Shalom from TBD Religious School

Shabbat newsletter compiled by Gal Kessler Rohs, Education Director
We’re in the works at TBD with the final stages of opening the school year, preparing for the upcoming High Holy Days, welcoming of returning and incoming families, processing of administrative paperwork, calendaring of events and their coordination, designing of flyers, delegating volunteers towards setting up family meals for Ulpan Shabbat and snacks for Sunday School, endorsing classroom parents, and that’s about it. Oh, except for a few other things.

I believe you know where I am directing my thoughts and updates to you. Whether you have stepped foot as of late at TBD, read our Temple Newsletter, David’s Word , chit chatted with our clergy and staff, scrolled through our social media channels, peaked at Slack’s gallery, or felt the trembling of ground to the drilling of our temple courtyard floors, you’ll know we are in the works of building the  Kohl family funded  Gan Alon (name to be confirmed). 

Much research has been invested in the blueprint of Gan Alon, so that it serves for TBD to grow, Jewishly. We were inspired by successful examples from history, looked at several synagogue structures, investigated early childhood settings, consulted with landscapers who cater to senior citizens, interviewed architects and interior designers, and dare we say, followed our own professional experience and personal intuition. While I cannot in this platform elaborate on the reasoning behind each of the structures being installed, I have elsewhere done so with our sandbox. I’ll hereby shed light on our amphitheater and playhouse. Both share common grounds- they provide tools for TBD to strengthen, and are thus then both  Jewishly Warm and Relevant. 

How so? 

Unlike a swing, a seesaw, a carrousel, or a pulpit, which typically require one or a few people taking turns, with a somewhat generous personal space around them, the amphitheater, and playhouse serve the contrary. Just like when we see a couch, we intuitively approach it to seek comfort, so will, I dream, the playhouse for young children, and the amphitheater, we hope, for TBD at large. Indeed, and as  Joey Angel-Field refers to the Talmud Bavli, the Sanhedrin did the same- they would sit in a semi-circle so that they could all see their companions’ faces. That way, they would create friendships, listen to music, or in our case, our Rabbi.

It’s a communal break the ice tool in both structures kind of thing- when we all see each other, we are encouraged to communicate, negotiate ideas, greet each other, blow kisses at each other (perhaps), and plan together in friendship, for the future. 

Shabbat Shalom,
- Gal Kessler Rohs , Director of Education
Slichot Services
this Saturday, at Temple Beth Israel, at 8.30pm
This Saturday, as in previous years, TBD will collaborate with the communities affiliated with the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel & Pomona Valleys "in one voice" for S'lichot. 

S'lichot are recited from the Sunday before  #RoshHashanah  until  #YomKippur . If Rosh Hashanah begins on a Monday or Tuesday, selichot begins on the Sunday of the week before Rosh Hashanah, to make sure that there are at least 3 days of Selichot. 

The first selichot service of the holiday season is usually a large  community service , held around midnight on  Motzaei Shabbat  (the night after the sabbath ends; that is, after nightfall on Saturday) . The entire  community , including  men ,  women  and older  children , attend the service, and the  rabbi  gives a sermon. The remaining selichot services are normally only attended by those who ordinarily attend daily  shacharit  services in  synagogue .

A fundamental part of the selichot service is the repeated recitation of the " Thirteen Attributes ," a list of G-d's thirteen attributes of  mercy  that were revealed to Moses after the sin of the  golden calf  (Ex 34:6-7): Ha-shem [1], Ha-shem [2], G-d [3], merciful [4], and gracious [5], long-suffering [6], abundant in goodness [7] and truth [8], keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation [9], forgiving iniquity [10] and transgression [11] and sin [12], who cleanses [13].
Coming up at Temple Beth David
featured dates to note:

October 2nd
TOV CHAI youth group, and on the first Wednesday of every month

October 13
Men's club setting up the sukkah

October 19
Men's club cookout

Nov 4
Sisterhood meeting

Nov 10
Sisterhood Game night
Thank you Volunteers
lots of shout outs this week!
Thanks so much to the following who stepped up to help this past week:

  • to Jan and Ron Robertson, Anna Popick and Chrystal Drysdale for stepping up to prepare the HHD packets.
  • to Cantor Orly and Linda Elyad for a fine Meditative Shabbat last Friday night, and to our congregation for embracing what Cantor Orly states was a "new and meaningful experience"
  • to Carol Ozer and sisterhood who have stepped up to organize the Rosh HaShana Oneg and Break the Fast
  • to Men's club for organizing Ushers for HHD
  • to Jan (AGAIN) for organizing Torah readings for Rosh HaShana
  • to Cantor Orly who will be picking up the best Challa around for our HHD onegs
  • to Dr. Jackie Green and her membership committee for reaching out to new members
  • to Rabbi Lachtman for sponsoring food for the first day of school, the B'nai Mitzvah orientation and the plates, spoons and forks for weeks to come!
  • to Laurie Averitt for chairing the ritual committee and getting us ready for HHDs
  • to Doris Robin for supplying our students with supplies and funding
  • to Susan Grodsky for reaching out to new families, and stepping way beyond her teacher role!
Torah Portion this week
Ki Tavo
Parashat Ki Tavo (When You Enter In) is the Torah portion of the week, found in Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:8. The portion states: 

“When you dwell in the promised land, take a selection of the first fruits and bring them to the place God chooses for God’s Name. With a priest you shall make an offering saying, ‘We remember when we were slaves in Egypt. We remember how God brought us to freedom with a strong hand and outstretched arm, with signs and miracles. You, God brought, us to this land flowing with milk and honey. And now I have brought these first fruits that you, God, have given me.”

(Pictured is our religious school preschool student, Avery Thomson , sticking on a leaf to her paper maché Apple 🍎towards Rosh HaShana learning)
What's Miss Doris holding?
and 10 things the shofar symbolizes
A Shofar is a ram's norm trumpet used by ancient Jews in religious ceremonies, and as a battle signal. Today, it is sounded at Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, and symbolizes no less than 10 things:

  1. Reminiscent of the Coronation of a King
  2. Stirs Our Conscience
  3. Reminds us of Sinai Revelation
  4. Reminiscent of the exhortations of the prophets
  5. Reminder of the Temple's destruction
  6. Symbol of the Ram that Abraham sacrificed
  7. Summons us to feeling jumility
  8. reminder of judgement day
  9. foreshadows return from exile
  10. foreshadows coming of the Messiah

To read more, click here.
A message from Jason Moss at the Federation
about school attendance and observing High Holidays
We wanted to let you know that our Executive Director,  Jason Moss , recently sent a letter to all of our community's school district Superintendents. The letter asks them to make sure their district's principals know the dates of the High Holy Days this year and to remind them that according to California's Education Code no child (or faculty member) can be "penalized" for missing school for religious observance. It is one of the ways the Jewish Federation works to build community by strengthening and enhancing Jewish life. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact the Jewish Federation.

To read the letter, click here .
Honey Cake Recipe
really easy and comes out moist! (and tastes best the day after)
In a large bowl, sift together flour,  baking soda ,  baking powder ,  salt ,  cinnamon ,  cloves , and  cardamom /nutmeg. Set aside.

In a mixer bowl fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk together  eggs , granulated  sugar , and honey on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. 

On low speed and with the mixer running, slowly add the  oil  and  vanilla extract and beat until combined. Turn off mixer. Beat in the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the  coffee /tea in 2 additions, starting and ending with the  flour . 
Beat until smooth. Do not over mix.

Pour the batter into prepared  loaf  pan. Sprinkle with  nuts . Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. If the top is browning too fast while  baking , cover pan loosely with  aluminum foil . 

Allow cake to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and set on a wire rack to cool completely. 

The cake tastes better a day after it’s made. It's best served at room temperature. Cake will keep for 5 days in an  airtight  container in the refrigerator.

1 and 1/4 cups (175g) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves , optional
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom or nutmeg , optional
2 large eggs
1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (120 ml) honey
1/3 cup (80 ml) canola oil (or vegetable, safflower)
1/2 cup warm coffee or tea (mix 1/2 cup hot water with 1 teaspoon instant coffee or 1 tea bag)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup (25g) sliced almonds, pecans or walnuts, optional
Flyers, flyers, flyers
flyers, flyers, flyers
Useful Shabbat Reading
to keep you informed/interested/engaged?
  • Shaped by Play: The Formative Role of Play and Playgrounds
  • How play types impact child development
  • 6 things you need to understand about the Jewish upcoming High Holidays
  • What is an Amphitheater?
  • We start learning Hebrew from preschool, and continue all the way beyond B’nai Mitzvah. Every age has its developmental tools for learning, be it cookie cutters, Playdough, holy Scriptures, reading from the Torah, decoding, digital programs, iPads, social media, or traditional pen and paper.
  • One of the reasons we opt for buffet style snacks, is because we want to teach our students self help skills. In a nutshell, this means that through learning to cater for their own needs, students then develop an ability to help others.
  • OK, so if we can't do Jewish Day School, we'll opt for Supplemental Religious School
  • I met some of my best friends at Temple Beth David. About joining a temple under the umbrella of the Union for Reform Judaism.
Wishing you Shabbat Shalom
this time from the little ones in Morah Shoshana's class!