The Spirit of Summer
By Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback
Even in Los Angeles, where we enjoy pretty terrific temperatures all year long, there’s something extra special about summertime. After Memorial Day, Shavuot, and the excitement surrounding our many end-of-the school-year events, we all get a chance to take a deep breath, kick back, and relax.

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Rabbi Yoshi took to the pages of the Jewish Journal to discuss the importance and spiritual beauty of equality and inclusion at the Western Wall and in our Jewish tradition. Click here to read his opinion piece in this week’s edition. 

A Five-Year Journey (and Beyond) with Wise Melton School
By Felice Williams
Felice Williams delivered these words as part of our Wise Melton School graduation and celebration of learning last May. Fall classes are filling fast! To learn more about this life-changing educational experience contact Rabbi Karen Strok at [email protected]. When we started this journey five years ago, we couldn’t have known that we’d be here today after five years of study and reflection, contemplating what Melton course we’d like to tackle next year! Who would have thunk?

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Wise School Primary Choir Rehearses in Las Vegas

Our amazing kids have joined our amazing cantors and singers for the American Conference of Cantors assembly in Las Vegas this week! It is quite an honor for our Wise School primary choir to be invited to perform and we’re positively kvelling about it. Here’s a sneak peak at rehearsal courtesy of a pretty proud mom.

Click here to watch the video

Worship

This Week’s Torah Portion: Hukkat

 

FRIDAY, JUNE 30

5:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Nosh | Plotkin Lobby

6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service | Geldin Chapel

Led by Rabbi David Woznica and Cantor Emma Lutz

The topic of Rabbi Woznica’s sermon will be: “The Jewish American Experience: An Independence Day Reflection

SATURDAY, JULY 1

Saturday Morning Minyan and Torah Study

9 a.m. Torah Study

10 a.m. Minyan Worship Service followed by potluck lunch
Led by Rabbi David Woznica and Cantor Paul Dorman

Please join us for our lay-led learning session at 9 a.m. in Plotkin Chapel. All are welcome!

Upper Canyonback Trail, Encino
Friday, July 14 at 6:15 p.m.
with Rabbi Ron Stern
Meet at the intersection of Mulholland and Encino Hills.

Franklin Canyon Park, Beverly Hills
Friday, August 25 at 5:30 p.m.
with Rabbi Ron Stern
Meet at the parking lot at the south end of the park.

Shabbat by the Shore

Friday, August 4 at 6:30 p.m.
with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Cantor Emma Lutz
Crescent Bay Park, Santa Monica
Kick off Shabbat with us at one of our favorite spots by the shore. Pre- and post-service picnicking encouraged!

Concert on Cañon

Thursday, August 17 at 6 p.m.
with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Cantor Nathan Lam, Cantor Emma Lutz 
and the Stephen Wise Temple Soulful Musicians and Singers

241 N. Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills
For the second year running, our talented clergy, musicians, and singers have been invited to perform two special sets of music at this beautiful hidden gem in Beverly Hills! Beverly Cañon Gardens features up-front seating or grassy spots for blankets and picnicking while enjoying terrific music at dusk. Limited free parking is available!

Summer of Love Shabbat and Concert
Friday, August 18
5 p.m. Dinner 6:15 p.m. Shabbat services followed by a concert with our clergy and the Stephen Wise Temple Soulful Musicians and Singers

Come together at Stephen Wise Temple and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love. This special evening will start with pizza, activities, and a Shabbat service followed by a concert featuring music from 1967 performed by our incredible clergy and musicians. Our guest speaker will be Harvey Kubernik, author of 1967: A Complete Rock Music History of the Summer of Love. You don’t want to miss it!

Community

Wise Jams

Thursday, August 24 from 8-10 p.m.

Jam with Rabbi Yoshi, the Maestro, and the Stephen Wise Temple musicians and singers! Are you an ace on the bass? Get your kicks on the sticks? Bring your axe, your sax, your vox, and your chops. We’ll supply the mics, amps, sheet music, and a rockin’ good time!

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Center for Social Justice

Homes for Heroes: Beds Needed and You Can Help!

Did you know that there are veterans who are sleeping on the floor of their new apartment, if they’re even fortunate enough to have a new apartment. Stephen Wise Temple has pledged to buy 15 mattresses, bed frames, and bedding for our heroes. The VA can’t help them as there is no money in their budget at this time! YOU can be a hero too and help us fulfill our promise to get our vets off the floor and into a bed. They were there for us, now we can be there for them.

CLICK HERE TO CONTRIBUTE

Wise Readers to Leaders Summer Volunteer Opportunities

If you can read this, you can make a difference! Join Wise Readers to Leaders this summer as a volunteer reader at Morning Mahalo. Morning Mahalo is a time for scholars to get excited for the day with group cheering and songs, to listen to a guest reader, and to hone their focus with gratitudes and a mindfulness moment. Morning Mahalo occurs from about 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and the reading portion is about 10-15 minutes of the session. We encourage our volunteer readers to bring an age-appropriate book of their choosing! Please call 310.889.2254 or email Olivia LaViolette, Program Manager, if you are interested in supporting the program in this capacity.

Lifecycle • Yahrzeits

We observe the yahrzeits of:

Murray Albert*, Howard Alweil, Harriet May Baumann*, Dr. Joseph Beber*, Kesel Bilenky*, Bertha Blumin*, Mark M. Brecher*, Loius B. Cooper*, Ruth B. Factor*, Etomer Fishman*, Julius Freedman*, Judith Lyn Gold, Alexander J. Gordon*, Jacob Hershenson*, Bob Kelback*, Trudy Kingsdale*, William Kretschmer*, Cynthia Anne Levy*, Dina Markus, Arlene Meyers*, Philip Mintz*, Allen H. Rabin*, Esther Rich*, Francis Richman*, Carl Shalit*, Israel Shapiro*, James R. Singer, Morrie Steiner*, Murray Tannenbaum, Joseph Zacky*, Sid Zajdman*

*Designated on our memorial walls

We remember with love those who died in recent days and weeks:

Frances Pearl Arkin, Beatrice Berns, Richard “Ricky” Forsberg, Donald P. Goodman, Linda Grose, Karen Joelson, Habib Pournazarian, Habibolah Tabibian

Lifecycle • Mazal Tov

Shehechianu Moment

Do you have a milestone birthday or anniversary approaching? We’d like to celebrate your special day on the bima during Friday evening Shabbat Services! Invite your family, join your Wise community, make it a “shehechianu moment” – a time to give thanks for life, health, and the blessings that enable you to reach this great moment in your life. Let us know by emailing Arlene Spiegelman or calling 310.889.2272 and she’ll make sure to schedule a date that works for you. We’d love to share your celebration!

Wishing you a future filled with joy and blessings.

Mazal tov to:

Daniel and Amie Hirsch on the birth of their daughter Naomi Hirsch.

Lifecycle • Condolences

We reach out as a community and offer our support and deepest sympathy to those among us who are mourning the loss of a loved one.

Mark and Penny Berns on the loss of Mark’s mother Beatrice Berns.

Lifecycle • Tributes

We honor people through charitable giving.

RABBIS’ DISCRETIONARY FUND

IN MEMORY OF:

Linda Grose, by Susan Firestone

Harriet Baumann, by Terrie and Richard Baumann

METUKA BENJAMIN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

IN MEMORY OF:

Beatrice Berns, by Lynn and Les Bider

WISE SCHOOL GENERATIONS ENDOWMENT

IN MEMORY OF:

Beatrice Berns, by Deena and Ed Nahmias

Beatrice Berns, by Carin and Glenn Freeman

Beatrice Berns, by Joyce and Kevin Anderson

DIENER AND KADNER FAMILIES LIBRARY FUND

IN MEMORY OF:

Esther Bienenfeld, by the Bienenfeld Family

Gerald Dunitz, by Maxine Dunitz

JOSHUA ANDREW LEVY SCHOLARSHIP FUND

IN HONOR OF:

Shelly Levy on her birthday, by Shelly and Don Levy

Shelly Levy on her birthday, by Elaine Orvitz Stone

Shelly Levy on her birthday, by Sheila Rosenberg

Shelly Levy on her birthday, by Patricia Ogden

AVI EFRAIM GESUNDHEIT FUND FOR MUSIC

IN MEMORY OF:

Judith Lyn Gold, by Sharon and Mitchell Hersch

YAHRZEIT FUND

IN MEMORY OF:

Murray Tannenbaum, by Linda and Herb Garfinkel

Sadie Waldinger, by the Glick and Sheerin Families

To make a donation in someone’s honor or in memory of a loved one, please visit wisela.org/giving.

Temple Gift Shop

For the month of June, visit the Temple Gift Shop to receive 20% off all gift shop items. The gift shop is now on summer hours. We will be open Monday-Friday by appointment only, and Friday evenings after Shabbat services.

Thank You

We appreciate our wonderful volunteers:
Gift Shop Volunteers:

Terrie Baumann

Emil Cobar

Lori Rubin

Carol Sookman

A Welcoming Community

Have a great idea? Share it with us by submitting it to our online suggestion box.

SUGGESTIONS

Do you want to reach us? 

Are you having a lifecycle event? Or would you like to be added to this email list? 
Would you like to get involved? Check out upcoming Temple and School events. 
Shabbat Shalom
Stephen Wise Temple | 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive | Los Angeles, CA 90077