Monthly Newsletter

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June, 2020       
2605 Traffic Way, Atascadero, CA
805-466-0329                                                         
congregation@ohrtzafon.net

Dear COT Family, 
 
Much has been said in recent days about re-opening our houses of worship. The current pandemic situation is fluid and evolving and our COT Health and Safety Committee has been monitoring the data in our county closely.   It is our decision to remain closed for in-person worship services for now.  In 14 days, we will reassess how the county is responding to phased reopening of restaurants, retail and other businesses.  During this time, we are continuing to create policies and procedures for when we do reopen according to how circumstances are changing and public policy is evolving.   We remain open with virtual services, classes and study that are advertised in our weekly and monthly bulletin. With your participation, we will continue to have a congregation that holds, supports, and loves all its members. 
 
We acknowledge that some individuals and faith groups in our area will make different decisions and may gather now in their worship spaces.  Our committee believes that no matter how many precautions we take, opening our doors now will put our community at risk, not to mention that we will have to significantly modify how we pray together. For example, group singing and recitation are considered high risk so congregational singing and group readings will be curtailed for now. All of this factors into our decision but our primary concern remains the health and safety of our community. Therefore, it is our best judgment at this time that we should leave our building closed for in-person worship and continue with our virtual worship and programming.   
 
Our tradition commands in Leviticus that one must not put a stumbling block before the blind. The sages understand that verse to forbid guidance that undermines another’s wellbeing, and rabbinic law expands the definition of blindness to include those put in harm’s way who cannot see the consequences. Rabbis across our state know that re-opening our buildings rapidly in larger numbers will create stumbling blocks where none should exist.  We also hold pikuach nefesh, the saving of life, as one of our highest held values.  We realize that we are in an unprecedented time in history and we appreciate your patience and your willingness to travel through the period of ‘unknowing’ with us. And most of all, we appreciate your help and support in keeping all the members of our community safe.  

Rabbi Janice and the COT Health and Safety Committee
​​​​​​​
Melany and Larry Spielman, Co-Presidents
Bill Alexander, Incoming 1st VP, Building and Maintenance
Jerome Becker, Past President and Security Committee Chair 
Linda Becker, congregant 
Leslie Moss, 4th VP, Social Events 
Irv Shelub, 7th VP,  Adult Education

June Calendar

Fri. 06/05
05:30p   Tot Shabbat
                 via Zoom
06:30p    Family Service 
                 via Zoom
Fri. 06/12
07:30p    Kabbalat Shabbat
                 via: YouTube Livestream
                 Leader: Larry Caris
Fri. 06/19
07:30p    Kabbalat Shabbat 
                 Board Installation
                 via: Zoom
                 Leader: Rabbi Janice
Tue. 06/23
10:30a    Book Club
                Host: Nancy Cohn
                via: TBD
Fri. 06/26
07:30p    Kabbalat Shabbat
                 via: YouTube Livestream
                 Leader: Rick & Leslie Moss


            

Links and information for Services Friday, June 5, 2020
​​​​​​​Please contact Samantha Mogull in case of any broken links.

Tot Shabbat // 5:30p
A link will be provided by the Ritual Committee.  If you did not receive a link and would like to join, please contact Rabbi Janice .

Family Service // 6:30p
Click to Join Zoom Meeting
​​​​​​​Meeting ID: 811 9884 1941
Password: 107253

Preparing For In-person Worship

When we gather for in-person worship services, we will be limiting sharing materials and books. 
You might consider the following: 

Mishkan T'filah: Shabbat: A Reform Siddur [Print Replica] Kindle Edition $4.99 .
Click here to purchase.


Mishkan T’filah: Shabbat.  A Reform siddur. Free online flip book at link below.
Click here to access.


Purchase your own copy of Mishkan T’filah 
$35.00 new at CCAR press
Click here to purchase.

$29.95 new from Amazon

President's Message

As this year comes to a close, we would like to thank the outgoing COT Board members who have worked incredibly hard dealing with all the wonderful things the synagogue has done over this last year plus being asked to manage the health and welfare of our congregation through this pandemic.  We offer a big welcome to those new board members who are joining us for 5781.  Jackie Zucker has graciously volunteered to be the Assistant Treasurer helping Jackie Ramsdell.  The installation of the new board is being planned with details coming soon. 

Melany & Larry Spielman
Co-Presidents

Support COT!

Mitzvah Opportunities

SLO Foodbank - Warehouse Volunteers
Volunteers are involved with a variety of projects at the Food Bank, such as assembling fresh produce bags or non-perishable food bags, sorting food from the  grocery rescue program and food drive donations, and helping with preparing orders for our numerous agency partners.


Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older and they ask that people stay home at this time if: 
-  You are 65 years of age or older 
- You are showing any signs of illness or you have an underlying medical condition 
- You have recently travelled internationally 

Kvelling Corner

Congratulations to Colleen Margalit on her graduation from Cuesta College's Nursing Program!  

Yahrzeits

06/01    Arturo Robles
             Father of David Robles
             Lew Gans
             Grandfather of Jackie Ramsdell
06/02    Julius Goldstein
             Grandfather of Steve Weiss
06/03    Irving Drucker
             Father of Howard Drucker
06/04    Irene Katz
             Cousin of Jayne Sacks
06/05    Sarah Blaustein
             Aunt of Jackie Zucker
             Moe Gilbert
             Uncle of Jayne Sacks
06/06    Shelly Blaustein
             Cousin of Jackie Zucker
06/07    Rose Jacobson
             Aunt of Jayne Sacks
06/08    Samuel Lyon Albaum
             Father of Barbara Kurtzman
             Pauline Carol
             Of blessed memory
06/12    Joseph Levine
             Father of Adam Levine
             Leopold Schiffer
             Father of Larry Schiffer
             Rose Moss
             Grandmother of Rick Moss

Donations

David & Theresa Smith
Building Fund

Larry & Phyllis Caris
In memory of Enid Retzleaff-Wright

Michael & Susan Aroner
In memory fo Arthur Day
In memory of Joseph L. Aroner

Rick & Heather Bernstein
In honor of Rabbi Janice

Judy Levin
In memory of Paul Sacks

Jayne Sacks
In honor of Judy Levin
In memory of Paul Sacks

Jennifer Kay
In memory of my father, John, Auntie Ruth, and Auntie Audrey

Janine Dingler
In memory of Ralph Fox

Rick & Leslie Moss
In honor of Rabbi Kanice and Irv Shelub

Jackie & George Ramsdell
In honor of Melissa Trinidad & Education Committee

Jerome & Rita Becker
In honor of the Sidders Family

Birthdays

Anniversaries

06/03    Fred & Frieda Russell
06/10    Cricket & Jerry Handler
06/16    Jackie & George Ramsdell
06/17    Cindy Dixon & Adam Levine
             Steve & Sue Weiss
06/21    Kari & Jared Freitas-Field
06/22    Howard & Silvia Drucker
             Chip & Barbara Kurtzman

COT Supporters

Support COT with your Amazon purchases! 

 (Please scroll through until the end of this message to see all of the information)

May, 2020       
2605 Traffic Way, Atascadero, CA
805-466-0329                                                         
congregationcot@gmail.com ​​​​​

FROM THE RABBI

In 1953, in his book “The Spirit of Jewish Prayer,” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote: “Our services are conducted with pomp and precision. The rendition of the liturgy is smooth. Everything is present: decorum, voice, ceremony. But one thing is missing: Life. One knows in advance what will ensue. There will be no surprise, no adventure of the soul; there will be no sudden burst of devotion. Nothing is going to happen to the soul. Nothing unpredictable must happen to the person who prays. He will attain no insight into the words he reads; he will attain no new perspective for the life he lives. Our motto is monotony. The fire has gone out of our worship. It is cold, stiff, dead and inorganic Judaism.” 
 
I am glad to have a different experience of Jewish prayer in 2020, especially in the time of COVID19. While the first couple of weeks of sheltering-at-home brought this rabbi a certain level of anxiety when it came to planning and executing Shabbat services online,  our virtual services have given me the opportunity to create innovative ways to reach out in prayer.   We maintain the container of sacred time and tradition but we adapt to our situation to meet the needs of our community.   The liturgy and the voice (and the tech) are not always smooth but these worship experiences are far from cold, stiff or inorgnie. You’ve shared that the depth of experience connecting with each other from the safety of your homes is surprising and has been a soulful adventure.   Many conversations have been sparked that otherwise would not have been. Many feel freer to prayerfully express themselves without the decorum and the ceremony. 
    
The goal of any Jewish worship experience is to draw nearer to God. Nearness, karuv, has many meanings. For our ancestors, a sacrifice or offering was a ‘korban,’ a way people drew near to God. Social interactions are a physical way to draw near, but we read in the Talmud, that “Hillel’s patience brought us closer together (ker-va-nu) beneath the wings of the Divine Presence (Shabbat 31a).”   Hillel’s patience.  Our tradition teaches that one’s intention and behavior can draw us together, a particularly poignant lesson in this time of physical separation.
 
If you haven’t joined the livestreamed Shabbat experience, I invite you to try it and see what happens for you.  As phased reopening of our county and state begins in the weeks and months to come, we will continue to adapt and create and innovate so that we stay connected and draw closer to each other beneath the wings of the Divine Presence.  As always, please feel free to reach out to me if you need support.

Rabbi Janice 

Please note Rabbi Janice has a new e-mail address: 
 rabbijanice@ohrtzafon.net

May Calendar 

Please watch the weekly bulletin for information on events as the current situation is constantly changing.  

Friday, May 1, 2020
​​​​​​​

5:30 PM: Virtual Tot Shabbat
A link will be provided by the Ritual Committee for families to join.  If you do not receive a link and you would like to join, contact Rabbi Janice.



6:30 PM  Zoom Family Service

Our Torah school students will be joining Rabbi Janice as co-leaders for our monthly family service. Everyone is invited to join (see link information below)

  This Zoom service will be instead of our weekly YouTube live stream.
That format will resume on May 8. 

Family Service Zoom Link
Time: May 1, 2020 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81376886348?pwd=bm5HcGkzcVhFZ28yYnJsODZvbGFBZz09

Meeting ID: 813 7688 6348
Password: 191782

Special instructions:   Everyone will be muted for this call except for our student co-leaders.  For security reasons, the meeting will be 'locked' at 6:40 pm so please tune in promptly at 6:30 pm.  Parents, please consider using the 'rename' feature so that only first names are shown on the screen.  Contact Rabbi Janice if you need assistance.    

President's Message

Annual General Meeting Update 
The Congregation Ohr Tzafon annual general meeting is planned for Wed May 28th.
The meeting format will be adjusted due to existing restrictions in place at that time.
Members will receive further detailed notice soon. 

Security Fundraising Appeal Update 
Thank you immensely to the many, many people who contributed $13,125 to our security fund. 
Your generosity made our security appeal a success this year, and we’re all very grateful. 
Our actual fiscal year security costs are $14.355 to date with a temporary synagogue closure. 
If you missed the earlier appeal, and would still like to contribute online or mail both applauded. 

​Thank you,
Melany and Larry Spielman
​​​​​​​Co-Presidents

Submitted Shelter at Home Quotes & Moments

Thank you to Sharon George, Leslie Moss, Larry Spielman, Melany Spielman, and Samantha Mogull for your submissions!

​​​​​​​
There is hard truth to be told: before spring becomes beautiful, it is plug ugly, nothing but mud and muck....But in that muddy mess, the conditions for rebirth are being created.
-Parker Palmer

When peace comes, When the tunnels are gone and the walls come down, When we sing together as brothers and sisters, We will remember these days of sorrow and grief, Of rockets and terror, Of longing and despair, As a memorial to those who were lost, As a remembrance of our mourning, As a monument to our yearning, On the road to wholeness, On the road to wisdom, On the road to our days of rejoicing. When Peace Comes
- Alden Solovoy

"I keep having people say, 'Gee, it's like we're living in a Stephen King story,' " he says. "And my only response to that is, 'I'm sorry.' "
-Steven King 

Suddenly a person wakes up in the morning and feels they are a people. They start walking and they greet everyone they meet with "Shalom" Song of the Morning
-Amir Gilboa

“I did not care what it was all about. All I wanted to know was how to live in it. Maybe if you found out how to live in it you learned from that what is was all about.” - Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

The Preciousness of Every Moment The heartbreaking (growing) death toll of the virus reminds us of our mortality. As King David said, “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” Just as the shadow quickly fades, so do our lives. We are reminded to cherish our moments and to infuse them with meaning and purpose.

The Sanctity of Life Throughout history, our synagogue doors have been kept open against forces of antisemitism and through many challenges. Now, those doors are closed to save lives. The Torah instructs, “You shall keep My statutes and My ordinances, which a person shall do and live by them.” Rabbi Shimon ben Menasya interprets this mandate to mean, “In all circumstances, one must take care not to die as a result of fulfilling the mitzvot.” The sanctity of life is paramount.

And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal. And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
-Untitled by Kitty O'Meara (2020)

“Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world.” 
- Etty Hillesum

People often say that motivation does not last.  Well neither does bathing- that's why we recommend it daily.
Zig Ziglar

Don't worry about the world coming to an end today; it's already tomorrow in Australia.
-Charles Shulz

Optimist: someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it's more like a cha-cha.
-Robert Brault


Sources for Positivity:
https://gratefulness.org
https://www.inspiremore.com/morning-smile/
http://www.dailygood.org

Support COT!

Mitzvah Opportunities

SLO Foodbank - Warehouse Volunteers
Volunteers are involved with a variety of projects at the Food Bank, such as assembling fresh produce bags or non-perishable food bags, sorting food from the  grocery rescue program and food drive donations, and helping with preparing orders for our numerous agency partners.


Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older and they ask that people stay home at this time if: 
-  You are 65 years of age or older 
- You are showing any signs of illness or you have an underlying medical condition 
- You have recently travelled internationally 

Kvelling Corner

Yahrzeits

05/01     Minnie Colman
              Mother of Frances Mayer
05/03     Pat Elliott
              Husband of Robyn Elliott
05/04     Arthur Day
              Father of Susan Aroner
05/05     Harry Finkel
              Uncle of Linda Prior
05/06     Judy Siegel
              Aunt of Benjamin Alexander
05/08     Max Moss
              Grandfather of Rick Moss
              Ken Burgess
              Step-Father of Jeff Zucker
05/09     Zalman Scherer
              Father of Michelle Scherer Robles
              and Dawn Scherer Daner
05/10     Tillie Finkel
              Mother of Linda Prior
05/11     Joseph Tzvi Fried
              Father of Tali Freed
              Roza Adler
              Aunt of Frieda Russell
05/13     Joseph L. Aroner
              Father of Michael Aroner
              Clifford Randall Rubin
              Brother of Nancy Osran

Donations

Amy & Erik Hormann
In honor of Stephen Lewis

Anonymous
To offset Community Seder expenses

Arlene McDonald
In memory of Arlene's father

Carol Fine
To offset Community Seder expenses

Michael Santos
In memory of Myasser Ayesh, mother of Sam Ayesh

Delia Horwitz
In honor of Rabbi Janice

Fred & Frieda Russell
To offset Community Seder expenses
In honor of Rabbi Janice for virtual services
In memory of Dorothy Russell

Jackie & George Ramsdell
In honor of Rabbi Janice

Jeff & Jackie Zucker
In honor of Rabbi Janice, Daniel Becker, and Tanner Fry

Jerome & Rita Becker
In honor of Melany & Larry Spielman
In memory of Suzanne DaSilva

Joy & Howie Becker
In memory of Julie Stock Colton

Judith Bernstein
In memory of Miriam Greene

Judith Propp
In honor of Rabbi Janice for virtual Shabbat and Passover Seder services

Larry Schiffer
In honor of Shepard Zafran

Michael & Susan Aroner
In memory of Ron Steiner
In memory of Annabelle Spitza
In honor of Daniel Becker and Tanner Fry and the Seder Kit Team
In memory of Melody Aroner Katz

Michelle & Dave Robles
In honor of Rabbi Janice
In honor of Dawn Daner

Ms. Toby Scherer
In honor of Rabbi Janice for wonderful virtual services

Naomi & David Blakely
In honor of Rabbi Janice with gratitude for her endless spiritual leadership

Priscilla Lewis
In memory of Stephen Lewis

Rich & Jan Carsel
To offset Community Seder Expenses

Tali Freed & Ken Doerr
In Honor of Rabbi Janice

Birthdays

Anniversaries

05/17     Tali Freed & Ken Doerr

COT Supporters

Support COT with your Amazon purchases! 

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March, 2020       
2605 Traffic Way, Atascadero, CA
805-466-0329                                                         
congregationcot@gmail.com ​​​​​

FROM THE RABBI

This month marks the beginning of the 2020 US Census. Jews are quite familiar with mandated census taking. The Israelites were counted three times in the span of just of a few months after leaving slavery in Egypt. It could not have been easy to count all those people in the desert and yet there was a practical reason for doing so.  They needed a count of how many able- bodied men over the age of 20 were available for battle.     We also have a  practical and technical reason for our constitutionally mandated head count. The census determines political districts, allocates congressional seats and determines how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending for social programs will be distributed for schools, hospitals, food aid and other critical programs.   Because of the historical undercounting of people,  Michael Waldman, president of the bi-partisan Brennan Center for Justice calls the counting of the census in the year 2020 one of the greatest and most important civil rights issues of our day.    In Jewish terms, the reason for counting is unambiguous: everyone matters. By counting everyone, we not only distribute justice ethically, we remind ourselves that everyone counts. The Hebrew phrase for the counting is “to lift up the head.”  Each person would stand before Moses and Aaron and they would be seen and receive a prayer.     In other words, the count was not just technical but also to bestow dignity on each person and to remind the leaders that the collective only exists because of the individual. Each person was given the message that you are seen and that you matter. 
The same is needed today. People need to feel that they matter. The Census Bureau estimates that minorities, including African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans, were undercounted by 1.5 million in 2010 and many fear an even bigger undercount this year.  At a time when 43 million people live in poverty and 40% of Americans cannot  afford a $400 emergency expense, we must work hard to count every single person. The real beauty of community can only come when every single person is lifted up. We pray that we see and embrace and lift up the diverse beauty of an America that is built on justice and mercy. An America where we all count.

Rabbi Janice 

Please note Rabbi Janice has a new e-mail address: 
 rabbijanice@ohrtzafon.net

March Calendar 

03/04   7:00 PM     Adult Education with Irv
03/06   5:30 PM     Tot Shabbat
            5:50 PM     Potluck Served
            6:30 PM     Family Service
                               Rabbi Janice
03/08   9:30 AM     Torah School
            3:00 PM     Julia Miller Concert
03/09   6:00 PM     Purim Spiel
03/10   7:00 PM     Board Meeting
03/11   6:30 PM     Intro to Judaism
03/13   7:30 PM     Shabbat Service
                               Ron Becker
03/15   9:30 AM     Torah School
03/17   6:30 PM     Intro do Judaism
            7:00 PM     Men's Club
03/20   7:30 PM     Shabbat Service
                              Rick & Leslie Moss
​​​03/22    1:00 PM    Texas Hold'Em Tourney
03/24    6:30 PM    Intro to Judaism
             7:00 PM    Havurah
03/27    7:30 PM   Shabbat Service
                             Rabbi Janice
03/31    6:30 PM   Intro to Judaism


 

This Week!

 

Family Potluck
March 6th // 5:50 PM

Judith Baron Memorial
March 2nd // 6:30 PM*

Judith's friends will be hosting a memorial in her honor, please see the notice below:

"A Celebration of Life for the redheaded hurricane that was Judith will be held at 6:30 PM Monday, March 2 at the Pavilion on the Lake, Atascadero. Call or text  (805) 674-4318 .“

*Please note the Julia Miller concert will include a tribute to Judith.  Flyer and information below.

 

An Afternoon of Jewish Music
March 8th // 3:00 PM

Adult Education
March 4th // 7:00 PM

Purim Celebration!
March 9th // 6:30 PM

Announcements

 

Please note Rabbi Janice has a new e-mail address: 
 rabbijanice@ohrtzafon.net

Community Safety Bulletin

Celebrate Shabbat Bags!

To order a “Shabbat/Havdalah Gift Bag,” please email 
Mimi Naish: candm1@charter.net

Support COT Security with Scrip Fundraiser

Springtime is here and scrip can help with freshening up everything from winter skin to giving your house and yard a new look!  See the attached flyer for special offerings for March.  Remember, you spend only what you would spend directly with the merchant, you just buy it through COT first so that we get a donation from the merchant.  It's that easy!  Of course, we still have all our regular merchants as well for dining out, grocery shopping, fuel, department stores, and so much more.  We have raised over $1,000 for COT and we can do even more together.  Orders are now regularly done on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month so March 9th and 23rd will be this month's order days.  Contact Jackie Ramsdell at 909.921.7231 or leave message at congregationcot@gmail.com with any questions.  Thank you for supporting COT.

 

Upcoming Events

 

Last Month at COT!

 

Family Tu Bish'vat Seder was a great success!

Kvelling Corner

 

Yahrzeits

 

03/01     Jeff Surnow
              Cousin of Jayne Sacks
03/02     Marilyn Kilbrek Winer
              Sister-In-Law of Rud Stone
03/04     Joseph Levine
              Grandfather of Rick Moss
03/06     Samuel Yeskel
              Father of Fil Yeskel
              Florence Blair Nager
              Of Blessed memory
03/09     Mildred Day
              Mother of Susan Aroner
              Nina Ruffino
              Friend of Michelle Scherer
              Robles & David Robles
03/13     Robert Leslie Bingham
              Father of Leslie Moss
03/14     Lily J. Taylor
              Of blessed memory
03/18     Leon Stein
              Father of Carol Hoffman
              Marion Stein
              Mother of Carol Hoffman

 

Donations

 

David James Smith & Theresa Marie Smith
Building Fund

Sally Rogow
In honor of Rabbi Janice

Jackie & George Ramsdell
In memory of Fay Gans

Larry & Melany Spielman
In honor of Rabbi Janice, Rick & Leslie Moss, Joan Bloomfield, Tali Freed for Keeping the Faith

Seiji & Sandy Kawano
In memory of​​​​​​​ Edith Simon
 

Jayne Sacks
In memory of Jeanne Jacoves 
In memory of Stan Weiner
In honor of Carrie & Mitch Jacoves

Fred & Frieda Russell
In honor of the birth of Yael Mogull
In memory of Aron Tschewik

Michael & Susan Aroner
In memory of Natalie Stone
In memory of Art Toberman
In memory of Bea Cusden

Birthdays

 

Anniversaries

 

03/02      Julie & Bill Mundee
03/16      Phillip & Kathy Cohl
03/24      Mindy & Derek Proffitt
03/29      Naomi & David Blakely
               Frances & Allan Mayer

COT Supporters

 

Support COT with your Amazon purchases!