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Nevada County Jewish Community Center & Congregation B'nai Harim
February 2020
This month we celebrate Tu'Bishvat!

Visit our website for the Weekly Schmooze and Calendar @
www.NCJCC.org
Shabbat Services and Torah Study
Friday Night Shabbat Services with
Rabbi David Azen
and
Saturday Torah Study

Happen the first and third Friday of the Month. Please visit our website at
www.ncjcc.org for the current dates and times in the Schmooze.


Although the celebration of  Tu BiShvat  has a long and varied history, the theme most commonly ascribed to the holiday today is the environment. It is considered a festival of nature, full of wonder, joy, and thankfulness for creation in anticipation of the renewal of the natural world. During this festival, Jews recall the sacred obligation to care for the world, and the responsibility to share the fruits of the earth with all.
Tu BiShvat falls at the beginning of spring in Israel, when the winter rains subside and the pink and white blossoms of the almond trees begin to bud. It is for this reason that almonds and other fruits and nuts native to the Land of Israel – barley, dates, figs, grapes, pomegranates, olives, and wheat – are commonly eaten during  a Tu BiShvat seder  (a special ritual meal for the holiday).

https://reformjudaism.org/

Celebrate Tu'Bishvat

Tu'Bishvat Fun questions to do with your family or friends
  • What kind of trees do you have in your neighborhood? Take a walk or a hike in a nearby park to appreciate how trees contribute to the lives of all animals, including humans.

  • How many tree fruits can you name? Don’t forget the nuts! Make a meal using ideas then gather around the table for a Tu Bishvat seder.


Inside this Newsletter


News from Rabbi David Azen
Messages from our Education Department, Men's Club, Sisterhood, Book Club, Membership, and Property Development.
Whats Happening around the JCC
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Yahrzeits

If you have additional information or a correction,
Please send an email to NCJCC@outlook .com
Visit us on Facebook

Schedule
Rabbi's Message
Rabbi David Azen
Friends,
As most of you know, I wear a few hats along with my kippah, and as a performer, I’ve got an altar ego whose birthday is February 29, so I invite you to join me for the ongoing evolution of my one rabbi show in honor of his 15 th  birthday.
In addition, as Executive Director of Fresher Sacramento, we are hosting a Quantum Leap into a Fresher Year brunch in Sacramento and wanted to let you know about that as well. Please join me, or not, as you wish, and in any event, Happy Leap Year!!
Blessings and best wishes,
Rabbi Dave


Voted nonprofit of the year by Senator .......
" Fresher Sacramento seeks to enable everyone to go to bed well-fed and build wealth from health for generations to come. With nearly a quarter of a million folks in Sacramento County lacking regular access to affordable, nutritious food, our team of Fresher Chefs are cooking up a brand new model for making sure everyone goes to bed well fed, by preparing affordable, convenient, delicious, and nutritious meals for folks who lack the time, knowledge, and resources to prepare their own."

Youth and Adult Education
Kinneret Vinitzky, Principal Religious, Hebrew School
for Children, Youth and Adults
We are building a SMALL City of Jerusalem.

Dear Sunday School parents and Members of Congregation B'nai H'arim of the NCJCC,

We have been working hard learning about ancient Jerusalem and how the Jews of the old city lived. Our culminating project is to build a re-creation of this beautiful old city using bits and pieces of things we find around us. This is where we need your help!

Please send in any small building and/or craft supplies you might have have lying around that you may not be using. Those of you doing construction projects around the house that may have some small pieces of wood, tiles, clay or plaster -- anything that could help our students build a thriving city! Some other suggestions:
*Lego people, toy soldiers
*toy farm animals, plastic camels, Lego animals
*cloth,wood, blocks, popsicle sticks, felt, thin cardboard, small rocks, pebbles
You get the idea, right? 
Thank you so much for your help and participation. We will be accepting donations beginning this Sunday until mid April. 

Yours,
Lori,Carol,Debbie,Dana and Kinneret


Our teachers are: 
Mya Russel - Teaching Pre-school 
Dana Valensky Teaching Kindergarten - 1st Grade 
Lori McClintic Teaching 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade 
Kinneret Vinitzky - Teaching 5th, 6th, and 7th Grade
 

Hebrew class is scheduled on Wednesday at 3:30pm - 4:30pm. Attached you will find the 2019-2020 School calendar and the registration form by clicking on the highlighted text above to view and download.

Yours,
Kinneret
Youth Activities
Dan Kalt, Youth Coordinator


We'll be planning more fun activities for our temple teens / tweens as the year starts and throughout the year. If anyone is interested in helping out, please don't hesitate to contact the Rabbi or myself at dankalt@yahoo.com.


Men's Club
Gordon Mann, President
The Men's Club meets the second Sunday of each month at 9:30am. We feature interesting speakers and presenters from the community. The activities include monthly meetings with stimulating speakers, and events such as a scotch and BBQ, wine and beer tastings, golf, and Poker games to prepare for the next Poker Tournament.

The Men's Club is open to the entire congregation and community, men and women alike. Speakers and events are scheduled on Sundays as well as in the evenings and we'll share the upcoming opportunities in the weekly and monthly announcements, as well as the website.

We appreciate your interest and support of our activities and look forward to seeing you. Our annual dues are only $20. When we meet on Sunday mornings, we serve lox and bagels, coffee, and orange juice for only $5.00 (such a good deal! Your mother would be proud).

Contact Gordon Mann at sharkmann@suddenlink.net for more information, to suggest an interesting speaker, or to schedule an event .
Sisterhood
Lee Lewis, President
Join Now and come to our 25th Anniversary Celebration March 5th.
This is a member only event so join now.


Our 2019-20 officers:

President:                    Lee Nold-Lewis
Membership VP:        Ruth Goodin
Programming VPs:     Carol Brown and Yardena Bobys
Fund Raising VPs:       Cheryl Kelly and Virginia Herron
Treasurer:                   Gail Atlas
Recording Secretary: Judy Silberman
Corresponding Secretary: Lori McClintic


We welcome any women who would like to join us!
Please contact Ruth Goodin, Sisterhood Membership Chair,
at 925-354-2145 if you are interested
in attending a meeting and checking us out.
Sisterhood Book Club
Arlene Waxman
Book Club discussions do continue on the second Monday of the month. Contact Arlene Waxman at 530-478-9484 for additional information.  

Membership
Jan Brenner, Membership Chair
If you haven't already or you are new to the area, please fill out the membership renewal form and mail it to Congregation B'nai Harim at P.O box 1426. If you did not receive a copy in the mail, please reply to this email with your mailing address or call the office at (530) 477-0922.
Property Development
Mya Russell Property Development Chair,
Media/Public Relations Chair
Great News! Phase I of the property development is wrapping up and we are looking at the start of Phase II very soon. Big Changes are ahead. The Board has approved Phase II and part of Phase III as soon as we have the funding. We need your help.
All donations received will be matched up to a total of $50,000. WOW!! Yes, you read that correctly.
But we need your donations to make that happen. Please send in your checks to the NCJCC and note Backyard Project on your check.
Stop by and see the progress in the backyard!!
Thank you to those who have already donated, your dollars are already at work.
Whats happening around the NCJCC
Please submit your photos to ncjcc@outlook.com

Please support the   Nevada County Food Bank  with a donation next time you visit the  synagogue .
Canned or boxed items that  include  grains,  protein , fruits, vegetables or those kid friendly items
is greatly appreciated.
Thank you to everyone who has been adding to our donation barrel!!


We are looking for Volunteer, of all ages.
Giving back is a great way to stay involved, help others and have a great time.
Do your kids need volunteer hours for school?
Please email the NCJCC @outlook.com if you are interested.
We are working on a list of volunteer options. Email us if you have ideas as well.
Current Needs:
Sponsors for Passover - Kinneret Vinitzky
Board Members for the May election - Contact Iola Gold
Host an Oneg - Contact Susan Halperin

Mark your Calendars - Passover April 9th - details out soon.


Magic of Friends!!
Birthdays
February 2020
Benjamin Cohen………......……….........3
Samantha Karp………………...…...........3
Joseph Label……………………................3
Robin Parisse………………………...........4
Jenni Wasatz……...................................9
Margot Fulmer....…………….…………..13
Eli Kirshbaum.......................................13
Norman Label.................................... 19
Stan Karp .............................................25
Johah Russell......................................26
Bethe Cohen........................................27
Shaked Valensky................................28

Anniversaries
February 2020
Dan & Cathy Kalt....................................28

Yahrzeits
February 2020
Name
Remembered by
Efrain Hernandez
Maya Hernandez
Teri Hernandez
Pauline Imas
Simon Kleinkramer
Ira Bass
Mike Rosenthal
Sohie Gallin
Evelyn Klein
Ethel Surowitz
Laurie Williams
Lotte Johanna Lamm
Joseph Label
Jeannette Kelly
Samuel Weinstein
Lewis Silver

Charles & Marilyn Salomon
Charles & Marilyn Salomon
Charles & Marilyn Salomon
Olga Imas & Rita Ariel
Fieni Verdooner
Richard &Cherly Klein
Robert & Rochelle Lowenthal
Grace Trotter
Richard & Cheryly Klein
Lanie & Jay Keystone
Chris Willams
Eva Lamm Ruben
Norman Label
Maralee Nelder
Stan Karp
Shirley Barsky



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