Dear Congregant,
You will notice a significant change in this issue of the FLAME. We are increasingly relying on electronic communications - email, our website, and Facebook - to share information and announcements with our
community, and this new format will be far more flexible than the traditional newsletter.
We want you to know that, with this issue, we will cease providing a print version unless members do not have access to the internet, or you specifically request a paper copy.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 626-798-1161.
Sincerely
Beryl Strauss
PJTC Board: April '21 Report & Message From Our New Board President
Message From Our Incoming Board President
Many people ask me, “Why do I want to become PJTC’s next president?” In my recent spare time, I’ve tried to reach out to many past presidents to gain insight as to why they became president to see if I could find any common thread. And, I did. None of us campaigned, none of us ran an election, none of us were contested, and no one taped signs to the wall, “Vote for me.” However, all of us care deeply about the people who make up this community. Now I have had experiences and held positions that lead me to this moment: member at large, secretary, VP of Programs, and VP of Management.
I’ve chaired many successful committees here, too…. I believe my last 2 were a great success because of my co-chair Matt Ober and the members of our committee and because they yielded Rabbi Aimee and Rabbi Carrier. In short, we worked together as a community.
The most important things that I would like out of this presidency boil down to 3: 3 words that all begin with the C: The first one, I said this C word many times already.
Community. The second is our commitment to community, and the third is our connection as a community.
1st C: Community: My family has been part of this community for about 20+ years before we had a family. We were quickly welcomed which brings me to the second C, commitment to community. This community makes a commitment to show up for every simcha, for every sadness and for every day in between. It is incredibly special that we have an actual committee of about 50 volunteers headed by Claire that whenever anything is needed, she puts out a message and within minutes, there are dozens of positive responses.
The 3rd C: Connection: So, let me tell you about connections made since the moment I entered PJTC because it defines why I am becoming president:
1. Jan Pais smiled at me and my family. Yes, when we walked through the door and into the lobby, we didn’t get far when this amazing lady took us in her arms and welcomed us.
2. Edie Taylor: showed an interest in our then growing family
3. Anita Landau: approached me and told me all about her family and introduced us to Jeff, who quickly became our family’s “tickle monster”
4. Beryl: quickly became friends with that sweet smile
5. Judy Callahan and B’nai Simcha: and all the playdates that followed for years to come, the lifelong friends made with so many families
6. LBSRS: all the teachers who became friends; Anat, Sondra, Kaileh, Tammy and parents of our children’s friends too many to name who we made through volunteering, chaperoning, carpooling, connections that I hope last a lifetime 7. Bar Mitzvah Committees: working in the kitchen to make a festive oneg to help
celebrate family simchas
8. Cantor: the first time we met, Jarrett was studying for his Bar Mitzvah and you promised that you would be here for all Sharp bar mitzvahs and here you still are.
9. Melissa: who took my kids under her wing as she does with all our children to make them leaders
10. Holidays celebrated together at synagogue and also in our backyard with our community compadres.
It’s because of YOU, because you showed up at 5 brises, you showed up when we needed you, you add meaning, relevance, happiness, and importance to my family and now it’s time for me to give back and I hope I show up in the way this community consistently and continuously shows up being together physically and being together separate from afar. Physical boundaries didn’t define us this past year because we are a connected community thanks to all past presidents, board members, and fellow
congregants. It is my hope to continue to grow and to deepen this community’s connection in more ways now more than ever.
In the months ahead, I hope to continue this new virtual age of adding more avenues of connection by strengthening our own community and by finding other like-minded Jews beyond our borders through various options of texts, apps, websites, blogs, emails, zooms, etc. Synagogue can now come to us as much as we go to synagogue.
And, like you all, I can’t wait for the day when we actually “DO GO TO” synagogue.
We have so much to look forward to: the day it is safe for all to physically come together. Our centennial celebrations, our capital campaign that will hopefully yield many upgrades to our facility that even further promote community, commitment to community, and connection for the next 100 years. It’s all very exciting and I am humbled to be President during this very special time in our history.
Stacey Sharp, PJTC Board President
March 2021 Board Report
The Board of Directors met on March 22 and approved spending up to $150,000 to repair the Wohlmann Hall roof. The project, which is expected to take about 3-4 weeks to complete, may require B’nai Simcha students to use alternate spaces on the PJTC campus during the construction period.
The board heard an update from Executive Director Beryl Strauss, including the news that PJTC will receive a second Paycheck Protection Program loan in addition to a couple other grants. They also had the opportunity preview the new FLAME format – debuting this month – and the new PJTC blog.
The board approved a name change of the L’Dor V’Dor Foundation to the PJTC L’Dor V’Dor Foundation. The foundation, which originated at Shaarei Torah prior to its merger with PJTC, oversees the endowment.
Outgoing President Geoff DeBoskey thanked the board for their work over the past couple years. The new board, which is led by Stacey Sharp, introduced themselves at the meeting and officially began their duties April 1.
Rebecca Johnson, PJTC Board Secretary
Social Justice Committee: April 2021 Updates + Events
MARCH NEWS
Did social justice play a role in your Seder? We updated the SJC-PJTC Social Justice Haggadah supplement, and while our flight into the desert is still fresh in your mind, we hope you will resolve to continue being mindful of those still struggling under
oppression and seeking a better life. To this end, the SJC will be scheduling additional opportunities to learn more about, and take action to help, refugees, asylum seekers, and those who seek a better life.
The March refugee Shabbat included the personal testimony of an asylum-seeker from Haiti, as well as updates about the situation and challenges at the southern border.
There were over eighty registrants for the webinar, which is now available on our YouTube channel HERE. Additionally, a resource guide was distributed to attendees. That guide is available HERE.
UPCOMING EVENTS
During April, the committee will continue planning events and holding discussions on social justice perspectives that call for action in our local communities. Affordable housing is one major challenge that our communities face; another is police oversight and reform, and the continuing menace of all forms of racism and hate requires us to support all of our neighbors threatened by this plague.
Please watch the PJTC web site and check your email for programming that will add a personal dimension to the plight of refugees.
As our planning for future events on important issues and themes continues, we will be expressing our support for members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander
Communities in a variety of ways.
We anticipate scheduling a presentation by District Attorney George Gascon in the near future.
Carl Selkin, Committee Member
Ohr Tamid Society: Sandy's Story
A few weeks ago I experienced another first in my life. I know my fellow grandparents will relate to this. Our first grandchild, Ayden, became a Bar Mitzvah during a Zoom service at PJTC. I can’t even find the words to express the joy that I felt, sitting in Knell Chapel with my husband Steve, and watching our son, Aaron, present Ayden his tallit.
In 1994 we presented our son his tallit in Galpert sanctuary, and our two daughters followed in 1997 and 2001. PJTC has been our Jewish “home” for more that 35 years.
In 1980 we moved to Southern California from Chicago, and began to find our
connection to a Jewish community here. It began with enrolling our son at B’nai Simcha Preschool, and eventually becoming members at PJTC. After many years of working on committees, serving as a PJTC Board member and President, I now find myself co- chairing PJTC’s Centennial Celebration. The Centennial is a continual reminder of what it means to have the PJTC community in my life. It has been a source for Jewish spiritual connection, education for our three children and now our grandchildren, and the place where we have found life long friends who have become our family.
When our third child was born, we decided it was time to establish estate plans to protect the future of our family. With many decisions before us we also asked ourselves what other priorities were meaningful to us. It was at that moment that we knew we wanted to do something to help insure the future of our Jewish community at PJTC, and include PJTC in our estate plans. As our PJTC community celebrates 100 years, join me in the promise of PJTC’s future, and become a member of PJTC’s Ohr Tamid Society. If we all make a commitment to remember PJTC in our estate we will guarantee that PJTC will be here for our grandchildren, great-grandchildren and beyond to the next 100 years.
Sandy Hartford, Ohr Tamid Society Member
Torah Study Discussion Starter: Shemini
The parashah that kicks off April is Shemini, which provides a long list of foods that are kosher and defines those that are not...but gives no justification for kashrut (the
dietary laws). Why do we keep kosher? Is God the ultimate cosmic doctor, whose all- knowing wisdom has kept us away from foods that are harmful to the health of the Jewish people?
We can't fully know God's intentions, but what we have found in practice is that keeping a kosher diet allows us to bring Judaism into the details of our daily lives. At each meal, we are reminded of community, spirituality and our commitment to reaffirm daily the Jewish values that make us who we are.
You may or may not keep kosher - it is a personal decision. We have a question for both:
If you do...what's your favorite kosher recipe?
If you don't, what other ways do you bring Judaism into your daily life?
Try taking some time with your family and friends to discuss each other's thoughts on this. And, if you are in the sharing mood, share it with the community on our Facebook page.
Hot tip: Sisterhood’s “Family Favorites” cookbook has some pretty fantastic recipes and is available for purchase on our website at https://www.pjtc.net/sisterhood!
For more information on why we keep kosher, click here to read a My Jewish Learning article on the subject.
TRIBUTES
To Andrea Mark, Congrats on being named to our incoming PJTC Board, from Marcia Alper.
To Tammy Silver, Congrats on being named to our incoming PJTC Board, from Marcia Alper.
To Jesse Duker, Congrats on being named to our incoming PJTC Board, from Marcia Alper.
To Sue Hogan, Congrats on being named to our incoming PJTC Board, from, Marcia Alper.
To Jennifer Owen, Congratulations on your new position, from Stacy & Stu Miller.
To the members of the Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class: Carol Bourland, Michele Browning, Betsy Kahn, Cathy Krasner, Carey McIntosh, Barbara McQuiston, Adriana Quinn, Molly Stein and Joe Widman, from Edie Taylor, Ruth Kaye, Liz Green, and Marcia Alper.
To Cantor Ruth, Mazel Tov on achieving a great B’nai Mitzvah Class, from Ruth Kaye.
To Judy & Phil Callahan, Get well Fast, from Edie Taylor.
To Karen Gross, A rapid recovery, from Edie Taylor.
To Ruth Saffman, a speedy recovery, from Edie Taylor and Carolyn Kunin.
To Elliott Mazur on the death of his mother, Edythe Mazur, from Liz Green.
To Judy Cain on the death of her husband, Jeff, from Edie Taylor and Ruth Kaye.
To Cantor Ruth, Thanks for the beautiful Shabbat Shirah concert, from Nancy & John Carlton, Sue Hogan, Pearl &Vance Tyree and Bonnie Buratti.
To Stacey Sharp, Congrats on being named our incoming PJTC Board President, from Marcia Alper.
To the Mazur Family on the death of Edythe Mazur, from Ginny & Ira Blitz, Karen & Neil Brown, Marcia Alper, Kathy Kobayashi & Hal
Barron, Anita & Jeff Landau and Rochelle Weiss.
To the Levine-Grater Family on the death of Josh’s father, Harold Grater, from Ginny & Ira Blitz and Anita & Jeff Landau.
To Jane Hirschkowitz on the death of her brother-in-law, Jeff Cain, from Ruth Kaye, Kathy Kobayashi & Hal Barron and Nancy & John
Carlton.
To Ashi Halpern on the death of her sister, Deanna, from Kathy Kobayashi & Hal Barron, Nancy & John Carlton, Sue Hogan and Ellen & Harvey Knell.
To Fuad Ahmad on the death of his wife, Deanna, from Kathy Kobayashi & Hal Barron.
To Madeline Schleimer & Family on the death of her beloved mother, Sylvia, from Sue Hogan, Gail Meltzer, Edie Taylor, Carolyn Kunin, Anita & Jeff Landau, Ellen & Harvey Knell, Debbie & John Guest, Linda Rourman and Joan & Jerry Halpert.
To Karen Linstone on the death of her father, Louis Brief, from Nancy & John Carlton.
To Lou Friedman on the death of his wife, Connie, from Edie Taylor, Sue Hogan, Nancy & John Carlton, Ellen & Harvey Knell, Connie & Art Taus and Joan & Jerry Halpert.
