October brings a season of new beginnings, from Simchat Torah’s fresh start with the Torah to new ways of gathering, like our fall Hebrew conversation group. See what’s in store, and reach out anytime.
Dear friends,
I hope that this new Jewish year, 5787, is off to a wonderful start!
During my sermon on Rosh Hashanah, I explored the idea of integrity, and I highlighted how important this moral and spiritual value is, both in Judaism and in today’s world. I also noted how integrity is largely (and troublingly) lacking in so many of those in positions of power in this country, in Israel, and around the world. With our nation’s midterm elections taking place in early November, and with Israel’s elections occurring at the end of this month, I think that there are few topics that are more relevant.
More than ever before, people around the planet need leadership—moral leadership, the kind exemplified by our prophets, sages, and mystics. This sort of leadership is not about the pursuit of power, but about the striving for a sound and just world.
The Jewish tradition offers us several instructive models of moral leadership, though each one, like each one of us, is imperfect and flawed.
There is Moses, the visionary, inspirational leader who, with God as the ultimate guide, led our ancestors out of Egyptian bondage. But Moses was also a controlling and isolated figure, impatient with his people and prone to eruptions of anger.
There is Aaron, high priest and populist peacemaker. More beloved among the masses than Moses, he commanded less authority, and some of his attempts to accommodate and compromise often undermined his own ethical standing.
And there is the mystical model of tzimtzum, of exercising restraint and knowing when it is time to step back in order to make room for others to step forward. Yet the leader who adopts this approach can risk appearing distant and detached.
While no single model is perfect, we need different kinds of leaders who embody all of these qualities if our societies are to progress in the ways we want them to. Some potential new leaders need to come out of the shadows and step up. Some current leaders need to let go and allow for the emergence of others. And some need to recharge and renew themselves with fresh energy, passion, and dedication to fighting the good fight.
At CBS, many of you have become leaders of our congregation and have helped to propel our community forward through your involvement and participation. As your rabbi, I can tell you that that it is a beautiful thing to behold. But let’s not lose the momentum. We need more from everyone, in every area of our sacred work—education, social justice, growth, and financial support.
We need a community of leaders, of activists. We need to become, as the Torah urges us to be, a holy people, a kingdom of priests.
Let us all heed that call to serve and to lead.
B’shalom,
Niles
As Summer begins to give way to Fall, we find ourselves entering one of the most meaningful seasons of the Jewish year. The changing of the seasons invites us to pause, take stock, and make room for renewal.
We recently gathered for the High Holy Days —a sacred time to reflect on the year that has passed, consider the people and values that have shaped us, and look ahead with hope and intention. These days remind us that renewal is not something we do alone. We find strength in community: in worshiping together, learning together, sharing meals, offering support, and simply being present for one another.
Fall also brings a particular beauty to our Jewish rhythm. The words of our prayers invite us inward. We are reminded of the importance of forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and the possibility of beginning again.
As we enter this season, may we carry these values with us—not only into our sanctuary, but into our homes, our relationships, and the wider community. May we make time for those who need connection, extend kindness where it is needed, and approach the new year with open hearts.
Thank you for being part of this congregation and for all that you bring to our shared Jewish community. Whether you have been with us for many years or are joining us for the first time, there is a place for you here.
May the coming season bring you and your loved ones health, peace, meaning, and moments of joy. And may we enter the new year together with renewed purpose and hope.
Eve Kahn
President
As the High Holy Days come to a close, and the crisp Fall air pushes its way in, I sit here and think of starting anew. On October 3rd, CBS will celebrate Simchat Torah with a Saturday morning Torah Service, where we will read the end of the Torah and start it all over again. There is something nice in the familiarity of reading the same book over again each year, or watching a movie more than once, sometimes uncountable numbers of times. Sometimes you can say the words along with the movie, and sometimes you discover things you had never seen before.
I particularly like Judaism’s take on the New Year, a fresh start. This year at Tashlich, instead of casting my sins, I wrote on rice paper things I wanted to leave behind as I move forward into 5787. Realizing that these things are in the past and out of my control helps me to move on from them, hopefully. I’ll still remember, but I am hoping they won’t occupy as much real estate in my mind as they have in the past.
When I moved to Napa three years ago, I made a deal with myself to say “yes” more. In doing this, I have opened my world to a whole host of new experiences. One of my first Friday nights in town, I was leaving services, and a congregant I had just met invited me back to their house for a drink. I said yes, we went back to their house, had a drink and talked for hours. Not knowing anyone, former me might have been inclined to just go home at the end of services. I had shown up to them on my own, and that might have been enough yes for me in the past, but the invitation came, and I took it. For the Simchat Torah Service, I said yes to reading Haftorah, something I have never done before. At my bat mitzvah, I read from the Torah, but I didn’t have a Haftarah, and thought it would be a nice experience to try something new.
And that is what I am taking into the New Year, the idea that it is never to late to try something new, and start over. I can leave behind that which no longer serves me, and move on to bigger and better things.
I recently read online about a divorced woman in her 60s who had never learned how to swim. Once divorced, she decided to learn. She drove herself to the local Y and called her daughter from the car crying that she couldn’t go in alone. The daughter drove to the Y and parked next to her mother’s car, letting her know she could go in by herself, but she, the daughter would be waiting for her when she came out. Each week, the daughter sat in the parking lot reading a book while her mother took her swimming lesson, until the day her mother told her she didn’t need to come anymore. She called her daughter at home after the lesson and told her that not only was she able to do it on her own, but she didn’t once check for her in the parking lot during the lesson.
While the story is a nice one about a mother and daughter trading roles to support one another, I think the real takeaway is that it is never too late to do the thing. Learn to swim, take a class, take the trip… Just say yes.
Warmly,
Marah Peresechensky
Executive Director
Ever wonder what those Hebrew words are on the sanctuary windows? 12 glass panels above the ark hold 12 values at the heart of our congregation. Each month in this space, Rabbi Niles unpacks one of them:
The Jewish value for this month at CBS is Rachamim, or mercy and compassion. Rachamim derives from the Hebrew word rechem, or “womb.” This ancient value teaches us that when we interact with others— humans, animals, and our natural world— we should show love and kindness toward them, like the protective, unconditional love that a mother has for her child. Tha’s what we pray God will show each of us as well. It is not always easy to express rachamim for others, but it is essential to living a moral and spiritual life.
– Rabbi Niles
Here’s what’s happening this month; visit our full calendar to see everything on the horizon.
Library open hours are Fridays 5:00 – 6:00 pm, and Sundays 11:00 am to 12 noon.
Browse our Beth Shalom Conrey Library online anytime.
1 Joe Blum
1 Amy Elliot
2 Anna Shahabi
2 Lior Kaduri
3 Leonard Danon
3 Lizette Lawrence
3 Bunnie Finkelstein
4 Pam Bergman
6 Dona Bonick
7 Ronen Ewig
8 Dave Dobrow
12 Susan Kopperman
12 Naomi Warfield
12 Stuart Eisendrath
14 Joshua Thornton
16 Genji Schmeder
18 Sandi Hyman
19 Charles Slutzkin
20 Ilenia Willmert
20 Jonathan Bartfeld
20 Gabriella Zeiderman
20 D’vorah Grenn
21 Lara Shumer
22 Gary Liberman
24 Norbert Frost
24 Teresa Barnes
25 Jan Sabo
25 Alyssa Samrick
25 Barbara Lustig
29 Carl Rice
31 Farrah Garber
31 Roxanne Cohen
2 Scott & Robin Stearn
8 Roxanne & David Cohen
12 Matt Eisenberg & Hillary Homzie
12 Naomi & Jesse Petrick
15 Sally & Steve Gordon
15 Miriam Siegel & David Markstein
17 Steven Chaffin & Penny Duan
18 Suzanne & James Bronk
24 Bradley & Deborah Wasserman
We remember and honor loved ones on the anniversary of their passing on these days this month. Make a donation in honor of a loved one.
1 Alvin Schweizer
1 Marlin Bert Lieberstein
1 Ralph Marcus
1 Shirley Greenstein
2 Barbara Thornton
3 Aaron Silver
3 Fina Widmann Eytan
3 Jean Golden Eisenstot
3 Mitzi Shelley
4 Dora Goldmann
4 Israel Trakhtenberg
4 Paul Simon Abramovitz
5 Albert Baum
5 Steve Eisendrath
6 Israel Brainen
6 Milton James Goldman
7 Erika Cornelisen
7 Mike Wisnudel
8 Clare Stern
9 Gertrude Kahn
9 Jessie Blatteis
9 Joyce Bisberg
9 Louis Ell
9 Nettie Goren
11 Marcus Widmann
13 Estelle Eisenberg
14 Aurelia Morlett
14 Jake Goldstein
14 Shirley Allen
15 Beatrice Cohen
15 Betty Light Katz
15 Dan Levin
15 Fannie J Monis
15 Ida Epstein
15 Jacob Monis
15 Joe Freed
16 Robert David
17 Melody Sobelman
18 David Mendelsohn
19 Robin Frank
20 Harvey Abramowicz
20 Ray Krieger
20 Ruth Morlett
21 Alexander Buddy Cohen
21 Mary Elizabeth Merrill
22 Evie Abrams
22 Hilda Altman
22 Margery Klein
22 Mildred Bremler
23 Boyd Bert Margolis
23 Dr Alvin Lawrence Philipson
23 Evelyn Frank
23 Irving Schnabolk
23 Samantha Jane Kessler
24 Bella Rosenthal
24 Elizabeth J. Heaphy
24 Esther Ell
24 Joan Willmert
24 Morton Sherman
24 Murray Sills
24 Rose Shefren
25 Cathy Wieder
25 Dorothy Kottelman Block
25 Estelle Yesowitch
26 Jack Siadek
26 Ziva Sivan
27 Dora Green
27 George Rosenberg
27 Jay Barush
27 Marion “Mimi” Hirschhorn
28 Rabbi Lori Phillips
28 Reinhold Werner Frost
29 Esther Sternberg
29 Marlene Hartstein Schoenfeld
29 Nancy Gennet
29 Renee Merer
30 Bill Warfield
30 Charles Shapiro
30 Janice Rummelsberg
30 Jerome Good
30 Morton Postrel
31 Carl Friedman
31 Dora Goldstein
31 Goldye G Cohen
31 Morris Nussbaum
31 Paul Benko
General Fund:
• In memory of Irving A “Ken” Levine – Sonya & Hal Milton
• In memory of Bert Berson – Sonya & Hal Milton
• In memory of Joseph Fields – Marah Peresechensky
• In Memory Of Shirley M. Greenstein – Debra Greenstein
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund:
• In Memory Of In memory of Benjamin Wolsztejn MD. A brilliant doctor, a beloved Zayde and a great friend. May his memory be a blessing. “Be happy always”. – David & Sheila Amar
• In loving memory of my father, Israel Trakhtenberg, towards his Yahrzeit. May his memory be a blessing. – Michelle Trachtenberg
Youth Fund:
• In memory of William Teller – Maxine Miluso
Lifelong Learning Fund:
• In honor of Marsha Shumer’s Birthday – Maxine Miluso
Library Fund:
• In memory of Benjamin Wolsztejn – Sandi Perlman
Interested in becoming a member? Learn more about the benefits of membership, join Beth Shalom today, or reach out to Executive Director Marah Peresechensky to start the discussion.
An $18 donation to Congregation Beth Shalom includes placement in our newsletter from the time your submission is received through the conclusion of your event. Contact us to learn more or submit your content. Submissions must be received by the 15th of each month to be included in the following month’s newsletter. Congregation Beth Shalom reserves the right to decline any submission.
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Contact Meredith Cutler at 215-285-0865
Special discounts for Beth Shalom members.
Mr. Burton
Saturday, October 17
Two showtimes: 4:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Jarvis Conservatory (1711 Main St, Napa)
View the trailer and buy tickets
If you enjoy great acting, you won’t want to miss this film from England.
Mr. Burton tells the true story of the relationship between Port Talbot schoolmaster Philip Burton and a wild young schoolboy called Richard Jenkins, the son of a wayward drunk. Richard dreamed of becoming an actor, but his ambitions were in danger of being derailed by a combination of family trouble, the pressure of war, and his own lack of discipline. Mr. Burton recognized the raw talent in his pupil, becoming his tutor, strict taskmaster and eventually his adoptive father.
Click the poster below or photograph the QR code for mor info on the upcoming Jewish Food & Wine Retreat at Camp Newman:
Interested in a lively game of Mahjongg at Beth Shalom, lunch included?
Sign up now!
President: Eve Kahn
Vice President: Shira Lubliner
Treasurer: Ellyn Elson
Secretary: Michael Chevlen
Past President: Roberta Solomon
Board members at large:
Meredith Cutler
Alan Goldstein
Amy Hall
Sandi Hyman
Elaina Michalski
Suzie Myers
Robin Stearn
Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or just to have a cup of coffee and a chat. Our doors are always open to you.
Rabbi
Niles Goldstein
Executive Director
Marah Peresechensky
Music Director
Gordon Lustig