Chai Lights
Volume 14 Issue 303
Iyar/Sivan 5775
From the Rabbi’s Desk
The flight of time is one of the
greatest mysteries. Days can be long, but
years seem to be born with unstoppable
wings. In what seems a blink of the eye, this
month I will be receiving my Doctorate of
Divinity for the milestone of serving 25 years
in the rabbinate.
Twenty five years ago I stood on the
bima of the majestic Temple Emanu-El in New
York City with my rabbinical class and received the blessing of ordination. Semicha, as it
is called involves the laying of hands upon the head to confer the authority of rabbi.
Blessed by the then president of our rabbinical school, Dr. Alfred Gottchalk I can still
summon the feelings of humility, awe and happiness.
Twenty five years ago I handed in my rabbinical thesis, Rabbinic Attitudes
toward Healing. It was a significant writing studying the medium of midrashic literature
as the vehicle into what the rabbis understood the meaning of illness, prayer, miracles,
medicine and hope. I enjoyed the research and have taught much of the material in my
first twenty five years as rabbi.
I have served on the then UAHC, now URJ staff in New York on Religious
Practices and the New York Healing Center where I had the opportunity of introducing
healing programming to congregations throughout our movement. Over time the core
thought of Jewish Healing expanded into teaching Mussar and utilizing prayer and study
as ways to bring wholeness.
When we sing Mi Sh’bayrach, we ask G-d for a healing of spirit even before
asking for the healing of body. The rabbis seemed to know that the connection between
mind and body mattered. We have all known people whose bodies may not have gotten
better, yet whose spirits are whole. And we have known people whose bodies are just
fine, but their inner wellbeing needs help.
In Judaism, we ask for healing of both.
One of the ways we raise our spirits is through laughter. Laughter is said to the
best medicine. Join me Saturday evening, May 2nd at 7:00 p.m. when we welcome a
terrific and wholesome comedy group to CBS. All of them are of different ethnicities
and all of them are Jewish. Their show is called, “You’re Funny, but you don’t look
Jewish!”
As a Jewish proverb says, “As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul.”
And so it is.
With blessings,
Rabbi Nancy Wechsler-Azen
CBS Annual
Meeting
May 28
7:00 pm
May 2015
In This Issue
Administration
Anniversaries
Book Review
Birthdays
Calendar
Candle Lighting
Page
2
18
13
18
16
19
Contribution Form
Education
Food Faire
Life & Legacy
Membership
20
5
6
13
12
2
1
7
President
Rabbi
Religious Practices
Shabbat baBayit
Social Action
Tributes
Yahrzeits
14
9
18
19
Join us for Shabbat
Services:
May 1
5:30 Pre-service oneg
6:00 Family Service
7:00 Familly Shabbat
dinner
May 8
7:30 p.m. Choir Service
May 15
6:00 p.m. Band Service
Shabbat baBayit
(pre-registration
required)
May 22
7:30 p.m. Choir Service
May 29
5:30 Pre-service oneg
6:00 Shabbat service
honoring 2015 High
School Graduates
Congregation Beth Shalom  4746 El Camino Ave, Carmichael CA 95608 (916)485-4478
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Chai Lights
Religious Leaders
Rabbi Nancy Wechsler-Azen
[email protected]
Rabbi David Wechsler-Azen
[email protected]
Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Joseph Melamed
Director of Education
Rina Racket
[email protected]
Choir Director
Kamilyn Davis
Temple Administrator
Marlo Dewing
[email protected]
Office Manager
Brenda Baskerville
[email protected]
Board of Directors 2014–2015
President
Tivon Schardl
VP Administration
Jack Ezekiel
VP Education
Jana Uslan
VP Religious Practices
Sheree Meyer
VP Membership
Roberta Malkin
VP Finance
Joel Birch
VP Programming/Fundraising
Vacant
VP Operations
Marty Berbach
Financial Secretary
Katie Braverman
Treasurer
Penni Blumberg
Recording Secretary
Evan Drukker-Schardl
Immediate Past President
David Ginsburg
Members at Large
Dean Mirtle, Carry Cohn, Jeff
Swatt,, Wendy Wilson, Mauria
Hirning, Sheila Sugarman, Fanny
Levy, Lori Nalangan
When I first began at CBS four years ago, I
was fortunate enough to work for a few weeks with
Marlo Dewing
Debra, the Office Manager at that time, before she
Administrator
moved to Oregon. My first grand undertaking was to
find a replacement Office Manager, and the process,
although somewhat bumpy, yielded the incredible result of hiring Brenda
Baskerville, who, since August 2011, has been my partner and my rock.
I now revisit the hiring process, and while I am confident that we will
find someone who is capable and competent; personable and understanding; I
will miss Brenda terribly. After four years, especially at this time of year, I feel as
if Brenda and I began as Freshmen, weathered the tumultuous “CBS High
School” years with laughter and tears, and now are graduating Seniors…
Although I remain (and happy to do so).
During this time when I am involved in the hiring process, and then
training our new Office Manager, I apologize for any inconvenience that
somewhat different office hours may cause. I do have volunteers who are able to
help (thank you Jana and Fanny!), but please be aware that the office may have
limited afternoon hours through the month of May. I will do my best to keep the
congregation and community informed of any and all changes.
Change is not easy, but it is a normal and necessary part of life. Thank
you so much for your kindness and understanding as we make this transition.
Please join me in wishing all the best to Brenda in her new adventure.
CBS Desktop
President’s Message
It has been a few months since I
submitted a piece for these pages. I hope
Tivon Schardl
you will forgive me for neglecting this part
CBS Board President
of my job. Rest assured that the other
trustees are more diligent and they and
our amazing professional staff have been hard at work. Indeed, so many people in
this community have pulled together in recent months and supported each other
in so many ways that we should all feel grateful that we belong to a congregation
that is true to its motto. Beth Shalom is a place where everyone is family.
I hope you will make your voice heard at the upcoming family meetings.
First, there are the two opportunities to meet with the mission statement committee. Fanny Levy and Sharyn Gardner have done a fabulous job reaching
out to smaller groups and, if you haven’t been consulted as a member of choir or
in relation to the religious school or board, I urge you to go to a meeting and participate in this community-wide effort to define who we are. I found the meeting
with the board to be a powerful and enlightening experience.
I hope you had a good Pesach. The community Seder was another smashing, rollicking success. Please join me in thanking Jana and Brian Uslan, Vicky
Forrester, and everyone else who made the delicious meal and supported the
event. Passover is an especially important holiday for me. I joke with people that
my career path seems like it was laid out by Woody Allen because it’s all about
sex and death. First I fought discrimination against women then the death penalty.
But really my path came from reliving the story of Exodus; hearing about how
Yocheved, Shifra, Puah, Miriam and Batya spoke truth to power and acted; hearing
my grandparents and uncles tell us kids again and again that we have a special responsibility as the descendants of survivors to speak for those whose voices otherwise would not be heard.
In the last few months we closed out the first year of our Life & Legacy
Program. Under Penni Blumberg’s outstanding leadership we exceeded our
goal of 18 commitments and received a nice grant from the Grinspoon Foundation. We need to do it again this year. We have been planning a thank-you event
for all those who have made legacy commitments. Please be patient with us. In the
meantime, I encourage anyone who has not pledged a gift to do so. This is an opportunity for everyone, no matter your present circumstances, to ensure CBS can
serve many more generations.
Next holiday: Shavuot. Please join Rabbi Nancy and me, Fanny,
Sheree Meyer and Dan Bernick for a thought-provoking evening. The theme
this year is freedom. I will lead a brief yoga practice on that theme. How does
binding oneself contribute to freedom? Come try it and you’ll see.
Until then, I just want to say thank you to all of you who were supportive
and encouraging during my recent bad impressions of a rabbi, and more generally
for all the love and support you’ve given me over the past two years. I’m looking
forward to the next two years (unless you come to your senses in time for the
congregational meeting).
Dearest Congregation Beth Shalom,
We want to thank you for your tender words and generosity to our
family during these difficult times. Over these three years so many of you offered
support making it possible for our family to spend quality time with Aryeh. These
treasured visits will have a lifetime impact and all of us thank you. Your support,
tender words, and prayers have made a profound difference in our lives.
With blessings and gratitude,
The Wechsler-Azen family
CBS
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Congregation Beth Shalom is a
member of the Union of Reform
Judaism.
Office hours are Monday
through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m.
The Gift Shop is open during
Religious School on Sundays and
by appointment. Please call the
office.
General Service schedule:
1st Friday: 6:00—7:00 p.m.
Family Service
2nd Friday: 7:30 p.m.
Choir Service & Guest Speaker
3rd Friday: 6:00—7:00 p.m.
Shabbat With a Beat– CBS Band
4th Friday: 7:30 p.m.
Choir Service
5th Friday: 6:00 p.m.
Torah Study:
Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.
Chai Lights is published 11
times each year with a combined
June/July issue.
Editor: Marlo Dewing
Proofing: Brenda Baskerville
Deadline for submissions is the
20th of the month prior to
publication. Please send your
article to Marlo and Brenda at
[email protected] and
[email protected]
To request a copy by snail mail
please call (916) 485-4478.
Advertising is available:
 1/8 page/business card: $9
 1/4 page: $18
 1/2 page: $25
 Full page: $50
Prices listed are per issue. All ads
subject to approval. Please
contact [email protected] for
more information.
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Chai Lights
Before you go online, GO
CBS FIRST!
Did you know the Gift shop
helps raise much needed funds
for CBS?
Visit the CBS Gift Shop
for your Judaica needs!
The Gift Shop is open
Sunday mornings
during Religious School
and by appointment.
I am blessed to be employed by such a loving, supportive Congregation.
CBS
5
My third year here at CBS at the Director of Education and Youth has been filled
with many wonderful volunteers who have made my year possible and positive. I
have recognized some of these extraordinary individuals in previous Chai Lights
Rina Racket
articles, but wanted to give special recognition to Jana Uslan for her Board role
as the VP of Education. Jana has met with me monthly for the past three years.
Director of Education
She has been my sounding board, my resource for constructive feedback, and my
liaison to the larger Board of Directors at CBS. I am consistently touched and impressed by her willingness to
dedicate her time and life experiences to improve various aspects of CBS life. To me, Jana is the epitome of a true
Mensch. Her input in the Religious School has been invaluable, and I want to make sure everyone in the
Congregation knows what an important role she has played in the success of our Religious School program. Jana will
be stepping down from her Board position (certainly more time with her new grandson is planned), and she will be
replaced by Linda Westover. Linda has many years of Education experience, and I look forward to working with
her this coming year.
Calendar:
 Wed., May 6th-RS for 3rd-6th grade, Club Kef walks to Skips for dinner, BMP
 Sunday, May 10-NO RS
 Wed., May 13th-Final day of RS for all 3rd-7th grade students. Pizza dinner celebration. All 6th graders attend BMP
from 6-7, all 7th graders attend Midrasha from 7-8pm.
Religious School
My name is Lily Wechsler-Azen and I become a Bat Mitzvah is May 16th 2015. The
Torah portion is Behar-Bechokotai which tells us about letting the land rest every seven years
(sabbatical) and allowing families who fell on hard times and sold their land to get it back every
fifty years (Jubilee). For my Mitzvah project, Zoey Mills and I collected and distributed socks
and toys for people who have very little. We also painted a Little Library for the grass area
behind Mustard Seed School where small children can choose books and read. I am a student
at Arden Middle School and a graduate of Shalom School. I have participated in Team
Gymnastics for many years at Fliptastics and have reached level 5. During the summer I love to
attend the Reform Jewish Camp, Camp Newman in Santa Rosa.
Hello! My name is Sofia Schiffman and I am in the 7th grade at Gold River Discovery
Center. I become a Bat Mitzvah on May 30, 2015 at Congregation Beth Shalom. My Parsha is
Naso Numbers 4:21- 7:89. For my Mitzvah project, Catherine Orange and I raised money by
selling pastries at the Congregation. We then used that money to buy toys and treats for children
who are patients at Kaiser Permanente. We made gift bags which included a toy, lip balm, hand
sanitizer, and a faux flower. We included a message saying “Get well soon!” My hobbies are
ballet, reading, listening to music, obsessing over bands, traveling, playing with my dog Stella,
hanging out with friends, drawing, watching movies, and hiking. I’d like to thank Rabbi David,
Rabbi Nancy, and Carry Cohen for helping me prepare for my special day.
Rabbi Nancy Wechsler-Azen and members of the CBS community sing with the Interfaith Choir under the
direction of Kamilyn Davis at the Yom HaShoah commemoration event at the Capitol.
Photography by Bruce Patt
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Chai Lights
Food Faire
Hot off the Press: Please pick up and help distribute our
new SAVOR the Date cards!
Keep August 30th as a date to plan for and remember!
Lydia Inghram & Sheila Wolfe
Co-Chairs
WANTED: Baking, Kibitzing and Connecting, No experience
needed! You'll be guided by experts, make something delicious, have fun and
contribute to CBS and the community. What's not to like? Women, men,
children, teens, couples, singles, friends, grandparents: all are welcome and we really need your help. Try It! You'll
Like it! Please call or email Liz Stein ( [email protected] ) and volunteer for a few Sunday morning baking
sessions, held from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon:
May 3, 24 and 31 ~ June 28 ~ July 12, 19 and 26 ~ August 2, 9 and 16.
Many thanks to everyone on the 2015 Food Faire Dream Team (we couldn't do it without you) and to some
of our new volunteers. Bob Rosenberg has volunteered to head up our new and very fun FF Raffle for kids and
adults. After the dinner for new members, Bob contacted us with some great new ideas and a real sense of fun and
teamwork! Jamie Goldstein, Michael Alcalay, Susan Solarz and Henry Klein are an amazing Promotions/
Publicity Team. Natalie Duke has great ideas on bagel schmearing and has volunteered to join the core team.
Thanks also to Andrea Segal for all her years of baking, her willingness to keep making the Schnekken (aka little
Jewish cinnamon rolls) and, along with her hubby Scott Parrish, for donating a deluxe new BBQ so our Hot Dogs
will be just marvelous!
Finally, huge thanks to Eddie Appell, the genius behind our always improving website
jewishfoodfaire.com , which opens for pre-orders on May 17th!
SHAVUOT: The Fiftieth Day
CBS
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SHAVUOT: The Torah commands, "And you shall proclaim that day (the
50th day) to be a holy convocation!" (Leviticus 23:15). Like Sukkot and Pesach,
Shavuot is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three pilgrimage festivals, and
in ancient times the Israelites would make a pilgrimage to bring their crop
Robyn Asch
offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Religious Practices
In Hebrew, shavuot means “weeks” and refers to the seven weeks from
the second day of Passover--the beginning of the counting of the Omer, a measure of barley, marking the end of the
Spring’s harvest--to the beginning of the summer wheat harvest festival on the 50th day.
In the Written Torah, there is no association with Shavuot other than agricultural; however, the Oral Torah
teaches that Shavuot is the holiday during which we are to celebrate the Revelation (receiving of the Ten
Commandments and the Torah) at Mount Sinai and the Children of Israel’s having entered into a covenantal
relationship with G-d, the single most critically defining event in our history as a people.
Other than bringing the harvest's first fruits to the Temple in Jerusalem, which we can no longer do, there
are no particular commandments, mitzvot, regarding what to do or how to celebrate Shavuot. There are no very
special required observances for this holiday equivalent such as the sound of a shofar, the building of a sukkah, or
participation in a seder.
The celebration of this festival holiday with its variety of traditional practices was largely and historically
limited to those affiliated with Orthodox Judaism; yet, over time, that divide has blurred, and Tikkunim have become
extremely popular.
In general, it’s become customary to eat dairy foods, a tradition that sprang from, and is meant to be
symbolic of, the comparison that words of Torah are as sweet as milk and honey. In more recent years, for many
people, enjoying cheesecake and blintzes has become as synonymous with Shavuot as has staying up all night to
study. The tradition of staying up all night to study, tikkun leil, has been traced back to the 16th century mystics living
in Tzfat, then a remote town in the hills of what is now northern Israel. Traditions regarding what to study vary
greatly and have evolved and changed over time. I read that in Jerusalem one could spend the entire night wandering
from tikkun to tikkun, where they are held everywhere: people’s homes, educational & community centers, as well as
synagogues and institutions of every religious and ideological flavor. Most of the gatherings are evenings of study for
the sake of learning and fellowship, and the various themes and topics they address are endless. Some study from Pirkei Avot, (The Wisdom of Our Fathers), reading a chapter a week from the first Shabbat
after Pesach and finishing with the sixth, and last, chapter at the conclusion of the counting of the Omer. According
to the URJ, Reform Jews often read and study the Book of Ruth.
According to Avi Shafran, Internet Blogger, Public Affairs Director of Agudath Israel and contributing author
to Foreward.com, “Shavuot is arguably the most important (of the festival holidays) for contemporary Jews, because it holds
the secret not only of freedom, but also of love. Really.” Shafran describes Shavuot as a day commemorating a cosmic
declaration of love. Our ancestors (and our own souls, as well, as the Midrash famously teaches) stood united in
effecting a deep bond by accepting God’s betrothal gift: His Torah.
This custom of studying together with a community symbolically means to allow us to re-experience standing
at Mount Sinai, where we received the Torah. For, I believe, six years now, members of our Beth Shalom family have
been gathering to celebrate having received the gifts of the "Ha'Devarim" (The Ten Commandments) and
"Ha'Torah" (the Torah). We share a dairy meal and spend an evening of expansive camaraderie on various topics as
they relate to the evening's theme. This year, the theme for our Shavuot study is FREEDOM.
To me, there is nothing quite like studying together - you add cheesecake - and that's my idea of a little
heaven right here on earth, at Beth Shalom. It would be my wish for all who have the time, and are able to come,
that you join the holiday celebration and for those with challenges which are, or appear to be, obstacles to attending,
may you find the means to overcome those obstacles and join the evening’s program. Come; study with us. These
are always really special evenings.
Religious Practices
Do you enjoy the sweetness of Shabbat?
Please consider helping with oneg. Oneg duties include preparing Kiddush and Challah;
providing and plating sweets; putting everything back in order when it’s finished.
We also accept donations directly to the Oneg Fund.
Please contact the office if you are able to participate in this mitzvah at any time.
Many thanks to Don Parks of the RPC who assists Oneg volunteers each Friday.
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Chai Lights
CBS Office CLOSED Monday May 25 for Memorial Day
Please support the businesses that advertise in Chai Lights!
CBS
9
The Social Action committee is active in many projects. But, before I get into
some of that information, I wish to do a shout out to the BSTY Social Action team, who
Diane Weber
facilitated an informative, and educational Social Action day. I won’t say more about the
Social Action Chair
content, but will say I am extremely awed with the topic, the presentation, and the
cooperation of all the students involved. As a social advocate myself, I look forward to
what the future holds for these impressive students and what they will do next.
Updates for community action include working on Lifelines to Healing, Immigration, Healthcare for All,
Affordable Housing and Homelessness, and Education. At any given time we (our Synagogue) is invited to join other
Sacramento congregations to pursue social action involving these issues. If you have a passion for any of these topic
please let me know, there is always ways to get involved.
Social Action
A Helping Hand to CBS
Finance
I'd be willing to bet that a majority of CBS families has shopped on Amazon before and
Joel Birch
does so at least a few times a year. Okay, so I'm not a big risk taker.
VP Finance
If you're going to shop on Amazon, please keep Beth Shalom in mind as you do so. A
small contribution is made by Amazon for any shopping you do through the Amazon Smile program when you connect
to them through our link. So click here to support CBS. It costs you nothing and benefits the congregation.
A testimonial from Doris Walters: “I just changed my designation to Sacramento Jewish Fellowship ...one
click!!! Amazing. Can't recall the steps for initially signing up but changing was fun particularly since I no longer want to
support the previous recipient. This change was a win-win."
From another congregant: “I made amazonsmile.com my first link into shopping on Amazon. The temple
gets .5% of all of my spending (that can really add up quickly). So excited to put some of my online shopping to work
for my congregation! Go to smile.amazon.com . The first time you go there, it will ask you to choose your
Charity. Our Temple Charity name is listed as Sacramento Jewish Fellowship of Carmichael. That's
about all!
 Select to support Sacramento Jewish Fellowship
 Get the Amazon 1Button App
 Share your support on Facebook or Twitter
Show your friends how they can support
CBS (Sacramento Jewish Fellowship)
Remember: CBS only benefits
when you start at: http://smile.amazon.com
In case the link above doesn't work for you,
just copy and paste this URL into your browser.
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7316431
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Chai Lights
Vacant
Annual Meeting 5/28 7:00 pm
Annual Meeting 5/28 7:00 pm
CBS
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Chai Lights
Tikkun Leil Shavuot
May 23rd
7:00 p.m.
Members of the Tribe
Karen Hull
Membership Team Member
Celebrate the complete freedom experience, both the physical and
the spiritual. Our study theme will be "freedom" explored through
sacred text, poetry, philosophy, yoga, meditation and art.
She often wondered why, when
she performed an act of loving kindness,
like giving a perfect stranger a ride For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to
home, others would ask, “Well, why did
live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of
you do that? You don’t know that
others.
Nelson Mandela
person”. She would think to herself,
“Well, because they needed a ride
Enslave the liberty of but one human being and the liberhome”. To her, it seemed like the right
William Lloyd Garrison
thing to do. Then, one day in 2004, as ties of the world are put in peril.
she walked along with a friend, her
I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to
friend said she was on her way to
be free... so other people would be also free.
Rosa Parks
perform a mitzvah. “What”, she asked?
‘What is a mitzvah”? Her friend
explained a mitzvah is an obligation, the sacred responsibility of every Jew to make the world a better place. That's
when she knew, for certain, she wanted to be a Jew.
Though she was born in Augusta, Georgia, Doris Walters moved west, settling in Sacramento in 1988, after
retiring from the United States Air Force. She pursued her profound interest in Judaism by attending an introductory
class in Judaism, which she had to sneak off to, because the husband she was married to at the time wouldn’t have
approved. Doris married her current husband, Dan in 1995. It was on April 25, 2004, Doris and Dan attended Dan's
grandson's little league pancake breakfast in the park. She was seated at a table with a man and his son, and they began
to talk. The man attended Mosaic Law. He invited her to attend the 50th anniversary of his becoming a bar mitzvah on
the 8th of May. She went. Then she attended every single Saturday service at Mosaic Law for the next 101 Saturdays.
Doris' husband, Dan recognized how much Doris respected Judaism and along with Doris' daughter, Amelia, was
thoroughly supportive as she pursued what she describes as her "wonderful journey" to join our family.
Doris met Rabbi Nancy during her conversion process. To quote Doris, “Rabbi Nancy’s drashes are the most
beautiful, meaningful, and inventive. She’s the best in town”. Doris loves attending Friday night Shabbat at CBS because
she says, “It is an opportunity to see brilliance”, as Rabbi Nancy juggles the service, never knowing who will be there,
not assuming the same people will be at every service, and integrating various people into each service. “Rabbi Nancy
helps us as people who have life detours. She understands. She’s real. She gets it” says Doris.
Doris undertook the contracting and daily supervision of the remodeling of the social hall, office, restrooms,
hallways, and landscaping at the synagogue in 2006. She also designed the walkway and patio on the north side of the
synagogue. She says she undertook the project because "it was long overdue." Currently, Doris plans the coordination
of aliyot at Friday night services, which is a time consuming task. She contacts various members of the congregation to
see if they will be in attendance, and if they will accept the honor. She must also work closely with Rabbi Nancy to
know what her plans are for the service, and what will be needed. It is an opportunity for Doris to get to know the
members of the congregation, help them to receive an honor, and encourage them to perform mitzvot.
Recently, Doris and husband Dan were on a trip, when they stopped at a rest stop. Doris found a wallet in the
restroom. The identification was that of a French tourist. Doris tried calling several numbers to locate the owner of
the wallet, without success. She even called the French Consulate, who wasn't much help. So Doris continued
sleuthing and called the number of a Super 8 Motel she found on a business card in the wallet. As it turned out the
French tourist, Brigitte, was staying at the motel that night. Brigitte had not yet discovered her wallet was even
missing! Doris and Dan drove from Orland to Vacaville to return Brigitte's wallet to her in person. Now that's a
mitzvah!
When I talked with Doris about this article, we talked for an hour and a half. What a wonderful experience it was!
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. My thought after we talked was, ‘Wow! She’s just amazing’! I hope you all get to
know Doris Walters.
Member Directories are available in the office.
CBS
13
Book Review
At our next meeting at 7:00 PM on Monday, May 11th, Sheree Meyer will be
leading a discussion of Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer.
Fanny Levy
Here is what Sheree has to say about the book: Jewish literature is often
described as occurring "between laughter and tears." Jonathan Safran Foer's debut novel, Everything Is Illuminated, is
one of my favorites because it fits right into that tradition. Just as his protagonist travels to the Ukraine to discover his
roots in the shtetl of his grandfather's past, we travel with him accompanied by a contemporary Eastern European
guide whose fractured English hilariously lampoons American culture. In Everything Is Illuminated, Foer takes us back
to the magic realism of Sholem Aleichem and the melancholy of Isaac Bashevis Singer but with a great twist of 21st
century satire and humor.
Everything Is Illuminated is the Winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction and The Guardian First
Book Award. It was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award for First Fiction. It appeared on Best of the Year
lists in the New York Times, Esquire, GQ, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek,
USA Today, Book magazine, Booklist and Publishers Weekly. Please join us!
Upcoming Books:
June 8: The Orientalist: Solving the Mystery of a Strange and Dangerous Life by Tom Reiss, led by Bill Rozell
July 13: The Mathematician’s Shiva: A Novel by Stuart Rojstaczer, led by Marcy Merrill
At our April meeting, Liz Stein led our discussion of Eating on the Wild Side
by Jo Robinson. All of us had new insights into how to buy, store and cook to get
more nutritional value from foods after reading the book, and many of the facts in the
book surprised us. For example, we learned that garlic loses much of its nutritional
value if you cook it immediately after mincing or crushing. We were also surprised
that some canned foods have more nutritional value than fresh ones, and that smaller
tomatoes have a higher nutritional content than larger ones. We noted that Eating on
the Wild Side is valuable to the home gardener as well as the consumer, as it identifies
varieties of seeds to pick if you are growing your own vegetables. One disappointment
was that the book did not address the nutritional content of one or two varieties that
are commonly available to growers. In general, though, everyone found the book to be
a valuable one to read, regardless of whether one is a carnivore, vegetarian, or vegan.
Life & Legacy Donors
Thank you for committing to a lasting contribution for the future of CBS!
Carry Cohn
Jean Rubin
Anonymous
Dean Mirtle
Robin Asch
David Ginsburg
Penni Blumberg
Tivon Schardl
Judy Lewis
Steve Lewis
Katie Braverman
Anonymous
Jana & Brian Uslan
Wendy Wilson, Ph.D.
Lydia Inghram
Jessica Braverman Birch & Joel Birch
Rabbi Nancy Wechsler-Azen
Rabbi David Wechsler-Azen
Alla Gamarnik & Joel Blank
Dave & Roberta Malkin
Add your name to the list of people
who are assuring Jewish tomorrows!
For more information about the Life & Legacy Program
and how to participate, please contact the office to get connected
to one of our Legacy Team Members.
14
Chai Lights
Shabbat Babayit
Remaining Dates:
May 15 and June 19
RSVP required by May 4 to
participate on May 15.
Click here to register online
CBS Shabbat BaBayit Dream:
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Together we will celebrate Shabbat.
Its rhythm will unite us with each other, with Jews around the world, and
throughout the ages.
On this day we will create a warm and loving space, holding our families and
friends together.
On this day we will lay down the burdens, distractions, demands, and
pressures of daily life.
On this day we will renew ourselves, emerging spiritually, emotionally, and
physically invigorated.
On this day we will own our precious heritage, wearing it as a badge of
pride and honor.
Together we embark on this great adventure to rediscover our G-d-given
gift of Shabbat.
CBS will host Melton’s next two-year cycle beginning October, 2015.
Classes will be held Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:45pm. Join the great
Jewish Conversation.
CBS
15
The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning is the
largest pluralistic adult Jewish education network in the world. We
have set the standard for high-quality text-based interactive Jewish
study by offering a world-class, two year curriculum developed at
Hebrew University that informs and inspires adult learners from all
knowledge levels and backgrounds. If you are looking for a profound understanding of what it means to be
Jewish, join us to explore the texts of our tradition and discover how they relate to us today.
Learn more about Melton at www.meltonschool.org/. You may also contact Sara Kahn Shapiro, Director at
[email protected] or call 916-488-6397.
Federation is now accepting donations for its Kosher Food Pantry.

All goods should be non-perishable and have a kosher symbol.

Items may be delivered to the Federation office at 2130 21st
Street, Sacramento. We also accept toiletries and Judaica items.

For a list of suggested items, visit www.jewishsac.org.

If you are in need of visiting the Food Pantry, please contact
Resource & Referral Coordinator Alicia Mittleman at 916-2050688.
16
Chai Lights
Post on your refrigerator!
Congregation Beth Shalom is proud to announce its adoption of Mishkan
HaNefesh, the new two volume Machzor for the 2015 Days of Awe.
A donation of $50.00 covers the costs of a single set of Mishkan HaNefesh, while
$100.00 will “buy” one set for you and one set for the congregation. All donations
will be acknowledged with a bookplate in the prayer books. Donations should be
made to CBS (Religious Practices Committee) and should identify the “New
Machzorim” as the purpose of your donation.
About Mishkan HaNefesh
 Offers meaningful liturgy for both regular service attendees and those new to Jewish
spirituality and practice
 Inspires a multifaceted experience of Yamim HaNoraim—from feelings of awe to
moments of solace, from the solitude of contemplation to the solidarity of song and
worship
 Provides an accessible guide through the journey oft'shuvah (repentance) and cheshbon
hanefesh (self-reflection)
 Bridges the personal and the communal, the ritual and the ethical dimensions of Yamim
HaNoraim
 Embraces the rich liturgical voices of the Jewish past and the aspirations of our people
today
Special Features
 Fully transliterated liturgy
 Expanded options for Torah readings
 Study texts that provide background and context
 Contemporary poetry and alternative readings
 Rich commentary drawing from Jewish tradition
 A range of theological possibilities
 New translations that capture the beauty of the Hebrew
 Original woodblock art by acclaimed artist Joel Shapiro
 Includes essays by the leading Reform Movement thinkers
CBS
17
Individual/
Family
Counseling
Jewish Family
Service offers
affordable individual
and family
counseling with
Community Social
Worker Alicia
Mittleman, LCSW,
or Pastoral
Counseling Intern
Joel Zeff, Rabbi of
Kenesset Israel
Torah Center.
Strict
confidentiality
maintained.
For more
information or to
schedule an
appointment,
contact Alicia
at 916-205-0688.
Send in your donation today!
Purchase a leaf on the Tree of Life
Commemorate a special event with a custom leaf on the
CBS Tree of Life, prominently displayed in the foyer.
Only $120.00, 120 being the age of Moses.
Contact Carry Cohn or [email protected] for details.
18
Chai Lights
Happy May Anniversary
Bruce Carl & Penni Blumberg
Steve & Jenny Jeffrey
Gilles & Cindy Attia
Scott & Robyn Pettinato
Morris Newman & Sharon Bernstein
Holly Illfeld & Bob Bennett
Reena Lewis & Jim Kilbourn
Mark & Susan Leibenhaut
Matthew Bray & Nancy Leaderman
Bruce Burdick & Layne Hersh
Jana & Brian Uslan
Jeff Swatt & Robin Taylor
Happy May Birthday
Madison Alcalay
David Bories
Natalie Duke
Leah Ezekiel
Mari Golub
Richard Nicoles
Wendy Wilson
Massoud Bekhour
David Meyer
Seth Robinson
Eliza Wechsler-Azen
Angela Ezekiel
Tatyana Kagan
Naomi Cohen
Jami Goldstene
Karen Hull
Monika Robbins
Shelley Spilberg
Rachel Friedman
Ben Ilfeld
Liam Varano
Magali Varano
Kate Acree
Rebecca Jennings
Lily Wechsler-Azen
Dana Drukker
Joanne Harris
Julia Sandman
Brian Uslan
Jacob Appell
Rick Frey
Andrea Karsh
John Kilbourn
Bella Bercovich
Warren Cohen
Rachael Hersh-Burdick
Randy Courtland
Robyn Pettinato
Rita Lehman
Vera Sandronsky
Joy Cohen
Joel Korotkin
Edward Appell
Sofia Schiffman
Alex Golub
Elijah Swatt
Jonathan Aron
Estee Cohen
Karen Sackheim
Ann Marie Steinke
Jordon Glenn
Tierney Korotkin
April Tributes
To the Rabbis’ Discretionary Fund:
 From the Luedtke Family, in memory of Aryeh SteinAzen
 From Clair Merksamer, in memory of Aryeh SteinAzen
 From Carry Cohn, in memory of Aryeh Stein-Azen
 From Seth Rosenthal & Joi Barrett, in memory of
Aryeh Stein-Azen
 From Sylvia Grossman, in memory of Aryeh SteinAzen
 From Dave & Roberta Malkin, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
 From Sheree & David Meyer, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
 From Bob Bennett & Holly Ilfeld, in honor of another
perfect 4.0 at UC Davis. Congratulations Ron
 From Bob Bennett & Holly Ilfeld, in memory of Robert
Bennett, Sr.
 From Gail Abilovitz, in memory of her mother, Sharon
Abilovitz
 From Naomi Rice, in memory of Aryeh Stein-Azen
 From Fanny & Neil Levy, in memory of Aryeh SteinAzen
 From Herbert & Donne Davis, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
 From Harold Stein, in memory of Aryeh Stein-Azen
 From John & Phyllis Blum, in memory or Aryeh SteinAzen
 From Joyce Berger, in memory of Aryeh Stein-Azen
 From Herbert and Donne Davis, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
 From Charlotte Ballard & Robert Zeff, in memory of
Aryeh Stein-Azen
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From Robert & Alison Sandman, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
From Bruce Burdick & Layne Hersh, in memory of
Aryeh Stein-Azen
From the Edber Family, in memory of Aryeh SteinAzen
From Bonnie Kaplan, in memory of Aryeh Stein-Azen
From Edward & Marcia Edelstein, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
From Liz & Deon Stein, in memory of Aryeh SteinAzen
From Elizabeth and Michael Gurev, in memory of
Aryeh Stein-Azen
To the General Fund:
 From Betsy & Tom Jennings, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
 From Alison & Robert Sandman, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
 From Carol Klein, in memory of her mother, Lillian
McCord
 From Ronald and Iris Bachman, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
 From Herb & Joy Cohen, in memory of Aryeh SteinAzen
 From Michael Adelson, in honor of the yahrzeit of his
father
 From Alvin Malkin, in memory of Sharon Abilovitz
 From Deborah Nelson, in memory of Aryeh SteinAzen
 From Mark & Tammy Noel, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
(cont. on next page)
CBS
May Yahrzeits
Phyllis Weis
Suzie Ginsburg
Richard Ruhman
Helen Doneger
Al Gray
Adele Hersh
Dorothy Rosenberg
Bonne` Bearson
William Leibenhaut
Mel Rosenberg
Larry Hawkinson
Leroy Davis
Frances Lewis
Ted Dritz
Ernestine Harfeld
Ani Warner
John Martin Polis
Ida Friedson
Thelma Dames
Sam Schwartz
Ralph Segal
Ray Zirkle
Frank Rosenvasser
Albert Cohodes
Jim Hornak
Kirby Asch
Rachel Kalamaras
Dr. Paul E. Weiss
Gil Block
Es’Hagh Halimi
Shirley June Harris
Avraham & Mary Azinski
Samuel Bagoon
Max Wasserman
Elisabeth Baumgartner
Chad Pifer
Florence Leibenhaut
Walter Frey
Mary Goldfarb
Corey Glick
Ruth Ruhman
Leonard Vogel
Edward Paxon Howard III
Robert Dean Laughlin
Fannie Frey
Alfred Nitta
Sylvia Zeiss
Margaret Berman
Arthur Klein
April Tributes (cont. from prev page)
Parashot
19
Candle Lighting
Friday, May 1 / 13 Iyar
7:39 pm
Ahare Mot/Kedoshim
Leviticus 16:1-20:27
Haftarah: Amos 9:7-15
Friday, May 8 / 20 Iyar
7:46 pm
Emor
Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23
Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31
Friday, May 15 / 27 Iyar
7:52 pm
Behar - Behukotai
Leviticus 25:1 - 27:34
Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14
Friday, May 22 / 5 Sivan
7:58 pm
Bamidbar
Erev Shavuot
Numbers 1:1 - 4:20
Haftarah: Hosea 2:1-22
Saturday, May 23 / 6 Sivan
Shavuot
after 9:03pm
Sunday, May 24 / 7 Sivan
after 9:04 pm
Shavuot
From Lydia Inghram, in memory of Sharon Abilovitz
From Lydia Inghram, in memory of Aryeh Stein-Azen
From the Polis Family, in memory of Aryeh Stein-Azen Friday, May 29 / 12 Sivan
8:04 pm
From Carol Klein, in memory of Aryeh Stein-Azen
Naso
From Michael & Elizabeth Singer, in memory of Aryeh
Numbers 4:21 - 7:89
Stein-Azen
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25
 From Betsy & Tom Jennings, in memory of Aryeh
Stein-Azen
 From Mark Lipson
 From Dick Nicoles
 From Carl Miller
 From Ginger & Steve Bicks, in memory of Aryeh SteinDo you want to participate on the bimah?
Azen
If you are observing a yahrzeit, anniversary, birthday or
just wish to be part of the Friday night service by
To the Music Fund:
performing any of the following tasks, please contact
 From Carry Cohn, in memory of Sharon Abilovitz
Dave Malkin at (916) 782-3699 or
 From Richard & Susan Nicoles, in memory of Aryeh
[email protected]
Stein-Azen
 From Charlotte Ballard, in memory of Sharon Abilovitz
1—light the Shabbat candles
2—Aliyah to the Torah
To the Youth Fund:
3—redress the Torah as Hagbah or G’lilah
 From Alvin & Fifi Paykel, in memory of Aryeh SteinAzen
All Jewish members ages B’nai Mitzvot and up are welcome.
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Postage
Address Label
Beth Shalom Contribution Tribute Donation Form
The enclosed is: ( ) a deposit to my individual tribute account
( ) a designation of $________ from my tribute account to ___________________Fund.
( ) a contribution to the ___________________________________________ Fund.
In memory/honor (circle one) of _______________________________________________________
Please acknowledge:
Name: __________________________________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________________________________
City, State Zip ____________________________________________________________________
Donor:
Name: __________________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
City, State Zip: ___________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________ E-mail: _____________________________________
General Support Fund • Rabbis’ Discretionary Fund
Education Program Funds• Catherine Bos Music Fund • Lester Gould Library Fund • Beautification Fund
Unjericho Fund • Memorial Board • Rachel Melamed Storytelling Fund
Youth Programs Fund • Religious Practices Fund • Other
Thank you for making a tribute to Congregation Beth Shalom in memory or honor of an individual. To insure proper
recognition, please use this tribute form when sending your tribute. Thank you! CBS Sisterhood Tribute Chair
Please return completed form to Temple Office