.

           

 

Goodnight Moon
by Rabbi Sari Laufer

I’ve never been a stargazer, though when I find myself somewhere with enough empty space to see their lights, I am awed by the immensity and the beauty of the night sky. And of the many classes I have taken in my years of formal education, astronomy was not one of them. Sure, I can vaguely identify the Big Dipper, and thanks to Harry Potter, I’ve heard of Sirius. So, imagine my surprise somewhere along the way when I realized that, while not an expert, I have far more than a passing familiarity with the phases of the moon.


 


 

New Electric Vehicle Charger Program Coming Soon

Wise is excited to announce that a new electric vehicle (EV) charger system will be activated soon in our parking garage. These new chargers have been installed at no cost to the Stephen Wise Temple community in accordance with our Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world) by supporting sustainability efforts. Users who take advantage of these chargers will receive our lower commercial rates for their electricity (less expensive than household rates!) which can be paid for via an easily downloadable mobile app.
The chargers will not be active until Wise receives a final approval from the Department of Building and Safety. Drivers should not plug in until further instructions are announced!
Watch this space for important updates.

 
 

This Week’s Torah Portion: R’eih

Friday, August 30
6:15 p.m. | Shabbat Services | Plotkin Chapel
Led by Rabbi Josh Knobel and Cantorial Intern Sara Anderson
Watch live on Friday night: Facebook | WiseLA.org

Saturday, August 31
10 a.m. | Shabbat Morning Services (B’nai Mitzvah Celebration) | Sanctuary
Led by Rabbi Josh Knobel and Cantor Emma Lutz

Wednesday, September 4
12 p.m. | Talmud Study with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback | Udko Annex

Friday, September 6
6:15 p.m. | Shabbat Services | Plotkin Chapel
Led by Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Cantor Emma Lutz

Saturday, September 7
10 a.m. | Shabbat Morning Services (B’nai Mitzvah Celebration) | Sanctuary
Led by Rabbi Josh Knobel and Cantor Nathan Lam

10 a.m. | Tot Shabbat | Plotkin Chapel
Led by Rabbi Sari Laufer
Learn more in upcoming events!

Monday, September 9
9 a.m. | Bible Study with Rabbi Ron Stern | Conference Room

 
 
 

High Holy Days with Wise: September 29–October 9

Tickets for renewed members and the general public are now available to select or purchase online.
Wise members: haven’t renewed yet? We cannot send your tickets until you do! Renew online or call us at 310.476.8561.

Visit our High Holy Days web site to find:

 
 

Gifts for Wise College Students and Brunch for Wise Parents with Rabbi David Woznica
Packing Date: Thursday, September 12 | 10:30 a.m

If you have a child studying at college this year, we invite you to share their address with us so that we can send them packages during the year—starting with a Rosh Hashanah and back to school gift going out in September! Parents are also invited to join us to help pack the first gift shipment and enjoy brunch with Rabbi David Woznica, hosted by Sharleen Mokhtarzadeh at her home.


 

Become An Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Informational Meeting:  
Tuesday, November 5 | 7 p.m. 

When a Jew reaches the age of 13, she or he becomes a bat or bar mitzvah, literally a “daughter” or “son” of the commandments. Some, however, did not have the opportunity or privilege at 13 to be formally called to the Torah. Becoming a bat or bar mitzvah as an adult gives one the opportunity to seize a special moment in life. Many choose to mark a special anniversary or to honor the memory of a loved one by becoming an adult b’nai mitzvah. Connect with a group of learners by becoming part of our adult b’nai mitzvah program. After the initial informational meeting, studies will begin in spring 2020 and will culminate with a Shabbat service led by the cohort in late 2020. 
Please contact Cantor Emma Lutz by email at [email protected] or by phone at 310.889.2270 to learn more.

 


 

Cantors Assembly Trip to Italy with Rabbi Yoshi and Cantor Lam
Rome | Florence | Venice: June  22 – July 2, 2020

Following his incredible concert at the Great Synagogue of Rome, Cantor Nathan Lam and the Cantors Assembly are proud to announce a musical journey through Italy in the spring of 2020. Join Rabbi Yoshi, Cantor Lam, and the many voices of the Cantors Assembly for a magical excursion to Rome, Florence, and Venice.


*Please choose the Super Deluxe category when registering to join this group.

 
 

Tot Shabbat
Saturday, September 7 | 10 a.m. | Wise Woods

Gather together with our community for a festive service! Our Clergy and song leaders lead our music- and story-filled service that introduces the youngest members of our community to the joy of Shabbat. Parents and grandparents will love it too!


 

Wise Women presents
Bestselling Author, Therapist, and Speaker Lori Gottlieb in Conversation with Rabbi Sari Laufer

Sunday, September 15 | 10:30 a.m. | Plotkin Chapel

Join Wise Women for a thought-provoking morning with bestselling author, therapist, and speaker Lori Gottlieb, author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone in conversation with Rabbi Sari Laufer. A light breakfast will be served. 


 

Shabbat Services with Guest Speaker Voni Glick, IsraAID Co-CEO
Friday, September 20 | 6:15 p.m.

Voni Glick is an Israeli/Canadian citizen with more than 10 years’ experience in disaster response, international development, and non-profit management. He is IsraAID’s Co-Chief Executive Officer at the organization’s headquarters in Tel Aviv and is responsible for all the day-to-day leadership and general management of the organization. At a special Shabbat service, Voni will speak about the work IsraAID is doing all around the world to support disaster response and relief and to help during the international refugee crisis.


 

Selichot
Saturday, September 21
7 p.m. | Learning Sessions with Rabbi David Woznica and Rabbi Josh Knobel
8 p.m. | Dessert Reception
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. Featuring readings and commentary from the new Stephen Wise Temple machzor, 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.


 

Wise Jams
Tuesday, September 24 | 7:30 p.m.

Jam with fellow musicians and singers in our community! 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!


 

Center for Jewish Life presents
Classical Intermediate Hebrew

Mondays: October 28–December 16 | 6:45–9 p.m. 

This course is for students who completed Beginning Hebrew 1 and 2 or have sufficient knowledge of Hebrew. Cost: $284 plus $25 book fee.


 

Wise to Host Z3 Conference on Next Generation Zionism
Save the Date: Sunday, January 26, 2020

Both the United States and Israel represent powerful and vibrant centers of Jewish life and are the primary contributors to the continuing development of the Jewish future. The Zionism 3.0 (Z3) movement reflects this reality by redefining Zionism for the next generation. Z3 conversations ask compelling and transformative questions like: What is the future of the relationship between the communities? How will both assert their independence and interdependence? How can we speak with each other in ways that encourage cooperation and recognitions of our differences and alignments? There are incredible challenges and opportunities offered by the creative dynamic of this ongoing relationship. 

Wise’s Z3 conference will bring together an eclectic combination of presenters that reflect the uniqueness of Los Angeles. The conference will feature journalists and thought leaders who embody the essence of what it means to be a Zionist Jewish presence in American and Israeli media (online and print). They will have the opportunity to speak about the challenges of navigating that territory and how their Jewish identity influences their professions. A second track will engage Jewish actors, producers, and directors to discuss what it means to represent the Jewish communities of Israel and America and how that is reflected in their work. During the course of this day-long conference, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how we can speak to each other across our ideological divides to create stronger even more vibrant Jewish communities in our respective locales.


 

Adult March of the Living Trip with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Rabbi Ron Stern
April 20 – May 2, 2020

In April 2020, join Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Rabbi Ron Stern on the most iconic and unforgettable walk through the darkest time in Jewish history by participating in the Adult March of the Living. The group will visit some of the deeply significant locales in Poland including Krakow and Warsaw as well as the concentration camps in the vicinity and will encounter the amazing resurgence of Jewish life in Poland. Finally, the group will join thousands of high school students from across the globe in making an epic trek of freedom out of Auschwitz concentration camp. Afterwards, there will be an optional add-on visit to Israel highlighting those experiences rarely available on standard tours: cultural experiences, regional tours, and complex political conversations.

 
 

SAVE THE DATE
American Jewish Committee Los Angeles presents
Ira E. Yellin Community Leadership Award

Sunday, November 24 | 1 p.m. | Stephen Wise Temple

Wise members Julie and Steve Bram will be honored by AJC Los Angeles for their outstanding leadership.

 
 

We remember with love those who died in recent days and weeks:
Rochelle “Shelly” Berman, Dione Fenning, Lila Kadner, Mary Myers, Dorothy Rosenstein, Herbert Schaffer, Robert Schnair

We observe the yahrzeits of:
Beno Ameti*, Alex Barta, Edith Barta, Jack Bodner*, Shirley Brand, David Epstein, Isadore Feiles*, Rosetta Feinberg*, Marvin Fischer*, Hyman Frank, Bennett J. Frankel*, Diane Glatt, Gerald Girard*, Helen Goldstein, Edith P. Gordon*, Todd R. Green, Sylvia Fox Hattis*, Joseph J. Jacobson*, Edith Amster Klein*, Milton Kramer*, Rose J. Landworth*, Edith J. Markus*, Benjamin Miller, Itta Miller, Shirley Morris*, Jack Mutchnik*, Dr. Harold Edwin Ravins*, Marvin Rosenberg, Michael Alan Rosenaur*, Fanny Roth, Olga Rudin*, Samuel Schneider, David Shore, Irv Sterman, Fanny Roth Taub*, Arthur Taub*, Lottie Yousem*, Gregory Scott Zolan*, Ralph Zolan

*Designated on our memorial walls

We reach out as a community and offer our support and deepest sympathy:
Lisa and Joel Cassel on the loss of Lisa’s mother Dione Fenning.
Jodi and Marc Schwartz on the loss of Jodi’s mother Rochelle “Shelley” Berman.
Daniel Shaps on the loss of his partner Lila Kadner, sister-in-law of Gladys Diener.

 
 

Michael Abaian and Delaram Hanookai on their children Daniel and Jasmine Abaian becoming B’nai Mitzvah.
David and Denise Ghermezian on their son Jadon Ghermezian becoming Bar Mitzvah.
Ronen and Ilyse Levy on their daughter Hayden Levy becoming Bat Mitzvah. 
Isaac and Foujan Sakhai on their son Ariel Sakhai becoming Bar Mitzvah.
Behnam and Sharon Shenassa on their daughter Camille Shenassa becoming Bat Mitzvah. 
David and Debra Siegel on their son Dylan Siegel becoming Bar Mitzvah.
Philip and Anita Wolman on the marriage of their son Daniel Wolman to Sarah Davey.

If you have a birth, wedding, or milestone birthday you would like to share with the Wise community, please email us at [email protected]
To schedule a Shabbat blessing or special reception in honor of a simcha, contact Arlene Spiegelman at 310.889.2272.

 
 

We honor our loved ones, our family simchas, and 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 HONOR OF
Rabbi Yoshi, by Ken & Melinda Lindner

IN MEMORY OF
David Epstein, by Norm, Ann, Mark, Carole, Rebecca, Madeline & Adrienne Epstein

 

RABBI RON STERN DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN HONOR OF
Susan BlochKay’s birthday, by Robert Arkin & Lori Cohn Arkin
Rabbi Stern, for officiating Lucy’s baby naming, by Marc & Debi Graboff
Rabbi Stern, by Afshin & Pantea Salamati

IN MEMORY OF
Fanny Roth, by Selma Kurtzman

 

CANTOR NATHAN LAM DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN HONOR OF
Michael Cohen’s simcha, by Albert & Ellie Cohen

 

HOMES FOR HEROES FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Sandra Cohen, by Karen Feinstein

 

METUKA BENJAMIN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Marvin Rosenberg, by Diane & Morrie Glickman, Seth, Alisa & Shawn Glickman, and Todd, Jen & Ethan Glickman

 

WISE READERS TO LEADERS
IN HONOR OF
Andrea Sonnenberg’s birthday, by Dana & Lee Gordon

 

WISE SCHOOL GENERATIONS ENDOWMENT
IN HONOR OF
Sarah and Daniel Wolman’s wedding, by Deena & Ed Nahmias

IN MEMORY OF
David Shore, by The Shore Family
Dione Fenning, by Janine & Rick Kolodny

 

YAHRZEIT FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Rosetta Feinberg, by Sheila Lokitz
Dr. Harold Ravins, by Gail, Elisa and Steven

 
 

            

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Stephen Wise Temple | 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive | Los Angeles, CA 90077
Shabbat Shalom