Yom Kippur is a Happy Day: If We Begin Now
by Rabbi David Woznica
The Talmud teaches, “The Day of Atonement atones for sins against God, not for sins against man, unless the injured party has been appeased.”  (Mishna Yoma 8:9) In other words, even with sincere prayer, fasting, spending the day in synagogue, it is only those sins against God that can be forgiven.
READ MORE
 
Wise Community Seeks Reform
Last week, Rabbi Ron Stern lead a group of our Wise members to Sacramento for a day of lobbying for justice with the organization Religious Action Center – California (formerly Reform CA). Together with 150 clergy and members from Reform communities all over the state, they met with legislators (such as Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove) regarding the California Money Bail Reform Act, seeking important changes to California’s criminal justice system.
READ MORE
 
Worship
 


This Week’s Torah Portion: Shoftim

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17
5:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Nosh

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

Led by Rabbi Josh Knobel and Cantor Nathan Lam
6:30 p.m. Shabbat by the Shore Crescent Bay Park, Santa Monica
with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Cantor Emma Lutz
Our seaside service has become a beloved summer tradition, bringing together friends from all over Los Angeles for a sunset Shabbat full of meaningful prayer and uplifting music. As always, arrive early to stake out a spot for your blanket and picnic “pre-neg” and be sure to pack your frisbees and beach balls for an after-service hangout!
LEARN MORE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18
Shabbat Morning Services | Plotkin Chapel
Led by Rabbi Josh Knobel and Cantor Emma Lutz
9 a.m. Torah Study
10 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service

 

 

NEXT WEEK:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24
6:15 p.m. Shabbat Services | Shalom Garden
Led by Rabbi Ron Stern and Cantor Emma Lutz

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
Shabbat Morning Services | Plotkin Chapel
Led by Rabbi David Woznica and Cantor Emma Lutz
9 a.m. Torah Study
10 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service

 

Learning Opportunities with Clergy
Talmud Study with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback: Wednesday, August 22 at 12 p.m. | Udko Annex
Bible Study with Rabbi Ron Stern: Monday, August 27 at 9 a.m. Temple Conference Room


 
High Holy Days with Wise
 

Yizkor Submissions: Final Deadline is Monday, August 20
Our Yizkor Book of Remembrance is a time-honored and meaningful way to remember your departed loved ones during this year’s High Holy Days and throughout the year. Submissions will be open from July 12 through August 20. We encourage you to make a contribution of $18 per name listed. This donation allows us to a printed version of the book for all who attend our Yizkor services. Please contact us during office hours at 310.476.8561 if you have any questions or if we may assist you in completing your submission.
SUBMIT ONLINE
PRINTABLE MAIL-IN FORM

 
 

High Holy Days tickets now on sale – BUY NOW
Member tickets are currently being mailed with your member decals. Additional member guest and guest tickets are mailed separately.

What’s new this year?

  • Worship with our new machzor created by your Wise clergy at Rosh Hashanah morning and at Kol Nidre services
  • Join the entire Wise community for our All Community Erev Rosh Hashanah service at 8 p.m. on the Stephen Wise Temple campus (there will be no Erev Rosh Hashanah service at Skirball or the Church this year). And, of course, we have our beloved Family Soulful Service at 5 p.m. also on the Stephen Wise Temple campus.

    Visit WiseLA.org/HighHolyDays – Your one-stop guide to schedules, tickets, membership, family experiences, and more.

 
Family Experiences: Learn What’s New and What’s Changing
Families with children of all ages have a variety of amazing options when it comes to High Holy Days with Wise! At our Family Services, parents and kids can pray, sing, and learn together. During our Days of Awesome, kids can learn through activities tailored just for them (no grown-ups allowed!)
And, of course we offer Child Care for all services on the Wise campus and
at Bel Air Church.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER FOR FREE
 
Wise Bulletin Board
 

New Family Shabbat Parenting Class Begins September 15
Wise School’s Parenting Center is excited to announce a new Saturday Shabbat class that’s sure to be fun for parents and kids alike! Bring your children (1-3 years old) for a morning of play, challah baking, singing, and making great new friends. This class will be a wonderful way for parents and grandparents to experience the community of our amazing Parenting Center.
LEARN MORE AND ENROLL

 
WiseFit presents Open Gym — Pick-Up Sports for Adults
Final Summer Dates:
Wednesdays from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
8/22 & 8/29

Stephen Wise Temple members 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. Note that only persons 18 and over are eligible. Please wear appropriate gym clothing. Waivers must be signed upon entry.
LEARN MORE
SIGN-UP HERE
 
Upcoming Events

Lunch Bunch: Caring for the Stranger
Tuesday, August 21 at 5 p.m. | Sanctuary Building
Help our Lunch Bunch care for the stranger by assembling lunches for residents at LA Family Housing’s valley shelter. Delivery of the lunches will take place on the morning of Wednesday, August 22. Your help is greatly appreciated, especially in the summer months when school is not in session and many are traveling. To RSVP for Tuesday’s food preparation or if you have questions, email Diane Kabat or call 818.981.5485.

 

Concert on Cañon
with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Cantor Nathan Lam, Cantor Emma Lutz, Music Director David Kates, and the Stephen Wise Temple Soulful Musicians and Singers
Thursday, August 23 at 6 p.m.
Beverly Cañon Gardens, Beverly Hills
For the past two years, our extraordinary clergy, musicians, and singers have wowed audiences at Beverly Hills’ beautiful Beverly Cañon Gardens, performing an eclectic mix from traditional Jewish and Israeli music to pop favorites to last year’s stunning “Summer of Love” selections. This hidden gem of a venue has plenty of seating, lawn space for family picnickers, and restaurant patios for those grabbing a happy hour cocktail and nosh. Limited free parking is available.

 

Selichot
Save the Date: Saturday, September 1
7 p.m. | Meditation and learning sessions with your Wise clergy
8 p.m. | Dessert
8:30 p.m. | Selichot Havdalah Service

Experience a deeply meaningful and meditative evening of prayer and music with your entire Wise clergy team and our full High Holy Days choir. Selichot is an opportunity to elevate your spiritual preparation for the Days of Awe: a chance to participate in uplifting worship and begin to reflect on your path towards self-improvement.

 

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion presents
Symposium 2
November 11-12 | Stephen Wise Temple
Join esteemed clergy and scholars from all around the world, including members of our own clergy team, for HUC-JIR’s Symposium 2, an engaging exploration of ideas and attitudes. Nowadays, there is “my news” and “your news,” “your truth” and “my truth,” and consensus about facts is increasingly elusive. Even the university, once the place where young minds pursued “veritas,” is more likely today to teach its students the postmodern prioritization of subjectivity over objectivity, discourse over reality, perspective over universal truth. Against this backdrop, HUC-JIR Symposium 2 will explore the various ways in which contemporary Jews grapple with the concept of the truth.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER 

 
Community Calendar
 

Jewish National Fund presents
Gaza Border Crisis: The Trauma, The Damage, The Needs

Sunday, August 19 at 10:30 a.m. | Stephen Wise Temple
Meet a mother, a young pioneer, and a farmer — all residents of Gaza border communities — who will share their personal stories of living under attack. Hear about the needs in their communities and the issues they face on the ground: their experiences running to bomb shelters and sleeping in saferooms, their fears of a ruined economy, the ecological disaster, and their challenges dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For more information contact Lou Rosenberg ([email protected] or 323.924.1400 x963).
RSVP HERE

 
Lifecycle • Yahrzeits

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

Howard Besbris, Hooman Farahmand, June Klein, Frances Leigh, James Ring

We observe the yahrzeits of:

Ruth Altman*, Ceil Anenberg*, Sarah Esther Baumann*, Laurence Baumann, Chasia Bereskin, Sidney Allen Berkman*, Rubin P. Braverman*, Robert E. Caine*, Bessie Entous, Nathan Entous, David Epstein, Ruth Fern*, Thelma Flatow, Philip Fox, Walter Fox*, Minnie Cohen Gellis, Eva (Grammy) Gold*, Sanford Igdaloff, Lester Kahane, Irene Klein, Bernice Shufer Lewis*, Jacob Lipshitz*, Lorna Lubarsky*, Gerald Lushing, Florence Malkin*, William F. Myers*, Bertha Perlstein*, George Pregulman*, Ann Shultz*, Bessie Tarnove*, Jacob Teperson*, Benjamin Yavitz*

*Designated on our memorial walls

 
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.

Andrew and Barbara Leigh on the loss of Andrew’s mother Frances Leigh, grandmother of Jessica and Elisabeth Leigh, Adam and Ashleigh Sudman.

Holly and Bob Binafard on the loss of Holly’s brother Hooman Farahmand.

 
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!

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

Gloria and Benjamin Soleimani on their daughter Gabrielle becoming Bat Mitzvah.
 

Lisa and Marc Nehorayan on their son Nicholas becoming Bar Mitzvah

Wishing you a future filled with joy and blessings.
Mazal tov to:

Nicole Graboff Ambrose and Mark Ambrose on the birth of their daughter Lucy Gray Ambrose, granddaughter of Debi and Marc Graboff.

John and Sharona Sherf on the birth of their twins: daughter Brooke Yael Sherf and son Blake Yoel Sherf.

 
Lifecycle • Tributes

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.

RABBIS’ DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN HONOR OF:
Carly Ackerman-Canning on becoming a certified Yoga instructor, by One Proud Ema – Laurie Ackerman

Jacqueline Hantgan, by Beverly and Henry Hantgan

IN MEMORY OF:
Elias Meshulam, by David Meshulam

Rosalind Birnbaum, by The Dolgen Family

Sanford Igdaloff, by Harold Igdaloff

Michael Waldman and William Perer, by Irene and Marvin Perer

CANTORS’ DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
Sydell Leebove, by Michael Leebove

PRAYER BOOK FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
Claire Chayt, by Jerry, Scott, Emily, Charlotte and Finley Otelsberg, and Michelle and Eric Massi

FUND SUPPORTING ISRAEL PROGRAMS
IN MEMORY OF:
Chasia Bereskin, by Debby Edelsohn

MELTON SCHOOL
IN HONOR OF:
the birth of Lucy Gray Ambrose, by Susie and Richard Friedman

SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND
IN HONOR OF:
of the wedding of their son Jonathan to Danielle Feinerman, by Claudia and Bill Brown

IN MEMORY OF:
June Klein, by The Schwartz and Klein Families

June Klein, by Susan and Jon Berger

Thelma Flatow, by Marjorie Adler

WISE SCHOOL GENERATIONS ENDOWMENT
IN HONOR OF:
the birth of Lucy Gray Ambrose, by Janine and Rick Kolodny

IN MEMORY OF:
June Klein, by Jodi and Rick Kirkbride and family, Carin and Glenn Freeman, and Julie and Brad Shames

SOL AND ESTHER SMITH LIBRARY FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
Bernice Lewis, by Marcia and Mark J. Smith

NAT STOLLER SCHOLARSHIP FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
Nat Stoller, by Adele Stoller

HOMES FOR HEROES
IN MEMORY OF:
William Jacob Cooper, by Norma Cooper

YAHRZEIT FUND
IN MEMORY OF:
Morris Levitt, by Audri and Stan Tendler

Judi and Roy Kaufman, by Jill Kaufman

Bessie and Nathan Entous, by Allan and Karen Entous

Jacob Lipshitz, by The Dor Family

 
Thank You
We appreciate our wonderful volunteers:

Nosh Volunteer:
Susan Firestone

Gift Shop Volunteers:
Terrie Baumann
Rochelle Fox
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? 
CONTACT LIST

Are you having a lifecycle event? Or would you like to be added to this email list? 
LET US KNOW

Would you like to get involved? Check out upcoming Temple and School events. 
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Stephen Wise Temple | 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive | Los Angeles, CA 90077
Shabbat Shalom