This month’s featured articles: Page 5 Best Foot Forward by Helga Unkeless Page 5 JWW Annual Walk to End Genocide by Rae Wazana Page 7 An Opportunity by Owen Delman Page 8 Rabbi Vorspan’s Association with The Vineyard Goes Way Back by Stan Schroeder

Shabbat services at Temple Ramat Zion

Saturday, August 4 10:30 am Birthday Shabbat Special Welcome to TRZ Kiddush Saturday, August 11 10:30 am Friday, August 17 8:00 pm Service Under the Stars with Temple Ramat Zion pre- ceded by BBQ & Barchu 6:00 pm See below. Saturday, August 25 10:30 am Anniversary Shabbat ------------------------------------------ BBQ & Barchu Friday, August 17 6:00 pm at Temple Ramat Zion This annual event will be indeed special this year, our first at TRZ and attended by both congrega-tions. See the article on page 9 and the flyer with this Shir Notes. Call Harvey Cohen at (818) 993-6042 for more information.

Shir Notes The Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 10, Number 7, July-August 2012

Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Events of the Month

Visit our website: www.shirami.com

Rabbi’s Column The wandering Jewish congregation known as Shir Ami is, once again, on the move! If the phrase, “Mishaneh Makom, Mishaneh Mazal (when we change our place, we change our luck),” is true, we are getting luckier and luckier! For many of us, holding services at Temple Ramat Zion will be truly returning to family. Especially for me! My son-in-law, Rabbi Ahud Sela, is the spiritual leader of TRZ, and his family (my daughter, Alisha, and their children, twins Gavi, Yael and their younger brother, Eitan), have made their home amongst their synagogue members. So when we conduct our services in the classroom building (three rooms that will be converted into a lovely sanctuary), my grandchildren will prob-ably be dropping in from time to time, perhaps with their mother in tow! And, from time to time, we shall share joint programming with TRZers. For example, our BBQ and Barchu August 17 will have me sharing the pulpit with Rabbi Sela after we gather together for a marvelous Shabbat dinner prepared by their Men’s Club. I am very excited about our plans for the coming year. Shir Ami’s officers are already working to create the kinds of programs and events that have brought us together so many times in the past, for joyous celebration, for learning, for feeling a part of our special community. Have a wonderful summer! And I will see you for Shabbat services in August. In our new home. With such long-termed friends! We are, truly, lucky! Rabbi David Vorspan

Congregation Shir Ami is Moving to Temple Ramat Zion The day has come - a new era for our congregation is upon us. We will inaugurate our new home August 4 with a Shabbat service in which we will bring in our Torah and say the traditional Shehecheyanu blessing. Then we will have an extended welcoming Kiddush. We encourage everyone to attend this very special occasion.

Mailbox Dear Congregational family, My sincerest thanks to everyone who showed their support to me with calls, sympathy cards, and their prayers and concern. It is very comforting to me. Lynn Cherney

Mailbox Congregation Shir Ami, We appreciate your continued support for our children. The books always bring joy. Thank You! Gaby Northridge Hospital Medical Center

President’s Report Shalom, By now, all the “i’s” have been dotted, the “t’s” have been crossed, the signa- tures are on the lease and we will begin a new chapter in the history of Congregation Shir Ami in our new home at Temple Ramat Zion. There have already been outreaches between our members and those of Ramat Zion, including discussions for joint events, such as our BBQ and Barchu, and joining together in our social action efforts such as our Linen Shabbat and Mitzvah Day activities. From all signs, we can look forward to an active and rewarding experience in our new home. At the same time, Congregation Shir Ami will remain Congregation Shir Ami. We will continue to conduct our Shabbat Services, Around the Rabbi’s Tisch (and on the Rebbitzen’s chairs!) and our other activities that give us our own identity as members of the Shir Ami Family. That, we will never lose! So, as we take the month of July off, I expect you all to be back, tanned, rested and ready for our first Shabbat Service at Temple Ramat Zion on August 4 at our new prompt starting time of 10:30 am. As always, if you have any questions or want to provide your input, please feel free to email me at JDPistol@aol.com. Thank you, Jordan Pistol, President

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My July Trip to Israel with Israel Law Center by Stan Schroeder As of this writing, I am excited about my upcoming trip to Israel (leaving July 5) with Shurat HaDin, the Israel Law Center. They call the trip the Ultimate Mission to Israel because they go to military bases and security installations not generally available to the public. This year’s mission includes: Visit to Soreq Nuclear Research Center Visit to IDF Naval Base, Ashdod Seaport Behind the scenes tour of Ben Gurion Airport Visit to Mala, the IDF's state of the art Center for Urban Training Visit to IDF's Hakirya national command center (Israel's Pentagon), Tel Aviv. Visit to the UN base on the Syrian border Insider tour of the counter-terrorist security fence near Beit Aryeh Visit to the Knesset Visit to the Prime Minister’s Office This will be my eighth trip to Israel in the last nine years, and every one has been exciting, inspiring, and pleasurable. Last year I went on another Ultimate Mission with the same organization. The Israel Law Center, founded and directed by attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, advocates for victims of terrorism in civil courts worldwide. They also litigate on behalf of the State to prevent terrorism. They were instrumental in preventing the 2011 flotilla from forming in an attempt to break Israel’s Gaza blockade against the import of weapons to Hamas. You can learn of their work by visiting their website www.israellawcenter.org. I will write an article about my experience in the September Shir Notes.

Our Condolences We regret to inform the congre- gational family of the passing of: member Marshall Gordon Meryl Moore, daughter of member Lynn Cherney Morris Hattem, father of member Neil Hattem

Gary Gordon, nephew of member Madeline Cooperman May God comfort Marshall’s wife, Jacquie, Lynn, Neil, and Madeline and their families during this time of their bereavement.

Congregational News Get well wishes rafuah schleimah to: Dottie Hellinger Myrna Gold Norman Bressick May they be blessed with a complete recovery in body and spirit.

In Honor of Harvey Cohen’s 90th Birthday Helga Unkeless Clara and Stan Rosenbluth Ellen Fremed Lea Schwartz Marsha and Mourad Haina

Yahrzeits Rabbi David and Bonnie Vorspan for Rabbi Max Vorspan Esther Karalnick for Molly Stone Stephanie and Dov Landau for Nathad Silk Rose Chaplan for Rachel March and Margret Chaplan Lynn Cherney for Dora Cherney Frances Black for Ralph Black Fay and Ed Schneier Irv Strassner for Ann Perelmutter Esther Perez for Meyer Jacob Paparo Lillian Horwitz for Margaret Wishner Ann and Seymour Potell for Libby Blankstein Nancy and Lonnie Scharf for Claire Halprin Bernice and Ted Lipschultz for H. Rubin Esther Perez for Moreno “Turk” Perez Birthdays Joshua Scharf Helga Unkeless Shaina Vorspan

Anniversaries Rabbi David and Bonnie Vorspan Rabbi Ahud and Alisha Sela Elana and Ben Vorspan Bette and Owen Delman

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DONATIONS Congregation Shir Ami wishes to acknowledge the following donations:

Birthdays & Anniversaries Birthdays Gale Cohen..................................... Heather Hyman................................ Krysia Dankowski........... ................. Larry Weinstein................................ Ethel Granik..................................... Fran Feinman.................................. Ed Schackman................................. Florence Chinskey............................ Mariana Stark................................... Barbara Hattem............................... Alan Siebler.................................... Phyllis Schroeder............................. Stan Goodman................................. Charlene Kazel................................ Judy Eisikowitz................................ Audrey Halem.................................. Sam Hochberg................................. Phyllis Robinson.............................. Edward Schneier............................. Paula Frankel................................... Irene Klenetsky................................ Art Altshiller..................................... David Teichman............................... Stan Schroeder................................ Lee Stark......................................... Paul Frankel.................................... Anniversaries Clara and Stan Rosenbluth ............. Lorraine and Dan Simansky............. Sima and Stephen Schuster............ Madeline and Phil Cooperman......... Laura and Al Simon.......................... Nancy and Lonny Scharf.................. Carol and Art Altshiller..................... Linda and Harvey Tapper.................

7/1 7/1 7/2 7/2 7/7 7/12 7/15 7/17 7/19 7/22 7/22 7/27 7/27 7/29 7/30 8/1 8/5 8/5 8/5 8/6 8/9 8/12 8/14 16th 8/24 8/24 8/27 7/6 60th 7/10 47th 7/15 45th 7/25 47th 7/30 51st 8/2 25th 8/19 32nd 8/19 40th

$

National Ataxia Foundation Speaker at Walk Around Lake Balboa June 3 Sherry McLaughlin, L.A. Support Group Leader I'm here to represent the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF). I am the current leader of the Los Angeles Ataxia Support group. Joining us also is Daniel Navar, the OrangeCounty Support Group Leader and six members of our support groups who also are members of our Thursday Walker/Roller exercise group.

We are profoundly honored to be the recipient of your generosity. Please know that your donation to us today will be used to fund research projects being conducted all across this nation. Let me tell you a little about the NAF. It was founded in 1957 by a very small but dedicated group of individuals, including a physician who was diagnosed with ataxia. Many people give enormous amounts of volunteer time to the foundation. Our headquarters and staff are located in Minnesota. There are a few paid positions, but most of the staff are volunteers. Ataxia is loss of coordination caused by the loss of brain cell function. Each different type of Ataxia has a different trigger. Most ataxias are inherited, but not all. They can also be caused by environmental triggers. There are over 50 different types of ataxia. Ataxia is considered one of the "Rare Diseases", although up to 150,000 Americans have this condition. Ataxia is not unique to the US. Being a rare disease means there is little name recognition. Most people who have found their way to our support groups report that they were misdiagnosed one, two and more times. But we're here today to change that. Building public awareness is the critical first step for NAF. The second step is research. Soon, we'll have effective treatments and ultimately, a cure. As of right now, there is no way to stop the onset, nor is there a way to stop the progression. There is however the beginnings of treatments to slow down the progression... and this is HUGE. It means the light is at the end of the tunnel. These breakthroughs have us FIRED UP. Our support groups nationwide have taken on awareness and fundraising efforts like never before. And it's hard work! We thank you with all our hearts. My friends and I will be happy to answer your questions during our post-walk picnic

page 4 July-August 2012 Social Action Committee WOW, WE DID IT AGAIN! Congregation Shir Ami, family, and friends had another hugely successful Walk Around Lake Balboa on Sunday, June 3. We raised $900 for the National Ataxia Foundation and $900 for the City of Hope. We measure success in several ways. We are always thrilled that we are able to raise a lot of money for the charities, but we are also so very proud of all our sponsors and all those 75 people who showed up to walk and join us for brunch. This year we had the pleasure of having Howard Levine’s support group and their speaker from the local Ataxia Foundation join us. We again had a group of Rae Wazana’s teacher friends come to support our walk. Ether Perez had the Operation Gratitude table set up for all the non- walkers to write beautiful cards to our deployed military. Leon Nachenberg brought plants grown in his yard to sell for even more profit. Then Leon also brought us the great pizzas for the brunch. Thanks Leon. All in all, we had a great day and thanks to the very hard work of the whole social action committee, we were very successful yet again. See some pictures of the Walk on page 10. We have included the High Holy Day SOVA flyer to guide you as to what is needed most by SOVA and the families it helps in our commun- ity. We are asking everyone to please start buying tuna fish and peanut butter on a weekly basis for our weekly Shabbat SOVA collections too. We will have a SOVA barrel outside of our area in rooms 7, 8, 9 at Ramat Zion. Come for our first service on Saturday, August 4. We also will be having a huge SOVA Food Drive for the High Holy Days. See the flyer with this Shir Notes. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (818) 345-2405. Recently, Rae Wazana and I had the opportunity to meet Yasmine, the outgoing TRZ chair of Social Action and Carol, the incoming chair. We found both to be very caring and committed to doing community mitzvot, and we look forward to sharing some of our community projects with them. We will be joining together at the social hall on Mitzvah Day, Sunday, November 4 and doing projects together. (continued on page 9)

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Our Team Joined Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide at Pan Pacific Park on May 20 by Rae Wazana Our Shir Ami team of six participated at the 6th Annual Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide.The 5K Walk was held at Pan Pacific Park in Los Angeles. The team members (left to right) were Charlene Kazel, Rae Wazana (team captain), Jordan Pistol, Stan Schroeder, Laura Simon, and Ellie Zatz. More than 2,000 people participated in the LA Walk which raised more than $128,000 to support programs aiding victims and survivors of genocide in Sudan and Congo. Shir Ami can be proud of our Walk Team and our many supporters and donors who helped us raise almost $750 to contribute to the important JWW work! This year's Walk Speakers included Don Cheadle (actor and activist), Josh Radnor, and Lisa Edelstein. The event also included an Action Fair, demonstrations of solar cookers, and a Silent Auction that helped raise additional funds for JWW. Thank you to Rabbi, Bonnie, and all of our generous donors who helped us achieve our goal this year and who motivated our efforts to be part of Jewish World Watch and NOT STANDING IDLY BY! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Foot Forward by Helga Unkeless In 2005 our members, Gloria and Larry Wein- stein, saw the movie Mad Hot Ballroom, a documentary about students in the 5th grades in the New York School System. These 10 and 11 year old children learned traditional ballroom dances like the fox trot, rumba, tango, etc., and then competed against the other schools. Besides learning the dance steps they gained in self-esteem, composure, confidence, and learned how to interact with the opposite sex in a gentlemanly way. Gloria was so taken by this movie that she and Larry introduced Best Foot Forward, a Dance Festival Competition for 4th & 5th grades from 15 elementary schools here in the Valley. I attended their annual dance festival Saturday afternoon, June 2 at El Camino High School. There were about 250 students earlier in the morning group and another 250 in the afternoon group. It was a most engaging and exciting afternoon for me to watch these stu- dents dance and com- pete. All was orderly even as hundreds of parents, families, and friends turned out to cheer for each school. Trophies were handed out to the winning schools and every contestant received a little ‘goodie bag’ for their participation. The teachers all commented that the students that competed grew so much in self-respect and self discipline. This was the 4th year that Gloria and Larry Weinstein sponsored this event for our schools through the non-profit organization Best Foot Forward they founded. They hope to expand it to middle schools next year. You can learn more by visiting their website www.bffdance.org. Congratulations to Gloria and Larry for sponsoring such a wonderful program for our school children.

Miguel Castro and Armeene Sarkisian of Anatola Elementary School 4th grade team

Shir Ami Members Write High Holy Day Cards to Jewish Armed Forces Personnel by Esther Perez Our members at Congregation Shir Ami have found unique ways to honor the courage and sacrifice of active soldiers in hostile regions with personal cards and letters of appreciation. During the upcoming High Holy Days many of our troops will be deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and bases all over the world. This year, at a time they would rather be with their families, 178 will receive these cards and letters from our members. Many thanks to Lisa Hart, Fran Kobulnick, Phyllis Schroeder, Laurie Orens, Ann Potell, Fran Friedman, Esther Perez, Davida Tydings, Ethel Granik, and Shirley Esko.

Biography of the Month: Eliezer Ben-Yehuda by Stan Schroeder Eliezer Ben-Yehuda was born Eliezer Yitzhak Perelman January 7, 1858 in Luzhky, Lithuania, to Feyga and Yehuda Lieb Perelman, a Chabad Chasid who died when Eliezer was only five years old. He attended Yeshivah in Polotsk, and was introduced there to the changing ideas in Judaism, Haskalah -- enlightenment, and secular Hebrew literature. He was expelled from his uncle’s home and found shelter in Glubokoye, a small town in the Vilna district, in the home of Samuel Naphtali Herz Jonas, also a Chabad Chasid, who was quite learned, writing and reading Russian, French and Hebrew. Jonas persuaded him to prepare for secondary school matriculation, and his eldest daughter Deborah taught him Russian and French. He entered the Dvinsk Gymnasium, from which he graduated in 1877. During the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78) and the struggle of the Balkan nations for liberation, young Eliezer developed the idea of the revival of the Jewish people on its ancestral soil. He later wrote, “As night visions pale in the face of the light of day, so were my dreams of dedicating my life to the cause of freedom in the Russian nation replaced with a single ideal, manifest in two Hebrew words, ‘Yisrael b’artzo’ -- Israel in its own land!” Eliezer began to actively ‘preach’ that the Jewish people, like all other peoples, had a historic land and a historic language. What was needed was to actuate a national movement that would restore Israel to its land and to its language. He determined to settle in Eretz Israel, and in 1878 went to Paris to study medicine so that he might have a profession to sustain himself. He discussed his plan for a Jewish national movement with some Hebrew writers he met there; they, however, were not interested. While studying in Paris Ben-Yehuda contracted tuberculosis in the winter of 1878 and his doctors did not forecast a long and happy life for him. He resolved to discontinue his medical studies and make his home in the more favorable climate of Eretz Israel, where he hoped he could continue his advocacy for a national reawakening. He enrolled in the teachers’ seminary of the Alliance Israelite Universelle, to qualify for a teaching post in their agricultural school, Mikveh Israel.

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His health deterioriated and he spent some time in the Rothschild Hospital in Paris. There he met the Jerusalem scholar A. M. Lunz who spoke Hebrew to him in the Sephardi pronunciation, and told him that the members of the various Jewish communities in Jerusalem were able to converse with one another only in Sephardi Hebrew. He, alone among all the prophets of Jewish national renaissance, saw the whole picture of the need for a people wedded to a land, speaking its own language. In 1881, he left for Jerusalem. He traveled by way of Vienna, where he was joined by his childhood sweetheart, Deborah Jonas. He had written to her of his illness and his dim chance of a long and full life. He bade her forget him -- but she surprised him with a Ruth-like pledge, “wherever you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge...” They married in Cairo, on their way to make a home in the once and future land of Israel. Ben-Yehuda worked as a teacher, teaching geography and mathematics in Hebrew to his students. In 1884 he started publishing a biweekly newspaper that contained a column featuring new Hebrew words he had coined. This was the beginning of writing the first extensive Hebrew dictionary. In 1891 Deborah died of the disease Eliezar had contracted in Paris. Before her death she wrote to her 19-year-old sister Paula to come to Palestine and marry Eliezer. Paula wrote to Eliezer, pretending an interest in Hebrew, came to Palestine with her parents, and married Eliezer. He changed her name to Hemda and they established the first entirely Hebrew-speaking Zionist household. They had six children, four survived. In 1894 he was charged with sedition by the Turkish authorities and spent a year in prison. A bribe was paid to secure his release. Despite continued opposition from the Orthodox Jews who maintained Hebrew should not be a secular language and the Turks who feared its political implications, Ben-Yehuda, Hemda, and their supporters established Hebrew as the language of the yeshuv (the Zionist community.) The first volume of his seven-volume dictionary was published in 1908, the last in 1958, seven years after Hemda’s death. Eliezer died of tuberculosis in 1922, His funeral was attended by 30,000 people.

Congregation Shir Ami Tribute Cards Thanks to Phyllis Schroeder for sending your cards celebrating simchas and conveying your get- well and condolence messages. She is creative with indivualized, artistic cards that include a message and color graphics. Call her at (818) 718-7466. Minimum donation of $5 per card is appreciated.

Voluntary immigration is not for the pessimist, who believes that the future can be no better than the past. Jewish inventiveness, artistic creativity and social consciousness are all products of the belief that things can be better, reinterpreted or fairer. But, the most obvious example of Jewish optimism is the state of Israel itself. From the earliest thoughts of creating a Jewish home- land through to the creation of the formal state of Israel, a belief in a better future was the driving force. One does not set a goal of mak- ing the desert bloom without faith in its success. They also don’t transform a lang- uage from its strictly biblical usage to the everyday lang- uage of a modern state and then teach it to the thousands of immigrants who become the backbone of the young nation -- what can this show other than a strong belief you will succeed. Yes, the Jews are optimists, indeed. I understand there are those who do not embrace new situa- tions as much as I do. However, there are situations where we do not choose but are thrust into unfamiliar paths. We have three choices at that point: walk away, accept begrudgingly or “explore the unfamiliar hallways” of the opportunity. Let’s explore those halls together. (We’ll just make sure to stay out of Belgium -- though, wouldn’t that be fun?)

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An Opportunity by Owen Delman I admit it - I am an explorer of around the corner and over the next hill. Give me a choice between the familiar and the new and I’ll gravitate to the new -- “just to try it.” I am a hall wanderer, away from the guided tour. Bette is always concerned I will get lost in a strange city while the group moves on as I linger, trying to translate a statue’s plaque or angling for a better shot for a “once in a lifetime” photograph. (Please don’t ask her about my lost three-hour unescorted solo sojourn in Bruges, a city of canals in Belgium. She was quite Bruges, Belgium perturbed!) Because I’m always curious about something, I’m often on unfamiliar ground --be it in a foreign country, a new career, a tiny hidden museum or up a winding, gravel path of a road to see the oldest trees in the world. My wife mainly puts up with me -- love is a wonderful thing. (Though my escapade in Bruges sorely tested that concept!) So, given this character trait -- or flaw -- it is not surprising I am looking forward to the next destination on the Shir Ami Wandering Jew Tour. Though we will be a separate group within Temple Ramat Zion, we will not be an island. There will be ample opportunities to “wander the halls” and explore. To me, it is a chance to meet and interact with different people, see a different approach to services and, in general, explore TRZ’s Jewish community offerings. Good and interesting things come from outside one’s routine. New situations can bring new people and ideas into your life. My joining Shir Amir thirteen years ago opened up a wonderful chapter in my life and gave me a chance to explore my Jewishness while meeting new faces who later became friends.

If you hear in these words a definite tone of optimism, you are absolutely correct. I am, however, just part of a very long tradition of Jewish belief in the future, for our people are an optimistic lot. When our immigrant grandparents or parents left Europe for strange and distant shores, it was because they believed they would find a better life.

Tel Aviv, Israel 1948

Tel Aviv, Israel 2010

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Rabbi Vorspan’s Association with The Vineyard Goes Way Back by Stan Schroeder As you probably know Congregation Shir Ami has held our High Holy Day services at The Vineyard in Reseda the past two years. We will be doing so again this coming 5773 High Holy Day season in September. The Valley Vineyard is a Christian Fellowship church located just north of where Temple Beth Ami once stood. Many of our members were longtime members of Beth Ami, some going back to before Rabbi Vorspan came there in 1976. The picture below is from an article by Dennis McCarthy in the Daily News November 29, 1996 that describes an interfaith Thanksgiving eve service the

two congregations jointly held, going back to 1992. It was given to me by our member, Fran Friedman. Rabbi Vorspan and Pastor Lynn Cory, who is still with The Vineyard, formed a close relationship, going back to before The Vineyard had their church, and held some services at Beth Ami. Pastor Cory, referring to the Thanksgiving service, said, “The chemistry was there. I think we broke down a lot of walls that existed with regard to Jewish and Christian relationships that night.” And now that relationship is renewed as we not only have their sanctuary for our High Holy Day services, but a very friendly and cooperative staff there to assist us in any way they can.

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First BBQ and Barchu at Temple Ramat Zion by Harvey Cohen, Event Chairperson On August 17th, we will be celebrating an event of longstanding tradition at a new location. As you know, after August 1st we will be holding our Shabbat services and other events at Temple Ramat Zion in Northridge. Our first premier event will be the BBQ & Borchu. This year the event will be held with members of Temple Ramat Zion and the services will be led by Rabbi Vorspan and Rabbi Sela. As in years past, we ask that you wear white to help Rabbi Vorspan recall his years at Camp Ramah. The Shabbat meal will be catered by the Temple Ramat Zion Men’s Club. We have been told that they serve a delicious meal. The price of the dinner this year is $16.50 for members and $12.50 for children. Since space is limited because both congregations are participating, it is very important that the reservation deadline of August 10th be observed. The dinner will be served at 6:00 PM and the service under the stars will follow. Let’s have a nice turnout for our first major event at our new location.

Social Action Committee (continued) We will let you know very soon exactly which mitzvah projects will be taking place this year. Our plan is to always have great projects that will include everyone in our congregation. We have also invited TRZ to join our popular Linen Shabbat to benefit the domestic violence shelters we help sponsor on Friday, January 25, 2013. This will be a great opportunity for everyone to hear a guest speaker, also bring in lots of the needed linens for all the women and children in the shelters. I want you to know the Social Action Committee of Congregation Shir Ami is as strong as ever and we will continue working as a team to do community mitzvah projects. We have done this for many years and, thanks to all your generous emotional, physical and financial support, we have been one of the most dynamic and successful Social Action committees ever. We have shared our insight and our projects with others through the years and it has always been very rewarding. We will continue with our high standards, and we will invite others to join us for some of our projects when we feel it can benefit the community. There are so many people who need our help more than ever and we will continue on our path being known as The Little Congregation That Does proudly. Note: Any member with a child or grandchild in our military service, please call Esther Perez at (818) 886-7512 as soon as possible so he/she can be included in our High Holy Day Operation Gratitude/Project MOT care package list. Fran Kobulnick, Social Action Vice President

Ritual Committee We’re very excited about plans for the upcoming year at Temple Ramat Zion and our third year of High Holy Day services at the Vineyard. And, for our High Holy Day services, we will have new mahzorim (prayer books). Well not exactly new, but new for us. We have been using the Silverman mahzor which dates back to 1951. It was a standard for the Conservative Movement for many years. But this year we will have the Rabbinical Assembly Mahzor first published in 1972, but ours will be the 1985 printing. These mahzorim are a gift from Temple Ramat Zion, as they are purchasing the latest Rabbinical Assembly Mahzor Lev Shalem. Our Mahzor will be a more modern translation with a more positive message and more up-to-date com-mentary in a slimmer binding. It is just one of the ways we plan on making our 5773 High Holy Day services an inspirational and uplifting experience. Stan Schroeder, Ritual Vice President

Tisha B’Av Observed Starting at Eve of July 28 Tisha B'Av is an annual fast day in Judaism, named for the ninth day (Tisha) of the month of Av in the Hebrew calendar. The fast commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, which occurred about 655 years apart, but on the same Hebrew calendar date. Although primarily meant to commemorate the destruction of the Temples, it is also considered appropriate to commemorate other Jewish tragedies that occurred on this day, most notably the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. Accordingly, the day has been called the "saddest day in Jewish history". The Book of Lamentations is traditionally read.

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Pictures from June 3 Annual Walk Around Lake Balboa for National Ataxia Foundation and City of Hope

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TREE OF LIFE

This beautiful Tree of Life, with leaves priced at $100 and rocks at $250 (one remaining), makes a perfect way to celebrate family occasions and support Congregation Shir Ami. The Tree is on a rosewood background and consists of gold-colored leaves and rocks. It is displayed at all Congregation Shir Ami services and events. For more information or to place an order, call Sherry Dollins at (818) 886-7590.

Congregation Shir Ami Memorial Board

If you would like to honor the memory of your loved ones by dedicating plaques on our new Memorial Board, please call Clara Rosenbluth at (818) 348-1498 so she may mail you an order form. The cost of each plaque is $36. Each plaque may contain up to three lines of engraving: English name, Hebrew name, and the years of birth and death. Both of our Memorial Boards are displayed at all our services.

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Shop at Ralphs - Earn Money for Shir Ami by Maralyn Soifer Here is an easy way to earn money for our Temple. We are now officially a Ralphs’ community agency. All you have to do is follow these simple instructions to help earn money for Congregation Shir Ami. 1. If you don’t have a Ralph’s rewards card already,

go to the store and fill out the application. You can get it from the customer service station or any checker.

2. Once you have your card, go to the website: www.ralphs.com

3. Go to the top where the red bar is located and click on services.

4. On the left, click on Community Contributions. 5. In the upper left hand corner click on Create an

Account if you haven’t already registered a card with a community organization.

6. If you already have a Ralph’s reward card and have registered it, go to sign in. You can change to our Temple by going to your profile page and clicking on Community Rewards. Then click on Edit Community Rewards. You can do a search for Congregation Shir Ami by putting in the number 92785. Our congregation will pop up and click on the button next to the name. Click on the button that saves the changes.

7. You can also check the bottom of your receipt when you shop. It should say “Thank you for supporting Congregation Shir Ami”.

8. If all else fails, call me in the evening at (818) 704-0306. I’ll be happy to walk you through it.

9. Start Shopping! Make sure that the clerk swipes your card each time you shop. Verify that your receipt shows a contribution to Congregation Shir Ami at the bottom.

Important note: A new term for the Ralphs Community Contribution Program started September 1, 2011. All participants are required to re-register on or after that date. Please visit Ralphs.com and do so!

Congregation Shir Ami P.O. Box 6353 Woodland Hills, CA 91365

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage PAID

Permit No. 93 Canoga Park, CA

Congregation Shir Ami invites you to attend its annual

BBQ AND BARCHU (& WHITE SHABBAT)

Friday, August 17, 2012

DINNER AT 6:00

FOLLOWED BY KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICE UNDER THE STARS

(Held at Temple Ramat Zion, 17655 Devonshire St., in Northridge)

Please join us for this special evening in our new location. We will share a delicious catered dinner with the members of Temple Ramat Zion and then participate with them in outdoor Shabbat services led by Rabbi Vorspan and Rabbi Sela. We encourage you to dress in white clothing to help Rabbi Vorspan remember his summer camp Shabbat experiences. This program has been a favorite of our congregation for over 12 years! Dinner: $16.50 person – Shir Ami members $12.50 per child – 5 to 12 years old No charge for children under 5 years The deadline for dinner reservations is Friday, August 10th. Absolutely no reservations will be accepted after this date!! Call Harvey Cohen at (818) 993-6042 for more information.

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Please return this reservation form with your check by August 10th to Congregation Shir Ami

P.O. Box 6353 Woodland Hills, CA 91365

Name________________________________Phone No._______________________ No. of adults @ $16.50__________________ BBQ and Barchu No. of children @ $10.00________________No. of children under 5 yrs.__________ Total enclosed $______________________

Congregation Shir Ami Schedule of Shabbat Services 2012 Conducted by Rabbi David Vorspan at

Temple Ramat Zion, 17655 Devonshire St., Northridge Services held in classrooms 7, 8, 9

Friday 8:00 pm, Saturday 10:30 am (unless otherwise noted)

August 2012 Saturday, August 4 Birthday First service at Ramat Zion - Special Kiddush Saturday, August 11 Friday, August 17 Service Under the Stars BBQ and Barchu dinner at 6:00 pm Saturday, August 25 Anniversary

September 2012 Saturday, September 1 Birthday Saturday, September 8 Saturday, September 15 Friday, September 21 Saturday, September 29 Anniversary

October 2012 Friday, October 5 Birthday Saturday, October 13 Saturday, October 20 Saturday, October 27 Anniversary

November 2012 Saturday, November 3 Birthday Saturday, November 10 Saturday, November 17 Saturday, November 24 Anniversary

December 2012 Saturday, December 1 Birthday Saturday, December 8 Saturday, December 15 Saturday, December 22 Anniversary Saturday, December 29

If you would like more information about our congregation please visit our website at www.shirami.com

David Vorspan Rabbi

Jordan Pistol President

SEPTEMBER 16 - SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 1st – 10th TISHREI, 5773

Please bring your filled bags to: Congregation Shir Ami High Holy Day services at The Vineyard, 6642 Reseda Blvd. in Reseda SOVA bins will be in the lobby when entering from the parking lot. Erev Rosh Hashanah Sunday, September 16 at 8:00 pm Rosh Hashanah 1st day Monday, September 17 at 9:00 am Rosh Hashanah 2nd day Tuesday, September 18 at 10:00 am Kol Nidre Tuesday, September 25 at 6:45 pm Yom Kippur Wednesday, September 26 at 10:00 am For more information call Fran Kobulnick at (818) 345-2405.