Congregation Beth Shalom|Newsletter November 2007

Previous newsletters are here. November 2007 / Cheshvan-Kislev 5768
Latkes and Vodkas If you have plans for the night of December 8, cancel them. Now! And if you don't think you have plans, just tell us where you put your Palm Pilot, your Blackberry, your social calendar, or wherever you write down your reminders, because we have some plans for you! We're having Latkes and Vodkas again, and you're invited (provided you're 21 or older, of course). Last November, a few of us got together in the rabbi's office and hashed out this crazy idea Joel Youngheim had: a Chanukkah party modeled after one in Las Vegas called Latkes and Vodkas. The idea wasn't so crazy, but could we pull it off in a month or so? Well, we could and we did. 150 people attended and had a blast. And we even raised more than $3000 for our synagogue youth programs. Not bad for a last-minute idea. So we're doing it again, and we hope to raise more money and have more people over for a night of music, dancing, latkes, vodka and just plain fun. If you went last year, you'll want to go again. If you didn't go last year, come see what you missed. Word is spreading--if those 150 people at last year's event tell two of their friends and get them to come, that'll be 450 people. You wouldn't want to miss it again, would you? We have five local luminaries set to light the menorah. What we need now from you is: Buy tickets! Call the office and get on the list. They're $25 per person in advance (21 and older, please!), but they'll be $30 at the door. Save yourself the $5 and buy raffle tickets with it. Tell your friends to buy tickets! Have them call the office at 571-6060. Donate stuff for the silent auction. Got a vacation home? Auction off some time there. Could be a three-day weekend, could be an entire week. We're not picky. Want to host a small party or a gourmet dinner at your place? That's worth some money to someone! Can you talk someone else into giving away something interesting and unique? Tickets for some event at the Gallo Center for the Arts? Can you get people into Skywalker Ranch for a guided tour? Or is there something we haven't thought of? Help us plan for this year's Latkes and Vodkas! Call Joel Youngheim and tell him you want to help. He'll tell you what to do. (He's good at that.) Mazel Tov The date was October 10th, 2007. All the students and staff at Harriette Kirschen Elementary School turned out to honor Mrs. Kirschen on her ninetieth birthday. As for myself, it was such a joy to hear 500 children sing "Happy Birthday, Mrs. Kirschen." Several students narrated words of praise they had written expressly for the occasion. A book, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, was purchased and dedicated to the library in Harriette's honor. Then, clearly and beautifully, Harriette read it to the entire student body. Among the many other tributes given in Harriette Kirschen's honor is a college scholarship fund in her name instituted by her children, the details of which have not been finalized. Harriette, mazel tov and todah rabbah for a job well done! Joan Guerra Religious School News Dear Families, Fall is in the air and Jewish learning, too! Our new morning prayer service, Shacharit, is off to a grand start. This learning service is geared for grades 4-10, but all ages may participate. If younger children would like to attend, they must be accompanied by an adult. If any adult would like to attend, you must leave here with more knowledge than you came in with! This service is every other Sunday. This month's services are the 4th and 18th. Todah again to Tom Gough for presenting and executing this fabulous program! Tom has also begun our Mincha or afternoon service on Thursdays, which is the last 10-15 minutes of Hebrew school. Our goal for these additional services is to educate our students on the rituals and traditions of prayer, not only on Shabbat but also during the week as well. Our Sunday and Thursday services will give all of us an opportunity to ask why, when, and how we pray. The more we understand the meanings of our faith, traditions, and prayers, the more we will appreciate the gifts of our heritage. These services will all be led in our sanctuary, so please be respectful and quiet for drop-offs and pick-ups. We do encourage your participation as parents and grandparents. Please remember safety is number one, so please walk your students in and out of our CBS home. Lastly, I know how busy December can be, but please plan to attend our Family Service on Friday, December 7th. We have postponed our Consecration Service to this date, which is also the fourth night of Chanukkah. Consecration is when we formally welcome the youngest and newest members of our school to the beginning of their Jewish education. We have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for during this season! Shalom for now, Marlene Gonsalves Remember, half of every subscription to J- will go to Congregation Beth Shalom. See your Bulletin for details.	Oneg Shabbat Hosts November 2 -- Gonsalves, McCoy, & Youngheim families. November 9 -- Gandelman, Poslaniec, & Snyder families. November 16 -- Jacobs & Palitz-Knight families. November 23 -- Abanathie & Buettner families. November 30 -- Martinez & L. Skolnick families. Thank you for participating. Please remember to include fruit as an alternative dessert. Thank You Thank you to Lyn Rabinovitz for her help with little jobs around the office, and to Elsa McCoy for her help with the mailing of the October bulletin. We are always looking for volunteers to help with the bulletin. Please call the CBS office if you are available Thank you to Mark Haskett for designing the new membership directory and for the many hours he spent on it. Thank you also to Dave Bermann for the photos that were used on the front and back covers. Thank you to Buzz Cohn, Eric Grose, Gary Kailes, and Josh & Scott Biewer for emptying and tearing down our storage shed (it had termites). A new, replacement shed will be built soon. Lunch Bunch The Lunch Bunch has been transformed to our new Lunch & Learn, which began in October. This is open to all congregants, as we bring a different topic each month. End to Credit Cards After a six-month trial, we have determined that it is not cost effective for CBS to accept credit cards. We will no longer be processing automatic dues payments via credit card. Contributions Thank you for your donations or contributions. Please make all checks out to CBS, Congregation Beth Shalom, or USY, and use the memo portion to note the fund you are contributing to. [The bank is beginning to object to other names on checks.] Todah Rabbah! "Get Well" Information Needed If you know of a congregant who is ill or in the hospital, please help us include them for calls, visits, and the speedy recovery list by letting the office staff know. Please remember that hospitals are not permitted to share information with the public, including the synagogue. Are You Getting Our Weekly eMail? If you are not getting our weekly CBS email, let me tell you what you might be missing. Our weekly email is sent out on Thursdays, and includes yartzets observed, weekly activities, a Torah summary, congregational "get well" list, and special announcements. If you would like to be added to this list, please contact Laura Biewer (cbslaurab@sbcglobal.net or 571-6060). Don't miss another week! Inkjet Cartridge Recycling Program Thank you for your past support and we hope that more of you will think of recycling your used ink jet cartidges by placing them in the recycling bin in the foyer. Scrip News We carry O'Brien's, Gottschalks, Richland Market, and Starbucks. These are in stock and available for purchase. Safeway and Macy's If you shop at Safeway or Macy's, we ask that you consider registering your store cards with escrip. Every time you make a purchase, you generate a percentage of your purchase for CBS. SaveMart If you shop at SaveMart, please register for a SHARES card. Forms are available in the foyer or call the CBS office and we will mail one to you. If you have any questions on any of these programs, please call the CBS office at 571-6060.

Previous newsletters are here.

November 2007 / Cheshvan-Kislev 5768

Latkes and Vodkas

If you have plans for the night of December 8, cancel them. Now! And if you don't think you have plans, just tell us where you put your Palm Pilot, your Blackberry, your social calendar, or wherever you write down your reminders, because we have some plans for you!

We're having Latkes and Vodkas again, and you're invited (provided you're 21 or older, of course).

Last November, a few of us got together in the rabbi's office and hashed out this crazy idea Joel Youngheim had: a Chanukkah party modeled after one in Las Vegas called Latkes and Vodkas. The idea wasn't so crazy, but could we pull it off in a month or so?

Well, we could and we did. 150 people attended and had a blast. And we even raised more than $3000 for our synagogue youth programs. Not bad for a last-minute idea.

So we're doing it again, and we hope to raise more money and have more people over for a night of music, dancing, latkes, vodka and just plain fun.

If you went last year, you'll want to go again. If you didn't go last year, come see what you missed. Word is spreading--if those 150 people at last year's event tell two of their friends and get them to come, that'll be 450 people. You wouldn't want to miss it again, would you?

We have five local luminaries set to light the menorah. What we need now from you is:

Buy tickets! Call the office and get on the list. They're $25 per person in advance (21 and older, please!), but they'll be $30 at the door. Save yourself the $5 and buy raffle tickets with it.
Tell your friends to buy tickets! Have them call the office at 571-6060.
Donate stuff for the silent auction. Got a vacation home? Auction off some time there. Could be a three-day weekend, could be an entire week. We're not picky. Want to host a small party or a gourmet dinner at your place? That's worth some money to someone! Can you talk someone else into giving away something interesting and unique? Tickets for some event at the Gallo Center for the Arts? Can you get people into Skywalker Ranch for a guided tour? Or is there something we haven't thought of?
Help us plan for this year's Latkes and Vodkas! Call Joel Youngheim and tell him you want to help. He'll tell you what to do. (He's good at that.)

Mazel Tov

The date was October 10th, 2007. All the students and staff at Harriette Kirschen Elementary School turned out to honor Mrs. Kirschen on her ninetieth birthday. As for myself, it was such a joy to hear 500 children sing "Happy Birthday, Mrs. Kirschen." Several students narrated words of praise they had written expressly for the occasion. A book, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, was purchased and dedicated to the library in Harriette's honor. Then, clearly and beautifully, Harriette read it to the entire student body.

Among the many other tributes given in Harriette Kirschen's honor is a college scholarship fund in her name instituted by her children, the details of which have not been finalized.

Harriette, mazel tov and todah rabbah for a job well done!

Joan Guerra

Religious School News

Dear Families,

Fall is in the air and Jewish learning, too!

Our new morning prayer service, Shacharit, is off to a grand start. This learning service is geared for grades 4-10, but all ages may participate. If younger children would like to attend, they must be accompanied by an adult. If any adult would like to attend, you must leave here with more knowledge than you came in with! This service is every other Sunday. This month's services are the 4th and 18th. Todah again to Tom Gough for presenting and executing this fabulous program! Tom has also begun our Mincha or afternoon service on Thursdays, which is the last 10-15 minutes of Hebrew school.

Our goal for these additional services is to educate our students on the rituals and traditions of prayer, not only on Shabbat but also during the week as well. Our Sunday and Thursday services will give all of us an opportunity to ask why, when, and how we pray. The more we understand the meanings of our faith, traditions, and prayers, the more we will appreciate the gifts of our heritage.

These services will all be led in our sanctuary, so please be respectful and quiet for drop-offs and pick-ups. We do encourage your participation as parents and grandparents.

Please remember safety is number one, so please walk your students in and out of our CBS home.

Lastly, I know how busy December can be, but please plan to attend our Family Service on Friday, December 7th. We have postponed our Consecration Service to this date, which is also the fourth night of Chanukkah. Consecration is when we formally welcome the youngest and newest members of our school to the beginning of their Jewish education.

We have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for during this season!

Shalom for now,
Marlene Gonsalves

Remember, half of every subscription to J- will go to Congregation Beth Shalom. See your Bulletin for details.

Oneg Shabbat Hosts

November 2 -- Gonsalves, McCoy, & Youngheim families.
November 9 -- Gandelman, Poslaniec, & Snyder families.
November 16 -- Jacobs & Palitz-Knight families.
November 23 -- Abanathie & Buettner families.
November 30 -- Martinez & L. Skolnick families.

Thank you for participating. Please remember to include fruit as an alternative dessert.

Thank You

Thank you to Lyn Rabinovitz for her help with little jobs around the office, and to Elsa McCoy for her help with the mailing of the October bulletin. We are always looking for volunteers to help with the bulletin. Please call the CBS office if you are available

Thank you to Mark Haskett for designing the new membership directory and for the many hours he spent on it. Thank you also to Dave Bermann for the photos that were used on the front and back covers.

Thank you to Buzz Cohn, Eric Grose, Gary Kailes, and Josh & Scott Biewer for emptying and tearing down our storage shed (it had termites). A new, replacement shed will be built soon.

Lunch Bunch

The Lunch Bunch has been transformed to our new Lunch & Learn, which began in October. This is open to all congregants, as we bring a different topic each month.

End to Credit Cards

After a six-month trial, we have determined that it is not cost effective for CBS to accept credit cards. We will no longer be processing automatic dues payments via credit card.

Contributions

Thank you for your donations or contributions. Please make all checks out to CBS, Congregation Beth Shalom, or USY, and use the memo portion to note the fund you are contributing to. [The bank is beginning to object to other names on checks.] Todah Rabbah!

"Get Well" Information Needed

If you know of a congregant who is ill or in the hospital, please help us include them for calls, visits, and the speedy recovery list by letting the office staff know.

Please remember that hospitals are not permitted to share information with the public, including the synagogue.

Are You Getting Our Weekly eMail?

If you are not getting our weekly CBS email, let me tell you what you might be missing. Our weekly email is sent out on Thursdays, and includes yartzets observed, weekly activities, a Torah summary, congregational "get well" list, and special announcements.

If you would like to be added to this list, please contact Laura Biewer (cbslaurab@sbcglobal.net or 571-6060). Don't miss another week!

Inkjet Cartridge Recycling Program

Thank you for your past support and we hope that more of you will think of recycling your used ink jet cartidges by placing them in the recycling bin in the foyer.

Scrip News

We carry O'Brien's, Gottschalks, Richland Market, and Starbucks. These are in stock and available for purchase.

Safeway and Macy's
If you shop at Safeway or Macy's, we ask that you consider registering your store cards with escrip. Every time you make a purchase, you generate a percentage of your purchase for CBS.

SaveMart
If you shop at SaveMart, please register for a SHARES card. Forms are available in the foyer or call the CBS office and we will mail one to you.
If you have any questions on any of these programs, please call the CBS office at 571-6060.