Shalom from TBD Religious School

Shabbat newsletter compiled by Gal Kessler Rohs, Education Director
Dear Temple Beth David Religious School families,

Today marks the birthday of Mr. Irwin Frazin. 58 years ago, in the same month that Mr. Frazin and Helen married, the couple joined Temple Beth David as members. That was Helen’s initiative, and Mr. Frazin, being religiously conscious, complied. Helen humbly tells me her “Mr. Fixit” husband has since then, until today, had “every volunteer job possible within TBD”.
 
To mark today’s special day, our preschoolers last Sunday invited Mr. Frazin to their technicolored, Joseph inspired morning. The children cut up a fruit salad together, and brunched with him and their parents following the show. They sang him the sweetest Yom Huledet (birthday) song, and heard about his negotiating efforts towards the installation of our upcoming playground. 
Yet a birthday celebration of 86 years (ad 120), and 58 years of TBD membership, merits further recognition. I thus tried to reach Tom and Carrie Frazin , two of the Frazins' children, but alas. So, I interviewed the birthday boy himself. It turns out, those volunteer jobs Helen spoke about included serving as TBD president, vice president, treasurer, teacher, and, what’s more, he is now going strong in the leadership of installing our upcoming playground.
 
Mr. Frazin nostalgically recounted to me his moments of reminiscence as he enters TBD through the Rabbi entry door. There, hanging on the wall, is a plaque with names of those on the committee who’s service was to restore our arsonized temple from the 1980 fire. On December 6 th of that year, Mr. Frazin’s house phone rang with the shocking news about the Nazi attack on our temple. The next morning Mr. Frazin found “there to be char on the sanctuary chairs, all the way to the social hall”. The shock, the fear, and his love for our temple home, urged Mr. Frazin to dedicate himself as restoring committee chair. Only two of the members from that committee remain with us today- Mr. Frazin himself, and our Rabbi.
 
Mr. Frazin thanks “the only Helen he knows”, for bringing the Frazin family to a sense of congregant belonging, then through Rabbi Camilius Angel , and now though his “brother” Rabbi Alan Lachtman . Mr. Frazin attests to “coming out of his nutshell” through the various qualities he acquired at his appointed TBD positions. Whereas he started as a shy individual, “scared to death” of the presidential Bimah, today with a walker in one hand, and an imaginary megaphone in the other, he is loud and clear about his opinions, especially at board meetings.
 
Indeed, you are a Jewish superman who is hardly in his nutshell- Happy birthday and go Mr. Frazin!

Gal Kessler Rohs, Education Director,
writing on behalf of our religious school team.
Lots of shout outs
to oh so many wonderful people out there!
Our team would like to thank the following for the significant difference they made, are making, or have made as of late:

Susan Grodsky (Morah Shoshana)- for coordinating a most successful Joseph inspired morning, filled with colors, food, parental involvement, honored guests, and engaged teamwork! The results showed- two new (warm prospective) students, a returning student, an interested in joining sibling, and exposure within the San Gabriel Valley.

Neomi Goodman and Sebastian Glazier - for extending your hours both before and after the preschool Joseph morning. You were responsible for more than your usual tasks, and together coordinated your multi tasking with fine grace.

Dr. Jackie Green - for providing that warm meal for our staff at our staff after school meeting. After a vibrant Sunday, filled with excitement, a warm meal and an experienced ear, is most appreciated. 

Rabbi Lachtman- We are thankful to you for funding the preschool Joseph morning supplies, including food, extra hours for our staff, a multi colored blanket (pictured), and outreach with mailing. 

The Kerr family - the remains of your previous donation in honor of Levi’s birthday was used to supplement the funding for our Joseph morning. We enjoyed watching the children cut up the multi colored fruit salads, and wrap themselves in colorful blankets. 

To Rache l and Dulce Dubin - Your  #DesiretoInspire  project is extending as we, as a religious school community arrange a Yard Sale in honor of Rachel’s Bat Mitzvah.

Dr. Mindel Spiege l- Much gratefulness to you for the collection and donation of Judaica sale items. Our students will not only be exposed to Judaica, but will also determine pricing of items, explain to the public about their Mitzvah related cause and profit, and become young adults as they pride in their fundraising charity efforts. 

We are also in much need of scholarships towards L’Taken, a projector, and various other school supplies which you have donated from your own funds to support us. A Huge thank you!

Gavin Wasserman - Thanks for the trajectory to our staff (and board) on where we are heading in terms of safety, security, and facility maintenance at TBD. It is helpful to have a point person such as yourself. We are thankful to Aaron Cass and Anthony Serio for collaborating in these related and newly developed committees.

All of you, as teachers, aides, parents, or friends of TBD have extended and exceeded within your roles. That’s community, that’s friendship, and that’s the meaning of Jewishly Warm and Relevant!
Individual messages from our staff
From Lauren Bailey, Jason Moss, and Susan Grodsky
From Susan Grodsky - Please pick up your children from the classroom at the end of the day.

From Jason Moss - there is no religious school for Haskala students this week, as Shabbaton weekend is underway.

From Lauren Bailey- We'll be visiting the library on Sunday. I will be showing your children how to find books such as biographies, hisorical fiction, reference books, etc. We'll be reading Purim stories, and learn about a particular book called the book of Esther. This will then compliment cantor Lilah 's showing of the scroll of Esther in the sanctuary.
TBD Outing to the Sierra Madre Playhouse
On April 7th, evening performance
As Holocaust survivor and the world’s most renowned hunter of Nazi war criminals Simon Wiesenthal is about to retire, he recounts for an audience the stories of his most famous cases of bringing wrongdoers to justice. Wiesenthal is back for two performances only. If you’ve seen it before, you’ll want to see it again. If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t miss it this time !

Please be in touch with me if you are interested. For more information, please click here .
Useful Reading
For further Shabbat resources
  • Pistachio, pesto, pizza with mozzarella and honey recipe, in honor of February 26, #WorldPistachioDay.
  • 101 about Haman’s ears, and the calorie overload we are about to embark upon here
  • About Reggio Emilia, the approach we take in our toddler class
Upcoming TBD events
remember- Shabbaton is underway this weekend
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From our clergy and staff
information and save the dates for these upcoming services
Out and about in our community happenings
for children and families of the San Gabriel community
Shabbat Shalom
this time from Joey Angel Field, our youth group leader, and Libby