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News and Stories Menu
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News and Stories
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 Members of the Board, staff and congregation assembled Thursday evening, May 23 to hear presentations on the state of our congregation, to vote, and to recognize the contributions of various members. Volunteers of the Year, Meryl Maneker, Sima Oppenheimer and Marge Schane received awards, as did retiring long-time Board members Amy Corton and Ron Simon. Other retiring Board members were recognized and new Board members welcomed. The congregation voted to change the gender specific wording "husband and wife" in our by laws to "both spouses" in accordance with our vision of inclusivity. Speakers included Rabbi Michael Berk and Board Treasurer Gary Hirschfeld. Retiring President Emily Jennewein passed the gavel to new President Meg Mandel and both spoke about past successes and future goals, as well as the positive spirit and peace that we enjoy in our congregation at this time. View Annual Meeting photos here.
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 On Saturday, April 26, Beth Israel celebrated the very moving B'not Mitzvah of fourteen women. Over the past two years these fourteen came together to study, learn hebrew and enhance their Jewish experience. Yasher Koach to Candace Berkman, Michelle Breier, Nurit Carmel, Glenda Carver, Deborah Lynn Ditter, Julie Gardner, Lisa Guterman, Lisa Kalal, Julia Kotlyar-Hughes, Johanna Newlander, Fran Preisman, Dawn Rosenblum, Laura Preisman Spitzberg and Leah van Lingen. May their journey continue! View a slide show here.
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 Bob Metz, along with his wife, Judy, have been volunteer drivers for the JFS On the Go program since 2011 and have provided more than 200 rides. On the Go provides transportation for older adults to necessary medical appointments, grocery shopping, and other life necessities. Recently On the Go delivered its 150,000th ride to San Carlos resident, Sandra Schneider and Bob Metz was the driver! Mazal tov to Bob and to Judy and all our On the Go volunteers for this wonderful mitzvah.
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 A big shout out and mazal tov to Daniel Brenner, our Director of Youth Services on his acceptance to rabbinical school. We are very proud and happy for him. However, we are also sad that he will be leaving us at the end of May. Please join us in saying goodbye at our Friday night Shabbat services, May 10 where we will also be honoring our high school seniors and recipients of the prestigious Kavod Award.
We are happy to announce that Gilad Hoffman has been hired as our new Director of Youth Services beginning July 1. We look forward to introducing him and telling you more about him in the near future. |
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 Mazal tov to Rabbi Michael Satz and Rabbi Janice Elster, on the birth of their son on April 25. The entire congregation is invited to the Brit Milah, which will be Thursday, May 2 at 12:30 p.m. in the David & Dorothea Garfield Social Hall at Beth Israel. Please park in the Gateway Building lot at 9171 Towne Centre Drive. Parking will be validated. Please RSVP for planning purposes below.
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Thank you so much to everyone that supported Empty Bowls 2013!
The students at Coronado High School and all those supporting them exceeded their goal and raised more than $21,000 on April 18. On Sunday morning, teacher Eric Rempe took the participating students down to The Hunger Project to volunteer. They fed 750 people. Their $21,000 donation will provide more than 11,000 meals at The Hunger Project. We're so very proud of these students and of their amazing teacher, Eric and the community that supports their efforts. See pictures here. See additional pictures here. |
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 Sunday, May 5, 9am - 1pm at Beth Israel
Beth Israel Bar Mitzvah student Evan Levine will be holding a used book sale at Beth Israel for his Bar Mitzvah project. The sale will be held in the Price Family Courtyard and all money raised will be donated to send children to Jewish summer camp. Evan explains: "I have been going to Camp Alonim since 3rd grade and I want other kids to have the chance to experience camp. I have collected many great books for both children and adults."
Included are preschool books, teen books, adult novels, Judaic books, cookbooks as well as many non-fiction books. Paperbacks will sell for $1, and hard-cover books for $3.
Come get a great deal on books from this HUGE collection and help Evan make Jewish camp possible for deserving kids!
Note: Thanks to all who have donated books! Evan now has all he needs for the sale and is no longer taking book donations. |
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In honor of their 50th wedding anniversary, Janice and Marv Alper recently donated a beautiful parochet (ark curtain) for the ark in our Foster Family Chapel. At a morning Minyan service on March 23 the congregation celebrated the official dedication of the parochet. We thank the Alpers for their donation and say mazal tov on their 50th anniversary! View the video. |
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 On Monday we were reminded of how fragile life is and how, at a moment’s turn, life can change dramatically. What a shock that one of our great American events, the Boston Marathon, would be targeted by an act of terror. Our hearts are broken as we cry for those killed and injured and we send our love to all who have been touched by this horrible crime.
After the bombing of a popular discothèque in Tel Aviv, Israeli teenagers erected a memorial. It was a simple sign which defiantly proclaimed: We will not stop dancing. Americans will not stop running in marathons. We will not give in nor let those who perpetuate terror determine what we do or don’t do. This is the best answer to those whose lives are motivated by hate and violence – to let them know that they are destined to lose in their desire to bring down a way of life that celebrates the good; that believes in freedom; that is open and tolerant and pluralistic.
We mourn and pray with those who suffered injury and loss in Boston. And we are resolute in our determination to remain true to our values and way of life.
Many of our fellow Jews in the Boston area are planning special services to allow the local community to grieve and pray together. In our synagogue, three thousand miles from Boston, we will join our prayers with theirs and seek comfort together.
Alden Solovy, a liturgist and poet who now lives in Israel, wrote a prayer for Boston. I think it is a beautiful statement of our hope for a safe world, where no one has to worry about suffering at the hands of another. This is my prayer, and I share a bit of Solovy’s prayer with you:
Heavenly Guide,
Hand of love and shelter,
Put an end to anger and fear,
Hatred and brutality,
Cruelty and bloodshed,
And lead us to a time when no one will suffer at the hand of another.
Grant the people of the United States Your protection
And the people of Boston Your wholeness and peace.
© 2013 Alden Solovy (For full text of this prayer click here: A Prayer for Those Affected by the Boston Bombings.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Berk |
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 On June 7 we will honor retiring Early Childhood Education Director Tammy Vener's 23 years of service to Beth Israel. We invite everyone to join us for a special musical Erev Shabbat service followed by a haimish Retirement Celebration Dinner. In addition, we're creating a memory book for Tammy that we want you to participate in and have created a fund in Tammy's name (see information on both below).
Tammy knew she wanted to become a teacher by the age of 12. She graduated from San Diego State with a BA in Liberal Arts in 1979. The following year she received her California teaching credential and taught in San Diego City Schools for one year. In 1981 Tammy became a fourth-grade teacher at the Jewish Day School which was then opening its doors at Beth Israel. She later served as unit head in charge of older campers at Camp Beth Israel, which her husband, Louie, directed. Tammy and Louie's three children, Jacob, Molly and Sophie, all grew up at Beth Israel. Tammy has been the congregation's Early Childhood Director for 16 years. Every child and family that has walked through her doors has been embraced and enhanced by her warmth and guidance.
Help us celebrate the leadership, dedication and ruach that Tammy Vener has brought to Beth Israel! Please join us for the Erev Shabbat Service, open to all, and RSVP for the dinner celebration following the service. (RSVP for will be onliine by April 15).
Donate to the Tammy Vener Fund: Beth Israel is thrilled to announce that the Tammy Vener Fund for Preschool Programming and Scholarships has been established in Tammy’s honor. Donate online. Select Tammy's fund in the pull down menu.
Help Us Create A Memory Book for Tammy!
As a tribute to Tammy, we are creating a memory book. This means we need YOUR memories! Please help us make this a special, fun, heartwarming book by sending us your emailed or written comments, stories, tributes, drawings, photos (Tammy loves photos!) to include in the book. Share a brief anecdote or a full page. Email to
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or drop off sheets or cds in the Beth Israel lobby (att: Heather Taylor-Williams). Please provide your name and contact number or email with each item submitted. Email
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with any questions. All items must be received no later than Friday, May 10.
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 On April 6 at the Minyan Service 18 (chai) persons, many who had never chanted or read from the Torah before, read from the Torah portion Shemini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47). They studied, and chanted or read one verse of Torah. It made for a most memorable morning of worship. This event was a repeat of the program of 2001 which was the creation of Minyan Service Coordinator Gordon Glenn which then celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Shabbat morning Minyan service.
Thank you to our Torah readers: Al Kohn, Howard Hian, Janice Alper (who read two verses), Jim Spievak, Maxine Endy, Bob Wolfson, Steve Milgrom, Jay Harris, John Yochelson, Jerry Sampson, Larry Krause, Judy Glenn, Michael Heinzman, Allan Endy, Ellen Kahn, Sharon Ritter, Len Krouner and Candace Berkman (who prepared but was unable to attend). See more pictures. |
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This year, the Men's Club celebrates 27 years of dedication to the Hunger Project. It was a heart warming experience filled with 42 amazing volunteers. They served 667 adults, including 12 children, for two and a half hours. It was a tremendous success. See a slideshow with more pictures here. |
 It's short for Mi Sheberach Bag and it's filled with caring goodies for members who are feeling sick, need a little help, or have just had one of those months. MiSh bags contain homemade French Gourmet chicken soup, tea and honey, and a book of prayers, just to name a few items. To have a bag delivered by a Caring Community volunteer, email
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. Want to volunteer? Email
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or call 619 884-3888.
Caring Community Co-Coordinator Marty Stern shows off the MiSh bags, soup and other packaged items being readied for delivery to members.
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