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The Weekly Newsletter of B’nai David-Judea Congregation
Please help us out!
Mail your Membership, Memorial, Youth, and Lulav forms back to the Shul...please do so ASAP. If you know of someone who should receive a packet, please call us with the information. Return forms to: 8906 W. Pico Blvd. or CLICK
"MEMBERSHIP PACKET" to get the forms.
Kabbalat Shabbat: Rabbi Kanefsky
@ 6:30 PM in the Beit Medrash
Parashat Ki Tavo
Teen Minyan is back in full swing. Join us every Shabbat morning at 9:30 a.m. for a minyan filled with singing, dancing, and praying."!
Shacharit: Robby Helperin
Anim Zmirot: JJ Helperin
K’riat HaTorah:
Drasha: Rabbi Kanefsky
Musaf: Jeff Rabin
Everyone is invited to Kiddush in the Social Hall
in honor of the Aufruf of Frank Siciliano and
his upcoming wedding to Kelila Green.
Sponsored by Larry and Laura Green.
Summer's Final Nosh & Drosh
Shabbat Afternoon
Dr. Howie Wettstein
"Summers in Jerusalem:
Learning in Yeshiva and teaching at Al Quds "
5:00 PM @ the Lurie Home
Dr. Howie Wettstein, BDJ member and professor of philosophy at UC Riverside, has been learning at the Chafetz Chaim Yeshiva every summer for over 15 years. Several years ago, he met Dr. Sari Nusseibeh, a Palestinian political philosopher and President of the leading Palestinian university,
Al Quds. At Dr. Nusseibeh‘s invitation, Howie has addressed students and faculty at Al Quds for the past three summers. The experience has been an amazing and eye-opening one, and we are delighted that Howie will be sharing his stories and reflections with us.
Mincha 6:45 PM
Following Mincha, everyone is invited to Seuda Shelisheet in the Bet Midrash. Sari Abrams will continue our Seuda Shelisheet series on Pirkei Avot.
BDJ Beverlywood Mincha, 6:55 PM at the home of
Rabbi David and Gabrielle Mahler.
Havdallah 8:04 PM
Join us for an extraordinary event
On Sunday, August 29th, 2010
@ 7:30 PM, an exclusive screening of
Precious Life - חיים יקרים
followed by Q&A with the producer of the movie.
@ BDJ, 8906 W. Pico Blvd. LA 90035
Cost: $12 per person with RSVP's to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by August 20, 2010 $15 per person at the door.
After losing two infants due to complications with their immune systems, a Palestinian woman works with Israeli doctors and a Gaza reporter to try and save the life of her recently-born child who is suffering similar problems. Over the course of 18 months, the reporter documents the surreal and unbelievable events that transpired and that give hope for the fate of the region in this extraordinary true story. http://www.preciouslifemovie.com/
BDJuniors Kick-Off Event
Selichot
Join us for Selichot on Saturday night,
September 4th.
Pre-Selichot program starts at 10:00pm, followed by Selichot at 10:15pm.
SPONSORS NEEDED!
We’re looking for people to sponsor
YOM KIPPUR Break-Fast. If you would like to be a sponsor, please call Diane Saltzberg at
310-276-9269 or e-mail
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(Minimum donation $54).
JOIN US!
This Rosh Hashanah we will be celebrating with our friends at the Alcott Center. We invite you and your family to help join the celebration on Thursday, Sept. 9th (that's the first day of Rosh Hashanah), from 5:00-6:00pm at the Alcott Center, 1433 S. Robertson Blvd. (the corner of Alcott and Robertson). We will be having a ceremonial shofar blowing, a sing-along and some refreshments. The more participation we have from the congregation, the more joyous the event will be. We hope you are as excited as we are to get to know our friends from the Center a little better.
If you have any questions please contact Lisa at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Selichot
Join us for Selichot on Saturday night,
September 4th at 10:15 PM.
We’re experimenting with several changes this year, to encourage maximal attendance. We are starting (and ending) earlier, and, rather than having a formal pre-selichot program, we’ll simply open Selichot with several minutes of inspiration before Josh ascends the bima to lead us.
Chic flower arrangements are available for Yom Tov. Place your orders on www.mitzvahmart.org or call 323-930-9333. One hundred percent of the profits from each purchase goes directly to the Shalhevet Tuition Assistance Fund which was created to help families afford a quality Jewish education for their children.
Posted by Rav Yosef Kanefsky on MORETHODOXY
This week, I marked my 47th birthday. I know. It’s a pretty non-descript number. More significantly though, the birthday marked 20 years since I entered the congregational rabbinate (I can’t believe it.) So in celebration, I’ve put together the list of: 10 Things I’ve Learned in 20 Years as a Rabbi.
I hope you find them useful, whatever you do in this world.
(1) When you’re being criticized, listen closely. There’s at least a 50% chance that you’re about to learn something that will make your life measurably better.
(2) When being thanked for something you’ve done, don’t minimize your deed or insist that you don’t need to be thanked, even if your humility is sincere. Words of thanks are being given as a gift. It’s hurtful to turn them down.
(3) “90% of life is just showing up” may be an overstatement. But I know that I’ve never regretted a decision to show up. You just can’t hug someone over the phone.
(4) You are never more yourself, than when you are being selfless.
(5) Listen to other people’s problems even though you know you can’t solve them. Most of the time, they’re not asking you to solve them. They’re just asking you to care about them.
(6) It’s just not possible to make everyone happy. But it is possible to remain on friendly and respectful terms with everyone. And it’s worth the effort.
(7) Anger is the least productive of all human emotions.
(8) Words spoken in public, especially when spoken by someone who is thought to carry moral authority, have the capacity to heal miraculously or to harm irreparably. Never ever speak thoughtlessly in public.
(9) When you sincerely apologize to someone, you don’t experience shame. You experience joy, for the future is now filled with hope and new possibility.
(10) Years and years later, people will tell you about the way you impacted their lives for the better. And you never had any idea. This, is a taste of the World to Come.
The New Fall Class Lineup
Global Torah
Tuesday Nights 8:30–9:30pm, with Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz
Learn halachah and Jewish values to explore the most pressing moral issues of our time. The many interesting topics we will explore in this new class include: Crime & Punishment; Globalization & Ethical Consumption; and Health Care & Global Responsibility.
Chumash Skills Course
Wednesday Nights 8:00–9:00pm, with Rabbi Devin Villarreal
Robust Chumash skills are foundational to Jewish learning. We will be utilizing Sefer Devarim (the book of Deuteronomy) as our text. The three semesters of this new class will cover: Biblical Hebrew Grammar and Ta’amei Ha-Mikra ("cantillation marks"); Rashi; and Discerning Peshuto Shel Mikra ("the straightforward meaning of the text").
Half Hour of Halacha
Sunday Nights 9:00–9:30pm, with Rav Yosef Kanefsky
Using the Shulchan Aruch and Mishna Brura as our basic texts, we’ll resume our lively discussion of the halachot of reading the Shma, and proceed from there into the laws of the Amidah.
Gemara Shiur
Monday Nights 7:30–9:00pm, with Rav Yosef Kanefsky
This year we will be studying the second perek of Massechet Kiddushin. Major topics include Biblical marriage, shlichut (legal agency) and moral accountability. Prior experience with Gemara study will be most beneficial.
Midrash
Tuesday Mornings 7:45–8:45am following Shacharit,
with Rav Yosef Kanefsky
The Midrash is a fascinating amalgam of rabbinic wisdom, Biblical interpretation, and clever word play. Get better acquainted with this wonderful text.
Tanach
Thursday Mornings 11:00am–12:00pm, with Rav Yosef Kanefsky
We resume our study of the book of Melachim (Kings). Though we frequently utilize a careful reading of Hebrew terms, you can use an English text as well.
Seder Nashim
Various shabbatot throughout the year
A discussion series for women only, focusing on topics that touch us all. Past issues included infertility, being Orthodox and single, postpartum issues, miscarriage, and mikvah. This year we will delve even deeper, to end-of-life issues, personal approaches to tzniut (modesty), and more.
לבנות את ביתנו
We’re building our home
B’nai David-JudeaNew in town? Or just new to shul? We'd love to meet you, and nine out of ten times we'll find you. But, just in case you're that one in ten, please say hello to a friendly looking stranger. He or she can introduce you to Rabbi Kanefsky, executive director Amram Hassan, or any member of our official welcome wagon:
Sari Abrams - Chair person,
Dan Schechter, Robert Smith, Elizabeth Baron ,
David Waghalter, Vicky Helfand, Rhoda Weissman and
Mindy Treitel
If you would like, they would be happy to invite you for a home hospitality Shabbat lunch as well.
Who's Who in BDJ Youth
Have a question? comment? concern? complaint?
Contact one of us!
Cindy Drazin
Chair of Youth
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Ilana Winter
Director of Rechov Yeladim
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Batsheva Kasdan
BDJuniors Committee Chair
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Shana Fishman
Rechov Yeladim Committee Chair
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Yossi Kastan
Teen Minyan Director
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Dear Friends
If you should notice
that one of our young-at-heart members
is missing from Shul for some time,
please let Amram or Rabbi Kanefsky know. We want to stay connected.
Thank you.
The Chaggim are coming! Volunteers needed! We are looking for people to help with ushering duties during the High Holidays. Ushering involves welcoming people in, helping people find their seats, and helping "walk-ins" find a place to sit. If you are able to take shift, please contact Julie @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
We also need volunteers to turn pages in the women's and men's section for the Chaggim, including Succot. It can be for one time only, or more. For the women's side, please contact Saureet at
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as soon as possible. For the men's side, please contact Mark Rosenbaum at
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We will also be making calls in the very near future for volunteers to help with the children's program for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We really need everyone to volunteer to help make this a smooth and easy holiday for all of our children.
Also needed are volunteers for Security Patrol, so please do not say no when you receive a call.
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.
ELUL WORKS
A project of BDJ’s Education Committee
As we enter Elul, we have a good opportunity to start thinking about the vidduy, the confessional that we begin reciting the night of Selichot and continue reciting throughout this season, culminating on Yom Kippur. In each of the coming weeks, we will introduce various ideas about the vidduy to help ourselves along this path of thought and reflection.
Sararnu: We have turned away.
How many times have we been in group conversations where great ideas were shot down not because there was legitimate disagreement but because the path of least resistance called for no new innovation? "Saranu" is a call to arms against inaction- it asks us to look at the times in our lives where we have to make decisions, to face up to them and not ignore them. Do we, at the end of the day, decide to engage our spouse or child, or do we simply end the day with little contact with the world other than a book or TV show? Do we encourage the best from our friends and coworkers, or do we let the time pass us by? At a spiritual level, how often do we stand for kedusha just waiting for the service to end, or so that we can resume a conversation with a friend, and turn away our hearts from joining the congregation in celebrating God? "Sararnu" asks us to focus on personal growth- and to look at the various moments in our daily lives that with just a little more effort and introspection we can elevate into something truly meaningful and special.
לשמוע אל הרינה ואל התפילה
The B'nai David-Judea Community
invites you and your family to join with us for
the song and splendor of
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Have you heard our CD?
By now, those of you who have already renewed your 5771 membership have received our wonderful CD of the haunting melodies and niggunim of the High Holidays. One more benefit of returning your membership forms!
Schedule of Daily Services
for the week of August 29th
SHACHARIT
Sunday 8:00 AM
Monday, Thursday 6:45 AM
Tuesday, Wednesday & Fri. 7:00 AM
MINCHA/MAARIV
Sunday- Thursday 7:10 PM
Next Friday Evening 6:30 PM
SHABBAT, August 28th, 2010
Shacharit & Rechov Yeladim 8:45 AM
Mincha 6:35 PM
Havdalah 7:54 PM
Financial Update: We request all members to make every possible effort to clear their accounts with the congregation before submitting their 5771 membership forms. Our current receivables stand at $130,000.00. Please help us clear these receivables from our books. Thank you in advance for your efforts and financial support.
BDJ Babies
Attention, parents of Babies and Toddlers:
BDJ Babies is B’nai David-Judea's baby and toddler group. We have monthly tot Shabbat programs and/or Shabbat lunches, play dates, family-friendly weekend activities, speakers, and educational programs. Please email Lisa Kolieb at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get more information and to get involved.
BDJ’s Schedule of Classes
Midrash Group
Tuesdays 7:45–8:45 AM, Beit Medrash.
ALL OTHER CLASSES ARE ON HIATUS
FOR THE SUMMER
Tikkun Olam
SOVA Drive
SOVA Food Drive continues!
Click and watch BDJ's Banquet Pictures
Click to get BDJ's Chulent Recipes
Yahrzeit, Simcha, Bar Mitzvah anniversary…?
You want/need an Aliya, but don’t know
how to go about it, whom to ask?
Please see our floor Gabbais:


Ranon Kent or Rabbi Chaim Tureff
or contact them via email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Yahrzeit, Simcha, Bat Mitzvah anniversary…?
Would you like to carry the Torah,
but don’t know how to go about it, who to ask?
Please see Adaire Klein:

or contact her via email @
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
BDJ Young Professionals
And, as summer begins, we know there will be lots of cool stuff going on (free concerts, beach outings, city explorations, street fairs, Shabbat meals in the park, etc.). If you've got any exciting plans that you want to share, please feel free to use this list to tell people about them! It would be a great way for all of us to create a strong network of like-minded people within the B'nai David-Judea community.
Hope to see you Tuesday! This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
BDJ Babies
BDJ Babies is B’nai David-Judea's baby and toddler group. We have monthly tot Shabbat programs and/or Shabbat lunches, play dates, family-friendly weekend activities, speakers and educational programs.
Please email Lisa Kolieb at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information or to get involved.
BDJ's Upcoming Events
The Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement (CMJE), a partnership between Hebrew Union College, the Omar Ibn Al Khattab Foundation and the University of Southern California, is launching its second Muslim-Jewish Text Study program developed in conjunction with NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change.
After a successful pilot with a cohort of 11 Muslims and 11 Jews in 2008-2009, CMJE is expanding the program for 2010-2011. Participants will study sacred texts in 10 sessions on topics such as "The Other", "Prophecy", "Gender" and "Poverty" with scholars from both traditions. Sessions will be held in various Muslim and Jewish institutions throughout Los Angeles. One of the sessions will take place at B'nai David-Judea with Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky as the presiding Jewish scholar.
This program encourages participants to better understand the nuances of both traditions and to build lasting relationships with Muslims and Jews alike. People of all levels of religious education are welcome to apply—no prerequisite knowledge is necessary to participate.
For more information and for the application, visit www.usc.edu/cmje or contact Sarah Bassin, CMJE Program Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
- Sept 4th - Selichot Program
- Sept 9th - Rosh Hashanah, first day
- Sept 9th - Shofar Blowing with our Alcott Center friends.
- Sept 10th - Rosh Hashanah, second day
- Sept 11th - Shabbat Shuva Drash
- Sept 12th - Fast of Gedalyah
- Sept 12th - Tashlich Program
- Sept 17th - Kol Nidre
- Sept 18th - Yom Kippur
- Sept 18th - Yizkor
- Sept 27th - T.O. Community breakfast in the Succah
- October - All classes resume
- Dec. 19th - BDJ’s Blood Drive
- Jan 16th - Kosher Comedy Night
- June 5th - BDJ's Annual Banquet
Israel Action
NEVER FORGET
GILAD SHALIT
A petition drive has been initiated by Noam Shalit, the father of Gilad Shalit, to demand Gilad’s release as a condition for the proposed US humanitarian Gaza relief funds. To learn more, please go to http://dogood.aish.com/gilad/
Announcements:
Color Me Tile
These rainy days are great for painting a tile for BDJ's Step UP for Kids tile wall.
---Raises money for BDJ AND it beautifies the synagogue AND it's fun.
---Stop by the office soon to buy a tile. Then head over to CMM to paint your unique tile.
1 tile = $100
Meet new friends!
A most amiable group is now forming to make an evening of it at Color Me Mine.
There will even be treats. Call 310.963.8644 for more info.
Check out the wall in the BDJ courtyard.
העוסקים בצרכי צבור באמונה
Those who faithfully attend to the needs of the community
Hospitals have adopted a strict privacy policy which prohibits them from notifying us when our members are admitted to their facility. If you become ill, please call us or have a family member call us. Our Chessed Committee can arrange for regular hospital visits and there are special prayers for Refuah Shelemah (healing) that can be said. please call our synagogue office 310-276-9269 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it as we are your B’nai David-Judea family and we care.
We pray for the Speedy Recovery of:
August 2010
Goldie bat Shayndel (David Waghalter’s mother)
Shayna bat Pesha (Ranon Kent’s grandmother)
D’vorah bat Esther (Flora Beck)
Rosa bat Rivka (Aharon Shimoni's mother)
Chaya bat Tova Bleima (Sorel Lainer’s mother)
Naomi Eta bat Masha (Nan Gold’s sister-in-law)
Hannah bat Sarah
Michael ben Batya (Rena Dinin Katrikh's father)
Shulamit bat Ruchel Sheyna (Selma Framson)
Devorah bat Hannah (Rhoda Weisman’s mother)
Hanan ben Sara Rut (Ira Salper)
Mikhael Ben Karmela (Lorena Gallego's father)
Esther Paya bat Hanya Leah (Avigayil Metal's Aunt)
Jehudit Zdabe bat Esther (Susie Wozniak)
Aharona Tzvia bat Yehudit v’Gavriel
Moshe Sar Shalom ben Amalia Bracha
Esther bat Efrat (Esther Lorant)
Yaakov ben Chaya (Ernest Lorant)
(Friends: the Misheberach list is begun anew on the first Shabbat of each Hebrew month. To include someone on the list, please email, fax or mail the name to the office by the Thursday prior to Shabbat. Due to lack of space, this list is for immediate family only. You may also insert a name at the time of the Misheberach when the rabbi/gabbai pauses.)













