We welcome Jews from all backgrounds and all are welcome at Congregation Beth Sholom. We strive to serve the needs of singles and families, Jews of all races, cultures and sexual orientations, as well as Jews-by-choice and interfaith families. Congregation Beth Sholom is the center of Jewish life in the Napa Valley.
We are a vibrant community with a wide variety of spiritual, educational, and social programs. We are a Reform Congregation affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism serving a membership that reflects a wide variety of perspectives and religious and cultural background.
For information on becoming a member please call our office: (707) 253-7305 or email us: office@cbsnapa.org, or visit us: 1455 Elm Street, Napa CA 94559.
Shabbot This Week
Friday September 3rd
7:00pm Shabbat Services with Max Schleicher
Oneg Sponsors: The CBS Board of Trustees
To Thank Fani and Angelic for all they have done for our Community and Children!
For those of you whom I did not have the pleasure to meet, during Sabbath worship on July 9, let me introduce myself. My name is Myra Soifer, and for 25 years I was privileged to serve as the rabbi of Temple Sinai in Reno, Nevada. I retired from that position in July, 2009, at which time the congregation honored me with the ongoing title of Rabbi Emerita. Before Reno, I served 6 years as Assistant Rabbi at Temple Sinai in New Orleans. This year I will travel, ‘cross the Sierra, to have the honor of serving as your rabbi for the High Holidays of 5771.
I write this during the middle of the Hebrew month of Av, that month of mightily diminished joy, when the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem, as well as many other historical Jewish tragedies, are marked. Av will give way to the month of Elul, which begins in the evening of August 10. As the month immediately prior to Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, Elul is a time of preparation for the High Holidays. It’s a time to begin our process of introspection and repentance. If we are wise, we surely do not wait for the Yom Kippur rush! In Aramaic (the vernacular of the Jewish people at the time that the month names were adopted), the word Elul means "search," which is appropriate, because this is the time of year when we search deeply into our hearts and souls.
And by way of my rabbinic preparation, I would like to share with you the topics of my upcoming High Holiday sermons.It has been my practice, through almost all of my rabbinate, to choose one theme around which to organize my High Holy Days preaching.This year the subject of my sermon series will be: Finding God: The Possibilities are Endless
During my 32 years as a rabbi, I can’t begin to count the number of Jews who have come to me and said, “Rabbi, I’m Jewish, but I don’t believe in God.”Sometimes this is uttered proudly; but more often, it is said with sadness.And almost always, it’s a statement that really isn’t true.It is not true because the speaker is wrongly convinced that there is some limited, prescribed notion of deity in Judaism.Too many thoughtful, mature – and, yes, even God-believing – Jews just don’t know that there are many acceptable Jewish theologies.So my upcoming High Holidays sermon series will present an overview of just some of the many possible, acceptable, and authentic Jewish notions of God.Here is that sermon series’ schedule:
Erev Rosh HaShanah – God of the Bible
Rosh HaShanah Morning – God through the Eyes of our Rabbinic Sages
Erev Yom Kippur – The Mystical God of Isaac Luria and Others
Yom Kippur Morning – A God with Limits and Without Omnis-
Yom Kippur Afternoon – An “Ordinary” God: Naturalism and Humanism
It was truly a joy meeting so many of the Beth Sholom community during Sabbath worship and for Torah study when I visited you in July!I look forward to joining with you again, this time during our most sacred Jewish season.For those whom I have not yet met, it will be my pleasure to do so.
May our introspection be deep and our repentance be sincere and lasting.May our teshuvah lead to profound personal transformation.And together may we enter into a wonderfully blessed New Year!
Sincerely,
Rabbi Myra Soifer
Meet Our High Holiday Cantor: Aviva Rosenbloom
Greetings to the Beth Sholom community and friends,
I am delighted to have been asked to serve as your High Holiday Cantor for the coming Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. I’m Aviva Rosenbloom, and I love singing in community! I’ve been a Californian for 35 years; most of that time I served as full-time Cantor of Temple Israel of Hollywood in Los Angeles. After a detour to Aspen last year, I’m excited to be branching out northward to Napa.
In partnership with Rabbi Myra Soifer, I hope to offer you the opportunity to pray, sing, and reflect deeply on your life during the coming sacred season. There will be classic cantorial pieces for inspiration, beloved congregational melodies to join in on, well known folk songs to sing along with, and ancient chants to connect you with our past.
I look forward to meeting you in September. May the Hebrew month of Elul offer you the opportunity to begin your introspection and teshuvah, so we can reach the New Year with open hearts and joy.
B’shalom,
Cantor Aviva Rosenbloom
High Holy Days Work Party
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2010
12 – 3 PM
HELP BEAUTIFY YOUR SYNAGOGUE
FOR THE HIGH HOLY DAYS!
Bring your can-do attitude and let’s get the following done:
POLISH TORAH SILVER
POLISH SILVER CANDLE STICKS
POLISH SILVER KIDDUSH CUPS
BRING HIGH HOLY DAY MACHZORIM TO LOBBY
SET UP TABLES FOR REGISTRATION AREA
PAINTING AND TOUCH UP
POLISH AND DUST ARK AND BIMA
CHANGE TO WHITE KIPPOT
CHANGE TORAH COVERS
MISCELLANEOUS SPRUCE UP
Give a little of your time and elbow grease to this worthy endeavor.
SEE YOU THERE!
Substitute Religious School Teachers Needed
Talent Wanted to Help With Religious School
High Holy Days and Beyond
HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICE SCHEDULE
5770-5771/2010
Rabbi Myra Soifer
Cantor Aviva Rosenbloom
Selichot:
Saturday September 4
Shared Dessert Reception8:30PM
Service and Study9:00PM
High Holy Day Preparation
Sunday September 5
HHD Work Party at CBS12:00 noon-3:00PM
Erev Rosh Hashanah Services
Wednesday September 87:00PM
Followed by Festive Oneg
Rosh Hashanah Services
Thursday September 9
Family Services9:00-9:45AM
General Worship Services10:15AM
Afternoon Outdoor Service3:00PM
This year, we will observe Rosh HaShanah with a new Outdoor Service.
While this service will begin with Taschlich, it will primarily be a service in celebration of nature and its beauty – all of which God created “in the beginning,” which Rosh HaShanah celebrates.This will take place at KennedyPark, surely a most appropriate place to appreciate the great outdoors (!), on the afternoon of first day Rosh HaShanah.Dress casually and comfortably.While there is some seating at the park, you may want to bring your own folding chair(s).This will be an informal service; children are welcome (and should they get antsy, there’s playground equipment nearby).Feel free to bring your pets as well!Finally, all are invited to bring a picnic supper (with some to share, of course) for after our service is complete.The service will last approximately 1 hour.
High Holy Day Special Service
Tuesday September 14
Visit to the VallejoCemetery w/Rabbi White 4:00PM
Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre
Friday September 177:00PM
Yom Kippur
Saturday September 18
Family Service9:00-9:45AM
General Worship Service10:15AM
Music and Meditation1:00PM
Another new service at Beth Sholom, during these High Holy Days, will be a service of Music and Meditation on Yom Kippur Day, at the outdoor area adjacent to the synagogue.This will be a time of quiet contemplation to the beautiful music.In addition to the meditations in our High Holiday Machzor, a small booklet of additional meditations will be provided.Or, simply sit, enjoy the music, and consider your own thoughts and prayers.Feel free to arrive at any time, during this meditative opportunity; please, however, enter the space quietly so as not to disturb the mood, quiet, and concentration of those already involved in personal introspection.
Healing Service2:30 PM
Healing, shelymut in Hebrew, does not mean “curing.”Rather, its Hebrew root is the same as for the word shalom; healing, in our Jewish tradition, is about a peaceful wholeness.How appropriate, then, that once again Congregation Beth Sholom will join together for a Healing Service on Yom Kippur day.Please join in supporting all who are in need of wholeness and health, as well as those who care for them.
Afternoon Service4:00PM
Followed immediately by
Memorial/Yizkor Service
Concluding/Neilah Service and Havdallah
Beth Sholom’s Annual Community Break the Fast will be held at the conclusion of services at approximately 7:15 PM
As you might be aware, the Ritual Committee for the past six weeks has been using a combination of lay leaders and visiting Rabbis to conduct services. So far, the lay leaders have been Gordon Lustig, Richard Pastcan, and Max Schleicher. If there are others out there who would feel comfortable serving in this role, please let of us know. While conducting the service might not be your forte, I am personally of the opinion that each one of us has a story to tell. It might be how we came to Napa, what was our Jewish life before arriving here, what we do in the community, our passions; a recent interesting book we read or trip we took. The list is endless. The purpose would be to share this during a time in the service so as to both promote a brief discussion and also allow us to get to know one another better. This is one way I believe we can create a stronger community. So, please do not feel timid and in the spirit of community building give me or one of the other Ritual Committee members a call or email and we will provide you a 10 to 15 minute slot during a Friday night service.
CBS Membership Renewal Please help us to keep our membership records up to date by returning your membership renewal forms and annual dues. Your cooperation will help make our preparation for the new fiscal year and the High Holy Days much easier.
Thank you.
Beginning Adult Hebrew Classes
Adult Hebrew Lessons
Beginning Hebrew Class will meet Thursdays starting, August 26 from 6:30-7:20pm.This hour will be dedicated to those of you who know no Hebrew or need a refresher course.Our objective will be to learn to “decode” what now looks like hieroglyphics.
Intermediate Hebrew will meet Thursdays beginning August 26th from 7:30-8:30pm.This will be a time to get together and become more proficient readers.The agenda will be set by those in attendance.We will work on the participants’ challenges.
Please call to register or if you have any questions.We will be meeting at my home 3845 Yosemite St. (around the now famous kitchen table).There is no fee, but we will be collecting Tzedakah for a Temple project.
Anne Percelay 255-1078
asp113@comcast.net
You Light Up My Life: Lightbulb Donation
Yoga At CBS
Yoga at CBS
EVERY Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM
Learn to experience the stillness of a yoga practice.
Awaken your body awareness.
Improve your body strength, balance and flexibility.
All levels and abilities are welcome.
Bring a yoga mat and blanket.
Class limited to 16.
Carl Speizer, Certified Yoga Teacher, Physician, and CBS member
leads the class. Questions, call Carl at 707.363.0771.
Fee: $50 for 8 weeks or Drop In Donation
Helping Hands
W
hom do I call if I need help from someone in the congregation for transportation, errands, meals, etc.?You can call our Lotsa Helping Hands Coordinator, Deb Bloomberg, 707-294-2941.Or you can go directly online to our Lotsa Helping Hands Website and post a need and email the helping hands members at:
(These recordings are in MP3 format. Clicking on the link will play directly from the web. Alternatively you can copy them to your computer by clicking with the right mouse button and selecting the "Save" option from the popup menu. The latter is recommended if you will be playing them frequently or your internet connection is flakey.)
