Shalom from TBD Religious School
Shabbat newsletter compiled by Gal Kessler Rohs, Education Director
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Dear Temple Beth David family,
Today, I am sharing an occasion where I again share our weekly religious school newsletter with TBD's general mailing list, (as opposed to only our religious school families).
That's because
Leeav Sofer will be joining us, and sharing TBD's pulpit together with
Rabbi Lachtman later on today at erev shabbat services.
We asked Leeav to share a tad about himself. Please read here below his impressive bio he shared with us, including his musical talents, founding of Mostly Kosher, and his advocacy for the homeless community on Skid Row.
Wishing you Shabbat Shalom, and looking forward to seeing you this evening for services!
-
Gal Kessler Rohs,
Education Director
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Leeav Sofer currently is on faculty at the Colburn School in Los Angeles where he teaches classes, directing choirs and community engagement programs. Under the auspice of Colburn, Sofer helped initiate or develop music programs to culturally elevate the surrounding communities. After years of teaching from underserved high schools to Title 1 elementary schools in both classroom, lecture and assembly settings, Sofer has become one of Los Angeles County Department of Education’s lead teaching artist and lecturer on how music intersects with social and emotional learning.
He is the co-founder and director of The Urban Voices Project, a program that combines adult music education, therapeutic music workshops and a performing community choirs for the homeless. These programs have garnered Sofer recognition on the front page of the Los Angeles Times, on NPR’s All Things Considered, NBC’s Today Show, and allowed him to share the stage with various celebrities as well as local politicians. Sofer is a teaching artist and collaborator of Street Symphony, a partner organization and together with Urban Voices, assisted The Messiah Project, an annual performance of Handel’s Messiah in Skid Row remembered as one of the top 10 performances of 2015 deemed by the New Yorker.
Sofer, recognized as Jewish Journal’s esteemed “30 under 30”, also leads the band Mostly Kosher, dedicated to preserving and progressing cultural folk music of Judaic heritage. In 2016, Mostly Kosher had the honor of being the first Jewish music ensemble at the Disney parks and performed a 2 month residency at Disney California Adventure, featured in the Festival of Holidays to be met with critical acclaim. Mostly Kosher’s work then was seen by and brought to DisneyWorld at the Epcot park for the same holiday season. Thus in 2017, Mostly Kosher was the first live band and first impression of Jewish culture in both Disney parks at both coasts of the United States at the same time. The ensemble continues each year as both a touring performance ensemble as well as it’s regular return to their residency at the Disney Parks.
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Special announcement From Rabbi Lachtman
about the passing of Joel W.H. Kleinberg
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We note with profound sorrow the passing of
Joel W.H. Kleinberg.
Joel
was a multi term president of Temple Beth David. Joel was devoted to his wife,
Laurie
. He is survived by Laurie and his two children
Leslie and Seth
. The
Kleinberg family
have been devoted and generous members of Temple Beth David for over 45 years. Services were privately held on July 17th.
RABBI ALAN R. LACHTMAN DHL, MFCT, LTC ret
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TBDRS's toddler class
for the youngest of our students (admission is from 2 years of age)
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Studies also show that students starting religious school at an early age, are more prone to continue their religious school and Jewish communual dedication towards later years. Children grow up together, learn together, become a community together, and make a Jewishly Warm and Relevant difference together.
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This week's shout outs
Todah, Thank you, Rav Todot, Thanks!
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Pasadena Union Station
available shifts for preparing breakfast for the hungry and homeless
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Thanks to
Jason Young
for being a mensch! Thanks for coordinating TBD's Union Station volunteering. If you would like to volunteer at Union Station please contact Jason and specify which of these dates you would like to help:
July 21st, 2019
August 18, 2019
September 15th, 2019
October 20th, 2019
November 17th, 2019
December 15th, 2019
January 19, 2020
February 16th, 2020
March 15th, 2020
April 19, 2020
May 17th, 2020
June 21, 2020
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Torah Portion this week
Balak, found in the book of Numbers 22:2-25:9
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“How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel. Like brooks are they turned, like gardens by the river, like cedars beside the waters the waters flow from God’s buckets.
Israel wins against other nations because God brought you out of the land of Egypt to be God’s people.”
(pictured at Scott (right) and Leah (left) with their TBD plush Torahs)
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Announcements
from TBD and JFPSGV
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Useful Reading
and further resources
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- Fun facts about Janice Robertson in our shabbat reading last week in our Temple Beth David Religious School Friday eblast here
- About Leeav Sofer's founded Mostly Kosher
- Leeav is the co-founder and director of The Urban Voices Project
- Shalom, and welcome to Temple Beth David of the San Gabriel Valley! Watch our video here.
- 14 years and older can follow recipes from start to finish. By this age, kids should also be involved in and independently do most aspects of meal planning, managing grocery lists, meal preparation, and clean up.
- How to make a Six strand challah (pictured)
- Donating food to the hungry through Foothill Unity Center is a #socialaction TBD prides in doing. Our students, as young as 2 year old Leah, know that upon entering our temple building, it is a mitzvah to contribute to the food donation bin. Food donation centers in America can be found here.
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Shabbat Shalom and here's Leeav Sofer's
version of "Close Every Door" together with Kol HaEmek choir
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