Eyes on Wise 11.22.18

On Thanksgiving: Two Questions for you to Ponder
By Rabbi David Woznica
It’s a good reflection on our country that we have a national holiday devoted to giving thanks. Gratitude is one of the most important and honorable qualities. There is something quite meaningful when people come together to express their appreciation for America and the blessings of their lives. When President George Washington declared a Thanksgiving holiday in 1789 he intended it to be “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” devoted “to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or will be.”
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Wise Temple Youth Students Visit VA to Learn About Helping Veterans in Need
On Sunday, Wise’s 7th and 8th graders visited the West Los Angeles VA accompanied by Rabbi Josh Knobel, Wise Board Member Shelly Levy, special guest Rabbi Joel Simonds (Jewish Center for Justice), Religious School Director Ashley Marx, and their facilitators. When they arrived teens were greeted by Marcia Jones, Recreation Therapy Assistant, who taught them all about the many services the VA provides our veterans. Rabbi Knobel also shared his personal experience as a veteran of the United States armed forces. The teens had the opportunity to visit residents and learn their stories, followed by a discussion with Shelly Levy about Wise’s Homes for Heroes efforts to helps formerly homeless veterans just moving into permanent housing. Our teens were inspired to learn about how they can help those who have served. This is one of three field trips our teens will take as part of a year-long exploration of social justice, empathy, and understanding.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOMES FOR HEROES

Presidential Summit: Wise Leaders Meet to Discuss Making Great Happen
We are excited to break the news of a presidential summit that occurred between Wise Board President Janine Kolodny and recently-elected Wise School Student President Shep Johnson. All reports indicate that the meeting was extremely productive as the two inspiring leaders discussed ways to make great happen in our community. Kol HaKavod to 6th grader Shep on his election and Todah Rabbah to Janine for taking the time for this important dialogue!
 

Wise Family Camp: Unplug, Recharge, Connect with Us in Ojai
February 8-10, 2019 | DEADLINE: DECEMBER 15
Take a break from the busyness of life and spend quality family time with your own family and your Stephen Wise Temple Family. Whether it’s a Friday night song session with Rabbi Yoshi, the ropes course, hiking with Rabbi Stern, a Havdalah dance party, or just the chance to relax with a glass of wine, a good book and good friends–Family Camp is made for YOU. Family Camp is open to any Wise family with children or grandchildren of any age. From toddlers to teens and beyond, enjoy age-appropriate programming, great staff, and the beautiful scenery of Ojai. Come with your family and leave with new friends!
REGISTER HERE

This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayishlach

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
6:15 p.m. | Shabbat Services
Led by Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Cantor Emma Lutz
Please note: there will be no pre-service nosh this week.
Watch live on Friday night: Facebook | WiseLA.org

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24
9 a.m. | Lay-led Torah Study
10 a.m. | Shabbat Morning Services
Led by Rabbi Ron Stern and Cantor Emma Lutz

NEXT WEEK

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30
6:15 p.m. | Shabbat Services with Wise School 6th Grade

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1
9 a.m. | Lay-led Torah Study
10 a.m. | Shabbat Morning Services (Adult B’nai Mitzvah)

Learning Opportunities with Clergy
Talmud Study with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback: Wednesday, November 28 at 12 p.m. | Udko Annex
Bible Study with Rabbi Ron Stern: Monday, December 3 at 9 a.m. | Temple Conference Room

Open Gym — Final 2018 Dates 
Stephen Wise Temple members and staff are invited to play pick-up basketball in our beautiful new Katz Family Pavilion athletics facility. Bring your A-game and up to two friends to show off your hoops skills. Open gym is completely free.
Only persons 18 and over are eligible. Please wear appropriate gym clothing. Waivers must be signed upon entry.
Tuesdays: 11/27, 12/4, 12/18
Thursdays: 11/29, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20, and 12/27
LEARN MORE
SIGN UP HERE

Send a Wise Hanukkah Gift to Your College Student
Do you have a college kid braving the Boston weather, studying for finals in Seattle, or in need of TLC at USC? Send them a special pick-me-up just in time for the festival of lights! Once again we’ll ship out a care package from Wise full of Hanukkah cheer and sugary treats to help them across the fall semester finish line. If you have already given us your child’s college address, we’ll make sure they’ll stay on our list all year. But if not, there’s still time to register them for a care package.
SIGN UP HERE
RSVP TO HELP PACKAGE GIFTS

Get Your #WiseLights at our Gift Shop
Hanukkah is coming — time to pick up some new #WiseLights!
Now offering 25% off all menorahs and candles.
The Wise Gift Shop has a wide variety of beautiful Hanukkiyot, colorful candles, dreidels, and more. Check out the full selection and choose a new hanukkiyah to fit your family’s style. We also have new, collectible dreidels to either add to your robust collection or kick-start a brand-new one. All talitot are now 25% off too (for members only). The Gift Shop is open on school days from 2-4 p.m. and on Friday nights before and after services. Appointments available: call 310.476.8561.

Center for Jewish Life presents Escaping the Busy Trap:
What Judaism Can Teach Us About How We Spend Our Time
with Rabbi Sari Laufer
Wednesdays: November 28, December 5, 12 | 7–8:30 p.m.
According to researchers from Columbia University, Harvard University, and the University of Chicago, being busy in America is no longer an excuse or a lament—it’s a sign of status. Committed to what New York Times columnist Tim Krieder calls “The Busy Trap,” many of us careen from commitment to commitment while bemoaning our lack of time and focus. The ancient psalmist, however, teaches us to “number our days wisely, that we may attain a heart of wisdom,” while Shabbat and the holiday calendar teach us how to take a step away from time. Join us to explore ancient texts, Jewish ritual, and modern psychological wisdom on how to make more hours in your day, and—barring that—how to make the moments you do have matter even more.
REGISTER HERE 

Shabbanukkah 2018
Friday, December 7 at 6:15 p.m.
Our popular festival of lights celebration returns for a Shabbat of music, togetherness, fried foods, and (SAFE) open flames. Be there for our joyous service followed by a special oneg and remember that this event is BYOH (Bring Your Own Hanukkiyah!) so that we can light our lights together as one community. Members and guests in their 40s and 50s are invited to join us for a happy hour before services beginning at 5:15 p.m.
Support LA Family Housing by bringing a $20 Target gift card to donate to families in need. Our partners at LAFH are assembling a “Wishmart” for families during the holiday season and your donation of a gift card will go a long way to making it a wonderful holiday for all. We will collect them at our Shabbanukkah service and deliver to LAFH.
RSVP HERE FOR 40s/50s HAPPY HOUR

Center for Jewish Life presents Museums with Mario
Norton Simon Museum
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 | 1:30–3 p.m.
Nestled in Pasadena this museum offers countless moments of aesthetically induced sighs. We will focus on the beautiful Sculpture Garden featuring works by Renoir and Maillol.
Cost (does not include admission):
$15: Stephen Wise Temple Members
$20: General Public
Museum Admission:
$15: payable upon entry to the museum
Parking is free.
REGISTER HERE 

Wise Guys Shabbat Hike at Topanga State Park (Musch Trail)
Saturday, December 15 at 8:30 a.m.
Enjoy a Shabbat in nature as Wise Guys meet up for a morning of camaraderie, learning, music, prayer, and fun. Musch Trail to Eagle Rock is a moderate 4.4 mile loop that, according to AllTrails.com, features beautiful wild flowers. Since this hike is a few days after Hanukkah, it’s the perfect opportunity to burn off those latkes!
RSVP HERE

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

Eva Chorub, Jesse R. Gross, Jonathan Robert Lederer, Betty Lindner, Claire Love, Eugene Monkarsh, Claire Mullen, Solomon Raymond, Janis Rouda, Sharon Tallarico

We observe the yahrzeits of:

Eric Adler*, Bernie Alpern, Dorothy Balton*, Martin Baumann*, Marjorie Ruth Bilkiss*, Bloom Bovill*, Sam Burman*, Pat Corleto, Albert Davis, Bess Feldman, William Fenning, Bertha Fishel*, Ruth Gerber*, Fred Ephraim Goldstein*, Louis Goodman*, Aleck C. Gordon*, Clara Gratz*, Roger I. Harris*, Goldie Hartman*, Rita Heeger*, Joray Hyman Hoffman*, Robert M. Kadner*, Alain Kalcheim*, Isadore H. Kossman*, John Lyons, Bernard Masket*, William V. Masser*, Claire T. Peha, Rosalee Pellar*, Majer Pulvermacher, Emil Isaac Pyes*, Maurice Ravins*, Sofe Rizzo*, Jack A. Rosenfeld*, Helen Ross*, Ruth Schiller, Helen Shapiro*, Ruth Silverman*, Elizabeth Sirmay, Boris Stillerman*, Lona Stone*, Louis Taub*, Dr. Solomon Jerome Varon*

*Designated on our memorial walls

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.

Judith Chorub Gurian on the loss of her mother Eva Chorub, wife of Isak Chorub and grandmother of Sara Pesa Gurian.
Stephanie and Chris Mintle on the loss of Stephanie’s grandmother Janis Rouda.
Joshua and Alexx Monkarsh on the loss of Joshua’s father Eugene Monkarsh.
 

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!

We honor our loved ones, our family simchas, our communal losses through charitable giving. To give in honor or in memory of a cherished family member or dear friend please visit WiseLA.org/Giving.

RABBI YOSHI ZWEIBACK DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
Joe and Jody Straus, by Jillian Straus and Brian Sampson
Isadore Kossman, by Annie and Ted Haas

RABBI RON STERN DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN HONOR OF:
Rabbi Ron Stern, for his 20 years of social service, by Lana Sternberg
Rabbi Ron Stern’s 20th anniversary, by Susan and Melvin Plutsky

IN MEMORY OF:
Jeffrey Linden, by Linda Linden

RABBI DAVID WOZNICA DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
Albert Davis, by Marvin and Irene Perer

CANTOR NATHAN LAM DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
Jonathan Lederer, by Bobbi and Peter Feinstein
Eva Chorub, by Bruce and Teri Bialosky
Benjamin Feldman, by Edythe Lipen
Eugene Monkarsh, by Joshua & Alexx Monkarsh

SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
Martin Baumann, by Richard and Terrie Baumann
Claire Peha, by Susan, Jon, Sami and Carly Berger

WISE SCHOOL GENERATIONS ENDOWMENT
IN HONOR OF:
Debbie and Scott Liebert, by Jae and Adam Frank
Margie Markus and Scott Friedman, for Jaime and Jason’s wedding, by Edward and Deena Nahmias

WISE TIKKUN OLAM LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
IN HONOR OF:
Rabbi Stern’s 20th Anniversary, by Sid Lyons, Charles & Isabel Rosenbaum, Charles & Terri Stern, Seema Pollack, Seth & Audrey Rosen, and Louise, Gene and Ivana Bramson

MAX HESS LIBRARY FUND EARLY CHILDHOOD
IN MEMORY OF:
Micki Kuller, Love, Judy Katz, Debby, Sarah, and Amy

DIENER AND KADNER FAMILIES LIBRARY FUND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IN MEMORY OF:
Elizabeth Sirmay and John Lyons, by Sid Lyons

WISE HEARTS
IN MEMORY OF:
Bernie Alpern, by Joel Norwood and Deborah Alpern Norwood

YAHRZEIT FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
Claire T. Peha, by Sylvia Ward
Marcia Fox, by Marshall and Ellen Glick, Marni Glick and Heather Glick-Atalla
Bess Feldman, by Anida Sterman
Barnett Love, by Robin and Ira Pianko
Majer Pulvermacher, by Lenny and Corrine Sands
William Fenning, by Joel and Lisa Cassel

We appreciate our wonderful volunteers:

Center for Jewish Life Volunteers:
Susan Firestone
Freda Moscowitz
Barbara Sampson

Nosh Volunteer:
Susan Firestone

Gift Shop Volunteers:
Terrie Baumann
Rochelle Fox
Lori Rubin
Carol Sookman

Do you want to reach us? 
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Would you like to get involved? Check out upcoming Temple and School events. 
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