ruth Keith Joe Noble and Freda Noble

Fanny Kaufman 4/1 Albert Schneyer 4/1 Herbert Rosen 4/2 Donald Jones 4/2 Moshe Shnatman 4/2 Sara Liebert 4/2 Meyer Blumenfeld 4/2 Melvin Warshaw 4/5 Syne Tryper 4/5 Estelle Kass 4/5 Mary Lund 4/5 Michael Pittler 4/5 Jacob Warshaw 4/8 Ruth Friedman 4/9 Ida Brownstein 4/9 Gerald Diskin 4/10 Joseph Levinson 4/10 Dorothy Stern 4/10 Lucia Cymerint 4/11 Jacob Friedman 4/11 Carol Gurstel 4/12 Roza Cohen 4/13 Reina Cohen 4/13 Yakov Cohen 4/13 Simanto Attias 4/13 Polina Attias 4/13 Dora Friedman 4/13 Samuel Chabinsky 4/13 Fannie Kamin 4/13 Clara Cohen 4/13 Abraham Cohen 4/13 Esther Richmond 4/16 Yetta Zamet 4/16 Alfred Issler 4/16 Bronie Markiewicz 4/17 Dale Levine 4/19 Morris Glass 4/19 Harriet Bosch 4/19 Louis Levenson 4/19 Elizabeth Katz 4/20 Jacov Cymerint 4/21 Leja Cymerint 4/21 Bialy Family 4/22 Saul Eskow 4/22 Saul Eskow 4/22 Sally Levine 4/24 Samuel Reisch 4/25 Hyman Levy 4/25 Ernest Sommer 4/26 Leo Broude 4/28 Nathan Pardes 4/29

Dear Congregants, The Sisterhood Scrip Program has re-ceived notice from both Ralph's and Al-bertson's markets, that the loyalty cards ie Ralph's Rewards and the Albertson's Preferred Savings cards must be re-linked to their scrip programs. To relink the Albertson's cards, please go to www.albertsonscp.com and enter our organization's ID which is: 49000104095 along with your Preferred Savings Card number. If you need help because you do not know your Preferred Savings Card number, please call (877) 932-7948. We have had problems trying to link the Ralph's Rewards cards from our end, so we ask that you register at <www.ralphs.com> . Our non profit number is 84653. After registration, you will be able to click on Community Contribution Program on the left side of the screen under the heading My Ralphs. The Sisterhood Scrip Program Appreciates your linking your Ralph's Rewards card to the Eilat program. If you have friends or family who have either Albertson's or Ralph's cards who would like to support the shul, please ask them to go to the two websites and register. Todah Rabah, Pat Baker Scrip Chair

What follows is a plea for assistance. It is a plea both for the writer and for all those in our community who need help finding employment in these troubled times. I thank you for caring enough to take the time to read my words and, if you are in a position of offering the assistance of an open door that will lead to an interview for me or others like me, of doing so. Having been involved with Ritual for so many years, I clothe my appeal the best way I know how – in words of Torah. The first line of Ki Tisa, the Parasha we read on March 14 past,—Ki tisa et rosh B’nei Yisrael—is typically translated as, “when you take a census of the Children of Israel.” The literal translation of the line, however, is “when you raise up the heads of the Children of Israel.” In the act of aggregation, the individual is not simply subsumed into the final tally. S/he is instead “raised up.” The singularity of the individual is underscored even as the counting grinds on, creep-ing toward the census’s ultimate goal of sums and totals. We are numbed by the overwhelming numbers of people adversely impacted by the (yes, I’ll use the term) depression we face in our country. How do we put meaning behind the 10.1% unemployment rate in California, the 12.5 million unemployed in the US, the 4.5 million jobs that have been lost since the recession/depression began? (Note: all num-bers are as of the end of February. By the time you read this, I dread to think where the numbers will be.) The economic downturn we are experiencing is not measured by numbers, though that’s how it’s reported. There are human faces behind each and every statistic that scrolls across our TV screens. 12.5 million faces of people out of work, people with families to feed, mortgages or rents to pay, health issues with which to deal. As Jews we taught that we are our brothers’ and sisters keepers. In Proverbs (3:27) we are warned not to “withhold good from those to whom it is due.” In Devarim (15:11) we are instructed, “You shall open your hand wide unto your brother, unto the poor.” I am one of those faceless statistics; I have been out of work since the end of June. Job interviews are rare and job of-fers even rarer. Maybe you are a hiring manager or know of a company that is hiring. Statistics (for want of a better term) indicate that there is still a hidden job market and that the best way to identify opportunities in this market is not by scouring the Internet job postings or through job fairs, but through personal contact. “Raising up the heads” of the individuals is precisely what the numbness of numbers calls for today. “Raising up the heads” of individuals is precisely what the Torah commands us to do. We must counter the anxiety of counting by in-sisting that the vast numbers with which are bombarded every day are composed of one and one and one and one. We must discipline ourselves to think beyond the sums and engage the human specificity of the devastation of this eco-nomic climate. We must listen for and hear the “still, small voice” of our fellow Eilat members who are suffering in our midst. If you can help alleviate that suffering by offering a hand up (not a hand out), by opening a door to let a job seeker walk in and have a chance to keep a roof over his/her head and food on her/his table, please don’t remain quiet. In this season of Pesach, in this season of our liberation, raise your hand today so that someone can raise their head up tomorrow and be liberated from the slavery this is unemployment. Todah Rabbah. David Lorch [email protected] 949-916-7997 (home) 949-422-6101. (cell)

Jewish Free Loans

On February 1, 2009, Jewish Federation, in partnership with Jewish Free Loan Association of Los Angeles, launched the Jewish Free Loan Association/Orange County. Although one’s initial impression of Orange County might be that it is a community of wealthy families and individuals, the reality is that our Jewish population covers a wide socio-economic and demographic range. Interest-free loans will be available for a myriad of needy situations including personal finance challenges and medical expenses. JFLA/OC is also a resource for loans for higher education, Jewish camping, Israel experiences and the Chasin Family Micro-Enterprise Free Loan Fund for small business. JFLA-OC loan programs will impact lives, change lives, and save lives. For a list of loan types and more information click here.

Career Center Whether you are looking for a job, career counseling, guidance preparing for an interview, or are looking to network with other Jewish busi-ness professionals, the Jewish Federation Assistance Center can direct you to a variety of services and resources. The JFAC Career Center is implemented in partnership with Jewish Family Service, our community congregations and the professional divisions of Jewish Federation. For information about: Job Search Coaching, contact Jewish Family Service Financial Empowerment Programs, contact Jewish Family Service Business Networking programs, contact Jackie Menter, Director of Professional Philanthropy at Jewish Federation. Local Jewish professional networking programs include: Business & Professional Women Real Estate Council Cardozo Legal Society Young Leadership Division Jewish Business Network Please visit our Career Center page for additional information.

Emergency Assistance

Our Jewish community is here to assist people who are seeking immediate crisis-related assistance. Eligible individuals can receive food, shelter, counseling or financial assistance. We are here to help! ~ Jewish Federation's Chai Fund, established in 2006, provides immediate financial assistance to people in life crisis situations. more. Call (949) 435-FIND. ~ Federation's Cardozo Legal Society and Jewish Family Service (JFS) are partnering so that eligible clients may receive pro bono legal assistance. Call (949) 435-FIND. ~ Federation's Real Estate Council and Jewish Family Service (JFS) are partnering to offer eligible clients financial counseling for situa-tions such as mortgage default, foreclosure or bankruptcy. Call (949) 435-FIND.

Helpline Now Available Find a job. Find counseling. Find legal as-sistance. Find a loan. On February 2nd, the Jewish Federation Assistance Cen-ter Helpline went live. The 24/7 number will be available for callers seeking help and resources.

THE 24/7 HELPLINE NUMBER IS (949) 435-FIND (3463).

COMMUNITY CONGREGATIONAL SEDER

Join us as we tell a very

ancient story in a very new way.

Bruce Shapiro, Cantorial student at the Academy of Jewish Religion in Los Angeles, will lead a spirited and surprise-filled SECOND NIGHT SEDER

Thursday, April 9, 2009 Maariv @ 6:15pm

Seder @ 6:30 pm Catered by Monique

Reservations Required Space is limited so make your reservations early

949-770-9606 ext. 11 by March 31st

COST: Adults 8-12 years 4-7 years Eilat Members $41 $25 $8 Community $47 $29 $12

Children under 3 are free

Schedule of Services for Pesach Week Wednesday, April 8th Minyan and Siyyun for First Born 7:45 am Thursday, April 9th 1st Day of Pesach - @ Congregation Eilat 9:30 am Friday, April 10th 2nd Day of Pesach - @ Heritage Pointe 9:30 am Friday, April 10th Shabbat Evening Services 7:30 pm Saturday, April 11th Shabbat Morning Services 9:30 am Wednesday, April 15th 7th Day of Pesach - @ Heritage Pointe 9:30 am Thursday, April 16th 8th Day of Pesach - @ Congregation Eilat 9:30 am YIZKOR

Congregation Eilat

FAMILY MITZVAH DAY Sponsored by Dr. Irwin Rosenfeld

SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2009

Donate Blood at Congregation Eilat through the American Red Cross on Sunday, April 19, 2009 – go to www.givelife.org Donate non-perishable food at Congregation Eilat for South County Outreach – April 1 through April 19, 2009. Bring your Chametz before Pesach and then your leftover Pesach food after. We will be sending a group to stock the shelves on Mitzvah Day. For more information about South County Outreach go to www.saddlebackoutreach.org Join us at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Mitzvah Day for habitat restoration, continued clean up and restora-tion after the November 2007 Santiago Fire (remove non-native plants, plant seedlings). For more informa-tion about the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary go to www.tuckerwildlife.org Join us as we celebrate with OC – Read at they honor one of their book readers that is turning 100! We will read for an hour and donate a book. The time and place are yet to be determined. More details to be followed. For more information about OC – Read go to http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Read%20OC The 2009 Arthritis Walk is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2009 at the Great Park. Volunteer to staff or walk. For more information go to www.letsmovetogether.org . (May 17 is the last day of religious school so no excused absences from this event for students or parents). Coordinate with Bell Tower Foundation of Rancho Santa Margarita to visit homebound individuals. Bell Tower Foundation also delivers Meals on Wheels to Jewish singles and families. Go to for more details http://www.belltowerfoundation.org/whoweare/whoweare_1.htm Create a South County Outreach poster and word document flier to post in the foyer and email to congregants to show services and how to obtain assistance. One family to coordinate and present at the dinner. Create a Jewish Family Service poster and word document flier to post in the foyer and email to congregants to show services and how to obtain assistance. One family to coordinate and present at the dinner. Looking to volunteer – call Marcia Marcinko, Director of Volunteers & Outreach, Jewish Family Services, 949-435-3460 (www.jfsoc.org ). To look online for local volunteer opportunities go to www.volunteermatch.com

Congregation Eilat

FAMILY MITZVAH DAY Sponsored by Dr. Irwin Rosenfeld

SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2009 Forms should be returned no later than April 7

MITZVAH SITE: (Sign-up early for your best choice) The Mitzvah Day committee may need to reassign volunteers should it be necessary.

1st Choice: 3rd Choice:

___________________________ ____________________________

2nd Choice: 4th Choice:

____________________________ ____________________________

Name: ________________________________Phone:___________________

Cell: ________________________________

Email:__________________________________________________________ Children Age ______________________________________ _______________

______________________________________ _______________

______________________________________ _______________