Eyes on Wise 3.1.18

Meet the Babbi: Shifra Berney-Knobel to Join Wise Pulpit Rotation
Stephen Wise Temple is overjoyed to announce that Shifra Berney-Knobel will join our clergy team effective immediately. Shifra, the seven-week-old daughter of Rabbi Lisa Berney of Leo Baeck Temple and our own Rabbi Josh Knobel, is uniquely qualified to jump right into her rabbinate. “As the child of two rabbis, it’s frankly just not fair,” said Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, “Shifra has a serious advantage over all other Rabbis thanks to her 100% rabbinic parentage. She should be ordained immediately. Frankly, I’ve already started to seek her advice on particularly sophisticated texts from the Zohar.” When asked about her surprising but completely reasonable new appointment, Shifra wiggled a little bit, sort of blinked, and – was that a smile or just gas? [Ed.: We think it was a smile.] Expect to see Shifra leading Saturday morning services regularly as Friday night services are held past her bedtime for the next several years.

Out of This World: CYE Launches Space Camp Wise
The Wise Center for Youth Engagement has made it official: Camp Wise will become Space Camp Wise. This decision was made after a focus group of campers expressed concerns about Earth being “too boring” and complained about not being able to “see Saturn’s rings up close.” Furthermore, a fierce debate among campers about the geological makeup of Earth’s moon led Rabbi Sari Laufer and Camp Wise Director Tatiana Soofer to declare: “well, let’s just go up there and find out if it’s made of cheese or not!”

New camp activities will include: Magnetic Field Day, Starship Maintenance, Black Hole Golf, Rocket Science, and language courses such as Beginning Martian and Liturgical Neptunian. In accordance with our favorite traditions, campers will come together at the end of each week to celebrate Interstellar Shabbat, although due to varying planetary rotations “the end of each week” could be every 7 days or every 700, we’re just not sure yet.

Earlybird registration ends in T Minus 10… 9… 8…

Purim Carnival Wows and Delights on Picture-Perfect Day
What an incredible Sunday at Wise! Our annual Purim Carnival featured a high-energy performance by The Beat Buds to a packed HollyWise Bowl stage; our Wise School and Wise Religious School students teaming up to read the megillah; our favorite rides and games; and a bake sale that was simply divine. Todah Rabbah to all of our amazing sponsors; our volunteers including the Wise Parents Association and our Board of Directors; and our terrific staff who worked almost around the clock to bring it all together.
WATCH WISE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL AND WISE SCHOOL STUDENTS READ THE MEGILLAH
PHOTO GALLERY ON OUR WEB SITE
FACEBOOK PHOTOS
INSTAGRAM PHOTOS

Wise School Odyssey of the Mind Team Cleans Up at Regionals
Congratulations to our Odyssey of the Mind teams for the outstanding job they did at the most recent tournament. In their respective divisions, our Fifth Grade team took first place; our Third Grade team and Fourth Grade team took second place. All of the teams are advancing to the State Tournament on March 24 at UC Riverside. Go Wildcats!

This Week’s Torah Portion: Ki Tissa

FRIDAY, MARCH 2
6:15 p.m. Shabbat Services and Shloshim in Memory of Rabbi Zeldin | Sanctuary
Led by Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Cantor Nathan Lam
Please join us for a special Shabbat service and oneg in memory of Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin.

SATURDAY, MARCH 3
Saturday Morning Services and Torah Study | Parenting Center
9 a.m. Torah Study
10 a.m. Morning Service followed by potluck lunch
Led by Cantor Nathan Lam and Cantor Paul Dorman

10 a.m. Tot Shabbat | Witzman Court
Led by Rabbi Josh Knobel and Rabbi Sari Laufer

NEXT WEEK:

FRIDAY, MARCH 9
6:15 p.m. Grade 4 Shabbat Services | Sanctuary
Led by Rabbi Ron Stern and Cantor Emma Lutz

SATURDAY, MARCH 10
Saturday Morning Services and Torah Study | Plotkin Chapel
9 a.m. Torah Study
10 a.m. Morning Service followed by potluck lunch
Led by Rabbi Ron Stern and Cantor Emma Lutz

Center for Jewish Life presents
A (Dys)Functional Family Album: Beneath the Surface of Biblical Relationships
with Rabbi Sari Laufer
Tuesdays, March 6, 13, 20
7:30-9 p.m.
Sibling rivalry, marital scheming, the occasional fratricide, and more—our Biblical stories offer us the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful of human relationship. Based in some familiar Bibilical narratives, and bringing rabbinic wisdom, modern psychology, and our own lived experience, we’ll explore what we can learn about being a friend, a parent, a child, a partner, and more from Jewish text and tradition.
REGISTER HERE

Rosh Hodesh Women’s Gathering
Wednesday, March 14 at 8:30 a.m.
Please join Wise women as we gather in learning, prayer, and community. We’ll join in song and study, creating a time and space for reflection and connection. We’ll learn more about the traditions of Rosh Hodesh. Bring a friend, bring your spirit, bring a song.
RSVP HERE

West Coast Jewish Theatre and Stephen Wise Temple present
Simcha by Howard Teichman: A Staged Reading
Sunday, March 25 at 3 p.m. | Plotkin Chapel
Mike Burstyn (Azimuth, The Dybbuk) stars in this delightful play about a life-affirming journey into the world of a traveling magical storyteller who weaves his tales of Jewish folklore. Reminiscent of the well-loved stories of Sholem Aleichem, Simcha’s tales spread a pervasively modern patina over the seemingly familiar folktales.
Tickets: $25 (General Admission)
Call 323.821.2449 to purchase.

Responding to Gun Violence
By Rabbi Ron Stern
Our country has been wracked by the horrific killings in Parkland, Florida and we can feel the profound pain of the families who have lost loved ones. This is one more act of violence set against the backdrop of a nation that suffers from more than 13,000 gun homicides a year. Clearly, like no other nation, we have a profound problem with the ease with which guns fall into the hands of those who can misuse them so lethally. Many in our congregation have reached out with deep concern and expressed an interest in acting for increased gun safety across the nation and efforts are already underway for Wise to take action. If you would like to add your voice and efforts to our collective efforts, please contact either Rabbi Zweiback or Rabbi Stern.

Nefesh B’Nefesh presents:
Aliyah Fair 2018
Sunday, March 18 | Shalhevet High School, 910 S. Fairfax
Now is your chance to learn about Aliyah, your opportunity to meet other Aliyah-minded people, and your day to explore opportunities in Israel.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER 

Purim Sale at the Temple Gift Shop!
Make some NOISE! Purim is just around the corner. Visit the Gift Shop for Purim groggers and all your holiday needs.

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!
 

To our B’nai Mitzvah — may the Torah guide and inspire you every day of your adult life.
Mazal tov to:

Lisa and Brent Stutman on their daughter Alyssa becoming Bat Mitzvah.

Mojgan and Fariborz Satey on their son Noah becoming Bar Mitzvah.

We honor people through charitable giving.

RABBIS’ DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN MEMORY OF:

Rosalind Vee, by Candace and Abbey Konowitch

Belle Roth, by Selma Kurtzman

Edith Lansky, by Evy and Marty Lutin

CANTORS’ DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN MEMORY OF:

Sam Leebove, by Michael Leebove

GALA 2018
IN HONOR OF:

the Katz Family and Wendy and Ken Ruby, by Rochelle and Eli Ginsburg

RABBI ZELDIN RABBINIC CHAIR FUND
IN MEMORY OF:

Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin, by Ellen Shumsky, Seema Pollack, Rochelle and Eli Ginsburg, Marilyn and Nancy Goldman and family, and Rupert Russell

MITCHELL SHAMES SCHOLARSHIP FUND
IN MEMORY OF:

Mitch Shames, by Julie, Brad, Sami and Greg Shames, and Rachel, Gabe and Emma Waterman

SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP FUND
IN MEMORY OF:

Gussie Sapkin, by Alan Abramson

YAHRZEIT FUND
IN MEMORY OF:

Annabel Goldstein, by Carol and Ed Horowitz

Shulamit Dor, by The Dor Family

Leo Levine, by Sally and Marty Levine

Esther Faber, by Marilyn Spencer

Jay Winthrop, by Ruth Winthrop

Herbert Rosenberg and David A. Winston, by Sheila Rosenberg

Henry Kleinbard and Rose Kleinbard, by Rosalyn and Arthur Balta

Lunch Bunch Volunteers:
Mike Berk
Ilene & Harry Jacobs
Diane Kabat
Candance Konowitch
Sally Levine
Sheila Rosenberg
Barbara Sampson
Lana Sternberg

Nosh Volunteer:
Susan Firestone

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

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