Peninsula Temple Sholom

"Walk in Their Shoes" with PTS - April 18

2010-03-26T10:22:00.001-07:00

Join PTS and My New Red Shoes for

Walk in Their Shoes

Community Walkathon and Family Festival to Support Homeless Children

Sunday, April 18, 1:00 PM
Washington Park, Burlingame

* Spirited walk through downtown Burlingame to a nearby homeless shelter *
*Family fun, live music, food, and education *

More than 5,000 Bay Area school-aged children experience homelessness every night. There is something each of us can do to help. Raise awareness. Show support. Take a stand.

My New Red Shoes is a Burlingame-based nonprofit that has empowered thousands of homeless youth to succeed in school by providing them with brand new clothing and shoes for the school year. This year, My New Red Shoes will clothe 3,000 homeless children in Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco and Alameda Counties.

Sign up to walk with PTS or sponsor our team! Your support truly makes a difference.

PTS Community Seder - Tuesday, Mar. 30

2010-03-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

Your whole family is invited to the Second Night Community Passover Seder in the PTS Social Hall on Tuesday, Mar. 30. Services begin promptly at 6:30 PM.

Join us for this child and family friendly celebration! We'll have a wonderful Seder meal prepared by Schumann's Four Seasons with chopped liver and gefilte fish, homemade chicken soup with matzoh balls, boneless breast of chicken with orange glaze, small roasted new potatoes, fresh seasoned braised vegetables, and sponge cake with fresh fruit, tea and coffee.

We also have a vegetarian option, with vegetable frittata. There's a kid-friendly menu too!

The cost for members is $40 for adults, $25 for children 6-13, and $12 for children under 2-6. No cost for children under 2.

Non-members are also invited to the PTS Second Night Seder. It's $45 for adults, $30 for children 6-13, $15 for children 2-6. Again, no cost for children under 2.

RSVP to Georgina in the Temple Office at 650-697-2266 or gbaca@sholom.org.

Synaplex Shabbat — Mar. 26-27

2010-03-21T10:12:00.000-07:00

Synaplex Shabbat is coming soon — Mar. 26-27 — and we are planning for a fantastic Friday evening and Saturday for adults, teens and kids of all ages.

The last PTS Synaplex Shabbat was a huge hit and this one will be too. I hope to see you all there. Please remember to RSVP for the Friday night dinner and Saturday lunch-time picnic by TUESDAY, MARCH 23, AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS!!!

Click here to learn more!

Soup! Get your soup here!

2010-03-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

Last Chance to get your Matzah ball soup for Passover! Sunday is the final chance to order 1/2 gallon of soup with 4 matzah balls (actual size 2 1/2 inches) for only $18!

The delicious soup is provided by the San Francisco Soup Company and is sponsored by the PTS Brotherhood.

Orders will be available for pickup next Sunday, March 28 between religious school sessions.

Go to http://sholom.org/getinvolved/brotherhood to place your order.

As It Is Written: Project 304,805 — March 21

2010-03-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

Join your fellow PTS family members at 1:30 PM on Sunday, March 21, for a trip to the Contemporary Jewish Museum and its presentations of “As It Is Written: Project 304,805," an exhibition centered around a soferet (Torah scribe) who is crafting the entire text of the Torah at the Museum over the course of a full year.

The cost for admission, a tour and round-trip bus transportation from PTS is $30. To ensure a seat on the bus, please RSVP to Georgina in the Temple office at 650-697-2266 or gbaca@sholom.org.

If you choose your own transportation, cost for admission and the tour is $20; again, please RSVP to Georgina.

Checks payable to Peninsula Temple Sholom should be sent to the Temple Office. Space is limited.

Brotherhood March 2010 Poker Tournament Results

2010-03-15T11:45:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to our winners from the March 2010 Texas Hold'em Poker Tourney!

1st Place: Jason Chroman
2nd Place: Marc Hershman
3rd Place: Todd Rich

More pictures from the event can be found here. We'll see you at our next tournament in November 2010!

At PTS, Solar Power is Soul-ar Power

2010-03-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

Over 30 years ago, Rabbi Gerald Raiskin z''l had a simple vision: Install a solar power system to power the light of PTS's Nair Tamid - our eternal flame.

While the technology wasn't ready at that time, Rabbi Raiskin's vision endured. Today, a state-of-the-art solar electric system has been installed at PTS.

Learn more, download a brochure about our new solar power system!

Learn, Lead, Serve: Friday, Mar. 12

2010-03-09T13:08:00.001-08:00

Carol Brauner, the director of international development at the Leo Baeck Education Center in Haifa, Israel, will be our guest speaker at our Hava Nashir Shabbat service on Friday, March 12, 7:30 PM.

Her topic is "Learn, Lead, Serve," which is Leo Baeck's new motto. Carol will discuss the Education Center's work in creating new paradigms for both Reform Judaism in Israel and for Israeli society in general, as well as the school's commitment to the goal of inclusion — bringing every sector of the population into the mainstream of Israel through education and outreach.

Sholom Women online auction is now open!

2010-02-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

The Sholom Women Western Shindig's online auction is now declared OPEN!

From now until Mar. 5 at 9 AM, the auction is open for bidding on many wonderful auction items from dinners out and fun family events to spa services and some dandy unique experiences. Just for registering you get a $10 coupon to the Starr*Stevens Judaica Shop! Keep checking in — more items are being added daily — so bid early and often!! Good luck!

http://www.biddingforgood.com/pts/pts-3

May 8 - Volunteer Day at Project Open Hand

2010-02-20T10:35:00.001-08:00

On May 8, 2010, PTS members will have the opportunity to volunteer at Project Open Hand in San Francisco. POH was started over twenty five years ago to feed HIV patients. It has evolved into an organization that now prepares over 2,600 meals per day, 365 days a year for people with medical challenges who are not able to prepare nutritious meals for themselves. Project Open Hand also serves food at Senior Centers throughout San Francisco. Volunteers will be working in the kitchen preparing food or in the grocery center filling orders to be picked up or delivered to clients. The morning will conclude with a complimentary lunch in the volunteer cafeteria. Participants must be at least 15 years old.

If you would like to volunteer or get additional information, please contact Marty Rosenberg through the PTS temple office.

Women of the Wall

2010-01-15T15:22:00.000-08:00

How is it possible that in the year 2010 we are seeing women arrested in Israel for wearing a tallit and kippah?

What has happened to the freedom to practise our religion?

We need to stand behind our Israeli counterparts and not allow a minority in Israel to dictate religious practise.

Please go to www.sholom.org for more information on Women of the Wall.

Helmet liners of kindness!

2010-01-06T06:06:00.000-08:00

Please join the Blankets of Kindness team in knitting helmet liners for the U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We are investigating the possibility of also sending them to Israeli soldiers in the Golan Heights.

Click here to see the knitting pattern!

Read the new PTS policy on Interfaith weddings

2009-12-23T17:09:00.000-08:00

Rabbi Feder has announced a new Interfaith wedding policy for Peninsula Temple Sholom. You can read all about it in a letter sent to each member family, and also on an article on the PTS website. (That same article is also in the Temple's January Bulletin.)

Please read Rabbi Feder's article, "Interfaith Weddings: A New Perspective," where he shares the thoughtful journey he has taken to determine this new policy. Feel free to leave comments on the new PTS Blog or on our Facebook page.

Read the new PTS Strategic Plan

2009-12-19T11:40:00.000-08:00

The PTS Strategic Plan 2009/5770 was unanimously accepted by the Board of Trustees on Dec. 16, 2009.

We invite all PTS members to download and read the Strategic Plan, and help us implement it in the months and years ahead. Click here to visit the Strategic Plan executive summary, and access the complete document, from the "For Members" section of PTS website.

Blankets of kindness Knitters

2009-12-18T23:40:00.000-08:00

We just delivered over 75 lap robes to the Jewish Home, 20+ scarves to the Single Moms group at JFCS for their Chanukah gift distribution, 12 lap robes to the California Cancer Center in San Mateo, several baby caps to local children's hospitals and 8 helmet liners for our soldiers in Afghanistan.

We are always looking for new knitters and crocheters and always gratefully accept washable yarn or cash donations.

Knitting classes will be probably be starting in February for beginners or intermediate knitters. Keep your eyes open for class dates and times.

Latkes Latkes Latkes!

2009-12-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to the Brotherhood Latke Fryers for a fabulous latke fry on Friday, December 11! Going at a blistering 200 lph (latkes per hour) we annointed our new kitchen and fried almost 1000 latkes for the dinner before services and the oneg afterwards.

This year's crew was led by Paul "The Frying Game" Rosenblum and Steve "Don't Fry for me Argentina" Sarver, ably assisted by Ed "the latke whisperer" Kraus, Michael "Eau de latke" Battat, Michael "Latke my love" Zeichick, Fred "There's no frying in baseball" Sturm, Ron "Born to Fry" Kahn, and Paul "Dammit Jim I'm a doctor not a fryer" Nounou.

Happy Anniversary, Rabbi Feder!

2009-12-08T20:08:00.000-08:00

It's been 15 years since Rabbi Daniel Feder, PTS' senior rabbi, joined the Rabbinate. We celebrated with a wonderful service on Friday night, Dec. 4. Many members of Rabbi Feder's family were there, and the PTS Sanctuary was filled to overflowing.

We had tributes to Rabbi Feder from Rabbi Kim Ettlinger and by Rabbi Martin Wiener, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco, who was a mentor and friend to Rabbi Feder "back in the day."

For me, the most touching moment was when Cantor Barry Reich sang a song to Rabbi Feder with the PTS Zimriyah Youth Choir. Afterwards, the Zimriyah kids ran over and gave Rabbi Feder a huge hug. It was a Kodak movement, but unfortunately, nobody took a photo!

However, we do have a photo of Rabbi Feder with his extended family. Thank you, Len Silverman, for getting this great shot!

Heroism, Hillel & Chanukah in the Soviet Jewry Movement

2009-12-03T15:33:00.000-08:00

Life-Long Learning at PTS
Monday, Dec. 14, 7:00 PM

In the spirit of Chanukah, Phil Spiegel will discuss how courageous individuals challenged a ruthless, totalitarian regime to gain freedom. Mr. Spiegel is the author of Triumph over Tyranny and a guest lecturer around the Bay Area. Books and DVDs will be available for purchase.

Read the great articles in the December PTS Bulletin!

2009-12-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

Have you read the December PTS Bulletin? If it hasn't come by mail, it should be arriving soon (the post office is busy this time of year) -- or you can read it online in the "For Members" section of the PTS website.

There are articles about:

• Our Synaplex Shabbat program
• The many social action programs at PTS
• Exciting new music for Shabbat services
• Chanukah services and programs
• Gophers in the Mitzvah Garden
• Blankets of Kindness
• Upcoming B'nai Mitzvah
• Life-Long Learning
• Report from the URJ Biennial in Toronto
• The latest from Religious School and Preschool
• News from Sholom Women and Brotherhood

and much much more!

You can find the Bulletin (and also the past year's worth of Bulletins!) at http://sholom.org/members/ . Access for that page is for PTS members only. If you're a PTS member and don't know the username and password, please write to brochelle@sholom.org or phone the Temple office during regular business hours at (650) 697-2266.

Welcome Chanukah with your PTS Family on Friday, Dec. 11

2009-12-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

Come to PTS to welcome Chanukah on Friday, Dec. 11.

Join our new members for a delicious Shabbat Chanukah meal beginning at 5:45 PM, featuring Brotherhood’s famous latkes and all the trimmings. Enjoy Sholom Women’s annual Dreidel Spin. Bring and light your chanukiyah and get caught up in the spirit of our popular Hava Nashir Shabbat Service, which begins at 7:00 PM.

The cost of of the dinner: Adults, $10. Children under 12, $5. RSVP for the dinner to Georgina in the Temple Office at 650-697-2266 or gbaca@sholom.org.

15 Exciting Years in the Rabbinate!

2009-12-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

Please Join Us...

As we Honor Rabbi Feder for 15 years in the Rabbinate
On Friday, Dec. 4, 7:00 PM, Family Shabbat Service

From ordination in Cincinnati (First base)
To Oheb Shalom in Baltimore (Second base)
To Keneseth Israel in Allentown (Third base)
To Peninsula Temple Sholom (Home)!

Come Join the Celebration!!!

Family-to-Family for the holidays

2009-11-20T11:04:00.000-08:00

As we enter the holiday season, we see that in our own community so many families have struggled throughout this past year.

The PTS Social Action committee has selected Shelter Network for what we are calling “Family to Family.” Shelter Network helps homeless families and single adults get back on their feet and return to permanent homes of their own.

“Family to Family” is a way for anyone in our congregation to reach out and help others less fortunate during the holidays. You can “adopt” an entire family or just purchase a gift for an individual family member in a specific way either big or small. Visit www.mysignup.com/family-to-family09 to see how to get involved!

Thank you for reaching out to help someone who truly needs our help. This is just one of the many ways our PTS community makes the holidays a little brighter…. so close to home.

Cantor Barry Reich in Cong. Rodef Sholom Cantors Concert: Sunday, Dec. 6

2009-11-19T12:45:00.000-08:00

There will be very special cantorial concert at Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 6 at 2:00pm.

A dozen cantors from around the Bay Area, as well as our guest artist Dan Nichols, will be singing a benefit concert to raise money for camperships to Camp Newman and other URJ camps around the country. This is a rare opportunity to hear a wide variety of Jewish music sung by a talented group of Bay Area cantors.

Come and hear all of these performers:

Roz Barak, Rita Glassman, Kay Greenwald, Devorah Felder, Leigh Korn, David Margules, Martin Feldman, Elena Jagoda, Meeka Simerly, Barry Reich, Sharon Bernstein, Lauren Bandman and guest artist Dan Nichols. Daniel Locket will be the pianist.

Cantor David Margules of Congregation Rodef Sholom suggests a donation of $18 but please be generous and help make camp this summer a reality for more of our Jewish youngsters.

Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael, CA 94903

RSVP to Gigi at gigi@rodefsholom.org

Brotherhood fall poker tourney results

2009-11-18T12:33:00.000-08:00

The Fall 2009 Texas Hold'em Tournament, sponsored by the PTS Brotherhood, was held on Monday, November 16. Pictured are the winners (from the left):

Bruce Isackson (tied for third)
Ken Wornick (first)
Karen Epstein (second)
Alan Hafter (tied for third)

Thanks to all for your participation and we'll see you for our next tourney on March 14, 2010!

Tragedy at Ft Hood and its Aftermath: A First-Person Account

2009-11-13T14:51:00.000-08:00

What must it have been like to be at Ft. Hood during the shooting — and what's more, to be one of Major Hasan's colleagues?

The RJ Blog (from the Union from Reform Judaism) has posted a moving and informative letter from Sylvia, a Reform Jewish lay leader and physician/psychiatrist at Ft. Hood. Read the letter here!

Half the Sky... A Must Read!

2009-11-11T16:34:00.000-08:00

I am nearly finished with Half the Sky, a book written by journalists about how so many women around the world are marginalized and suffer... sex trafficking, poor maternal care, abuse, lack of education. The authors share global commentary combined with personal stories that are heart-wrenching, yet optimistic too. Fantastic book filled with amazing people! Although Half the Sky is not a Jewish story, it is undoubtedly a lesson in doing tikkun olam where it is really needed.

What do you do to make a difference? Does serving our own community have the same weight?

It's a New Blog for PTS!

2009-11-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new blog for Peninsula Temple Sholom! Our goal for the blog is to improve communications for the PTS community. We want to provide new ways for the clergy, leadership and all of our members to talk to each other!

We've been discussing the idea of having a PTS Blog for several months, but were galvanized into action by the comments of Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of URJ, at the Biennial. Click here to read about the new URJ blog initiative.

Please watch the blog -- we're going to evolve rapidly! Feel free to leave comments about the posts, and help make this new initiative a success!

L'shalom,

Alan Zeichick
PTS Webmaster