(Please scroll through until the end of this message to see all of the information)
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 PMPotluck 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.
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
03/20 Lillian Shapiro Mother of Kenneth Shapiro 03/21 Jordan Kilbrick Brother-In-Law of Rud Stone 03/23 Estelle Diamant Cousin of Sharon George Gina Toberman Of blessed memory 03/26 Charlotte Solomon Klein Mother of Sylvia Drucker Harold Gold Father of Arlene McDonald 03/27 William Cullen Father of Theresa Hirsch 03/30 Bunny Levine Uncle of Rick Moss Pat Robles Sister-in-Law to David Robles &
Michelle Scherer Robles 03/31 Rahel Margalit Grandmother of Nachshon
Margalit
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
03/02 Nancy Osran
03/03 Herman Weisberg
03/08 Alfred Solish
Arlene McDonald
Nathan Trinidad
03/09 Michelle Scherer Robles
03/17 Ronald Field
03/18 Eli Yorba
03/24 Mindy Proffitt
03/27 Benjamin Alexander
03/28 Rita Becker
03/31 Josh Burke Cohn
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!
Congregation Ohr Tzafon
2605 Traffic Way
Atascadero, CA 93422
