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AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION 343 South Church Lane, Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 362-1111

ONE TORAH, ONE COMMUNITY, MANY TEACHERS COMMITTED TO REPAIRING THE WORLD

Click on to ahavattorahla.org

A.T. Receives Rebates From Purchases Through Our Site

Double CLICK HERE TO

SHOP

SHOP

AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION P.O. BOX 442 SANTA MONICA, CA 90406

October 14, 2015

EVERY SHABBAT 9:00AM Ethics-

Mussar with Rabbi Miriam Hamrell, Greg Metzger and Rabbinic Intern Florence Dann 10:00AM –12:15PM

Shabbat Service 12:15PM-Potluck

Dairy Lunch

Rabbi: Miriam Hamrell MHL,MAEd Cantorial Soloist: Gary Levine Associate Cantorial Soloist: Kimberly Haynes Co-Presidents: Judy Kollack & Shoshi Wilchfort Treasurer: Hal Jaffe Secretary: Linda Badger Board Members: Debra Barrath Barbara Burbank Vicki Crawford Gary Levine Jonathan Troper Co-Social Action: Vivian Gold Renee Schwartz Past Presidents Michael Stevens Rena Jaffe Jean Katz Ron Estroff Sid Rosenblatt Blanche Moss Ex-officio Members: Rabbi Miriam Hamrell & Charles Hamrell, MD

In parasha Noah, mankind has become violent and corrupt. God instructs Noah -the only righteous man in the world - to build an ark large enough for his family and two members of each animal species. God tells Noah to take everyone on board the Ark and they will survive. God causes the rain to fall creating a giant flood. When the water recedes the ark is on Mount Ararat. Noah sends out a raven and then doves to look for dry land. After a year, God commands Noah to leave the ark and repopulate the earth. God swears never to destroy all of mankind again and the rainbow becomes a symbol of that promise. God instructs Noah on the sacredness of life. For ten generations, Noah’s descendants remain as one people. His descendants then defy God and He divides them into seventy nations scattered across the earth. Noah ends with a summary of the ten generations from Noah to Abram and Abram’s journey on the way to Canaan.

Torah Portion: Noah Genesis 6:9 -11:32 Torah Teacher: Florence Dann Torah Chanter: Rabbi Miriam Greeter: Marilyn and Marvin Warsofsky

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THE WEEKLY ARTICLE FROM OUR CO- PRESIDENTS

Co-Presidents’ Message

This week we want to share with you one way in which our Ahavat Torah congregation stands apart from all other synagogues and is so unique. We are blessed to have three and sometimes four regular attendees at our Shabbat morning service who deliver the Priestly Blessing. The Hebrew word for priest is Kohain and all Kohanim, and in our synagogue Kohanot (women!), are direct lineal descendants of Aaron who served in the Holy Temple. Many Kohanim have last names such as Cohen, Kohn, Katz, and Kaplan but in our synagogue one Kohain and our Kohanot have the last names of Danufsky, DuBois and Swift!

Among the Orthodox there are many qualifications and prohibitions for a Kohain. A Kohain must be a male over the age of 13, he can’t marry a convert or a divorcee, he can’t be under the influence of alcohol when delivering the blessing, he can’t deliver the blessing too soon after the death of a close relative, etc. As the times have changed, so have these restrictions in non-Orthodox circles. At Ahavat Torah we have no gender differentiation in who can recite prayers, read from the Torah, carry the Torah, etc.

Phil Danufsky learned that he was a Kohain when he accompanied his grandfather to Shul when he was a little boy. His grandfather was born in the Ukraine. In recent times there were DNA tests conducted on men who considered themselves Kohanim and in the majority of those tested there was a distinct genetic marker among the Y chromosomes.

Dawn Swift is part of the Kohain lineage on both her father and mother’s sides of the family. Her father’s last name was Cohen. He was originally from the Middle East, settled in Rangoon, Burma and was in the import-export business. When the business failed he returned to Calcutta where Dawn’s mother’s family was from. Her mother’s side of the family was originally from Spain, then went to Allepo, Syria, and ended up in India as diamond merchants. Shalom Solomon established the first synagogue in Calcutta.

Ellen DuBois’ maternal grandfather was born in Byalastock which is now part of Poland. She recalls going to his Orthodox Shul with him when she was a little girl. Her mother mentioned to her that he was a Kohain so her lineage to the priestly group is a maternal one. Chaplain Dov Cohen is also a Kohain and has several times lead and participated in our services.

These four are Ahavat Torah’s Kohanim and Kohanot who during each service are called upon to deliver the priestly blessing as a group. They remove their shoes before coming forward as a symbol of the sacred work of the priests at the Temple where the priests would walk around barefoot because they were standing on holy ground.

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Co-President’s Message Continued

Before they give the blessing to the congregation, they cover their heads (and in some places their hands as well) with their tallit and say the Hebrew prayer which translates into English as “Blessed are you, oh Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has hallowed us with the Holiness of Aaron and commanded us to bless the people of Israel with Love.” They then spead their fingers in each hand so that the letter “shin” is made standing for the Hebrew word Shaddai or Almighty. In our congregation, Rabbi Miriam then recites the priestly blessing line by line in English followed by the Kohanim and Kohanot chanting it in Hebrew. The Blessing translates as “May the Lord bless you and keep/guard you. May the Lord make his face/countenance to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His face unto you and give/grant you peace.” After each verse, we in the congregation reply “Kayn y’hi ratzon, May it be so.

Often this prayer is also used before beginning a long journey. Similar prayers are used in the blessing of children each Shabbat and at Bar/Bat Mitavah often with the laying of hands on the child’s head.

This same blessing from Numbers 6:24-27 is used in many churches as well. Leonard Nimoy (“may his memory be for blessing) who came from an Orthodox background, popularized a one hand version of the Priestly Blessing gesture on Star Trek with his saying of “Live long and prosper.”

We hope you can now appreciate even more the specialness of this blessing and the special way in which Ahavat torah has adopted it and adapted it to serve members of our egalitarian participatory and loving congregation. We are probably the only congregation in California that incorporates this prayer in this way.

to the Church’s Open House THIS Sunday, October 18, 2015 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Ahavat Torah will have a table to help the surrounding community get to know us. There will be a BAND and

FOOD. We hope everyone will come to represent A.T. at this neighborhood event.

From beginning to end, Ahavat Torah’s High HolyDay experience was inspiring.  Over $ 7000 was pledged (!) as a result of the Kol Nidre appeal.  Now is the time to wrap up all the financial matters from these Holydays so if you have

not already done so, please remit the amount of your  pledge ASAP.  And if you did not pledge on that night, you are still free to send in any amount you wish as a contribution.  Thanks so much.

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Torah - Tanya - Haftarah Study the Mystical Torah, the Kabalistic Tanya,

and the Awesome Haftarah. We have stimulating and thought provoking discussions. This is a fabulous group!

Every Thursday @ the Rabbi’s home

11:00 am - Kabalistic Tanya ($5)

12:00 pm- Potluck Dairy Lunch

12:15 pm -Torah Portion of the Week

1:30 pm -Awesome Haftarah of the Week

You may bring a friend!

PLEASE COME TO OUR SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING!

NEXT SHABBAT OCTOBER 24, 2015 AFTER OUR POTLUCK!

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR ETHICS - MUSSAR CLASS

THIS Saturday October 17, 2015 at 9:00 AM

Rabbi Miriam Hamrell, Greg Metzger and our Rabbinic Intern Florence Dann will be teaching a Mussar class on the Ethics of Our Fathers.

BE A PART OF THIS VERY SPECIAL CLASS AND FEEL FREE TO BRING A FRIEND

Mussar

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VERY SPECIAL ARTS FESTIVAL

The Very Special Arts Festival is an annual admission-free event celebrating the artistic achievements of students with disabilities and their mainstream peers.  Join us at the 37th annual festival on Friday, October 23, 2015, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The festival features student and professional performances on two stages, visual and performing arts

workshops, and a student art exhibit created around a central theme.  This year's theme is Making Connections.  Presented in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the Very Special Arts Festival is free to the public and open to all grade levels.  Jean Katz is recruiting volunteers to work in 2-hour time-blocks at the Festival. She will drive a car-pool of the first 4 volunteers who contact her jeankatz@earthlink.net, 310-276-7941. To volunteer, please phone or email Suzy Boyett sboyett@musiccenter.org, 213-972-4308.

Jean Katzjeankatz@earthlink.net(310) 276-7941

Judy (Weintraub) just got notified that her documentary, Life On The Bridge, was accepted for screening at the Big Apple Film Festival in NYC this November!! 

We're heading to NY for the premiere of the film and we invite you and your friends to join us on Thursday November 5 at 5pm at the Village East Cinemas near NYU. Tickets are now available

online at bigapplefilmfestival.com.

Please send this note to your NY family and friends! For more info on the film, check out the preview at lifeonthebridge.com

All good news!

Joel (Warren)                       

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When: Friday, OCTOBER 23rd, 2015 @ 7:00 to 9:30 pm

Where: 343 S. Church Lane, LA

KABBALAT SHABBAT WITH CANDLE LIGHTING AND BLESSING LEAD BY

RABBI MIRIAM HAMRELL

FOLLOWED BY

A MOVIE & POPCORN SHOWING THE MATCHMAKER AVI NESHER’S LATEST FILM ABOUT THE MYSTERIES OF THE HUMAN HEART.*****

PLEASE RSVP to Linda Badger at lindabadger0713@yahoo.com or leave message (310) 362-1111

AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION JOIN US FOR A FREE FUN- FILLED

POPCORN SHABBAT

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LAST SHABBAT

Shoshi, you always make us dance.

Coleman, your smile brightens up our Shabbat.

Gale, it was a pleasure having you at our service.

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LAST SHABBAT CONTINUED

Michael and Lynn are back with us again. We have missed you!

Ben and Vicki, you both are a blessing to our community.

Not only does Rabbi Miriam bless us, she also gives great hugs.

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We celebrated Simhat Torah as a family with prayer,music,dancing

and joy.

Reverend Gabbai Eli Shirim Lester, you were fabulous.

Lawrence, each and every time you visit, we enjoy getting to know you better.

Mike, we loved your drum playing.

Hannah, it was a pleasure to have you and Elijah with us on Simhat Torah.

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Simhat Torah Continued

“Rollin’ out the Torah”

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Simhat Torah Continued

We love to dance.

Our dear long time member Judith Rivin is recuperating from surgery. She would love to hear from you via email J.rivin@verizon.net. Thank you. Rabbi Miriam

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We are very excited about Ahavat Torah’s developing relationship with the Brentwood Glen Association. Thank you Rabbi Miriam, their President Cori Solomon and Glenda Perry representing the Children’s Farmers Market.

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE OF NOVEMBER 14, 2015 FOR THIS EXCITING BOUTIQUE/FAIR

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SAN FERNANDO VALLEY COLLABORATIVE SUNDAY MORNINGS 9:30 to 11:30am WESTSIDE COLLABORATIVE SUNDAY AFTERNOONS 4:00 TO 6:00pm

CLICK ON HERE TO REGISTER: WWW.SHALOMHARTMAN.ORG/LACOLLABORATIVE

SEPTEMER 29, 2015 A.T. - TEAM

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TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO AHAVAT TORAH

Please register Ahavat Torah Congregation with your Ralphs Reward Card. You may go into any Ralphs Store to register. You may also register online (the on-line instructions are below.) There are printed sheets of the on-line instructions available (see Linda Badger.) Linda can also help you register on-line. You may call her at (310) 625-3146.

Ralphs’ Community Contributions Program -Sign-up Instructions (www.ralphs.com is now a secure website.

TO REGISTER YOUR REWARDS CARD ON LINE:

1. Log in by right clicking to www.ralphs.com 2. Click on “Register” in the top right corner 3. Answer “Create an Account” questions a. Your email address b. Your password c. Confirm your password 4. Enter your zip code and click on “find” 5. Click “select” next to the store you primarily shop at 6. Subscribe or unsubscribe to email subscription by leaving the check marks or removing them 7. Click Confirm 8. Click on agree to Terms and Conditions 9. Click on “Confirm” 10. Click on Edit Community Contribution Program Information 11. Enter the card number as shown on your Ralphs rewards card 12. Click on “Save Changes” 13. Confirm or enter any corrections and click on “Save Changes” 14. Type in just a part of your organizations’ name or key in our 5 digit NPO number 90829 and click “Search” 15. In the “Selection Your Organization Section”, click on the bubble next to your organization’s name 16.Click on “Save Changes 17. Your organization selection will appear on the right side of this page 18. You have now completed your Online rewards card registration AND your Community Contributions registration 19. Click on “logout” at the top of the page

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

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