Spring is in the air, and with it comes lots of activity at Beth Ami.
       Beginning March 5th, we will be offering Hebrew classes for adults. This 8 week course will meet every Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm for 8 weeks.  Our own Sarah Horn, who has taught Hebrew language to adults for many years, will help beginners read the language and understand basic vocabulary fundamental to understanding prayer and Torah.
       On March 9th we are excited to join together for our annual Stargazing Havdalah. Beginning at 5 pm for dinner and continuing with a presentation from our local Astronomy club, we will then move outside to see the heavens through some of the best telescopes available in the SCV. Led by our President Don Cogan, and honoring the memory of Jim Van Winkle who helped start this tradition, this event is one not to be missed.
       Purim, falls on the fourteenth of the Hebrew month of Adar, this year beginning on Wednesday evening, March 20th.  It is a celebration of the events described in the Scroll of Esther. The holiday with its joyous carnival-like atmosphere focuses on one of the main themes in Jewish history, the survival of the Jewish people despite the attempts of their enemies to destroy them. Purim recalls the dangers of minority status, and in so many places and times hatred and prejudice was directed at the Jewish people in particular.  Anti-Semitism has not disappeared, and hatred of the foreigner and the stranger is still prevalent throughout the world, so the holiday reminds us to make sure we remain vigilant and that we do our best to make sure others do not experience the darkest experiences of our history.  Purim is most of all a happy story–a story of survival and triumph over evil.  We are reminded to never give up hope, and that help can come from the most unlikely of places.  And Purim teaches us that stripped of power, the things that frighten us can become a source of humor, and laughter.
​      Join us for our Purim Carnival Sunday, March 17th from 11:00am -2pm, this year at Hart Park Picnic Area.  Once again, this year the local synagogues are all joining forces to put on an amazing Purim Carnival.  We also look forward to seeing you on Wednesday night, March 20th at 7 pm, as we celebrate Purim with our special shpiel, a musical celebration featuring some very talented TBA players. (Lion King theme this year) Everyone is encouraged to come in costume and let loose.
         And Passover is just around the corner. Temple Beth Ami will be celebrating our community Seder the second night of Passover, Saturday night, April 20th at 6 pm, led by Rabbi Mark Blazer and Cantorial Soloist Alyssa Rosenbaum. Call (661) 255-6410 for information and reservations or online at: www.eventbrite.com/e/temple-beth-ami-community-seder-2019-tickets-56605216727

Be Joyous, It’s Spring, It's Adar.

​As we begin 2019, we have a chance to look back at what has already happened since the Jewish New Year three months ago.  These last months were a time of new possibilities and celebrations as well tremendous loss and frustrations.  As we stand at the beginning of a new secular year we look out to the unknown and our minds fill with more questions and uncertainty.
 
On one thing you can be rest assured –Temple Beth Ami continues to be a source of strength to Santa Clarita and beyond.  Our synagogue community continues to be a leader in Jewish education for all ages.  We have multiple 12 Step meetings each and every week at our facility including AA, Alanon and OA.  This coming year we are expanding the Jewish Meditation classes with Rabbi Michael Salonius which have brought literally hundreds of new people from diverse backgrounds into our little shul.  We continue to house homeless families this year as part of Family Promise.  Our facility, though small on size, has a huge impact on our community.

Please keep Temple Beth Ami in mind as you make end of the year charitable donations: www.templebethami.org/support-tba.html. Your generosity has helped us come so far, enabled us to help so many and we know we will be there for challenges in the future.
 
A great way to support and celebrate TBA is Casino Night, Saturday, February 2ndstarting at 7 pm, at the Tesoro Clubhouse.  A wonderful evening of fun and friends and one of TBA’s biggest events of this year.   This is a great chance to enjoy playing games of chance with some wonderful prizes and auction items, including 4 Dodger tickets, 2 roundtrip tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies in the USA and vacation packages.  Reduced price tickets available now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tba-casino-night-tickets-53294464177
 
Temple Beth Ami begins 2019 with great events, and many more are being planned throughout the next 12 months. We hope you will a find a way to join us in these activities and festivities.  Whatever this secular year holds for us as a community, a people and a nation, we will all be better off meeting the challenges and opportunities ahead together.  May 2019 be a more peaceful and successful one than the one that just passed.  Peace, Health and Blessings to all of you.

​In the last few weeks our nation and community suffered some devastating losses. Horrific shootings and fires of shocking magnitude. We have been hit from all sides in what has been a traumatic fall season. These events have left us frightened, distraught, angry and somewhat disoriented.

One thing that was constant throughout these crises was the bravery and selflessness of our first responders. We witnessed the bravery and sacrifice of Ventura County Sheriff Deputy Ron Helus who gave his life trying to stop the massacre at the Borderline. We welcomed firefighters from across the state and around the country who left their families and communities to mobilize in fighting fires that were unparalleled in their ferocity.

Chanukah is a season of celebrating heroism. We remember the courage of the Maccabees standing outnumbering against the Greek/Syrian armies. In our own days we remember the soldiers who have fought for the freedom and security of our people overseas, but too often we neglect to offer our appreciation to those who risk their lives every day in our own backyard, men and women of our police, fire and paramedic departments.

Santa Clarita, and Temple Beth Ami in particular, is a place where so many first responders have made a home. Our synagogue, reflective of the demographics of our community, is unique in that so many of these brave men and women worship and educate their families within our little shul. I doubt there is a synagogue in the country with a higher percentage of law enforcement, EMT’s, nurses and fire department personnel. Within the law enforcement field alone we have members from over a half a dozen local departments and agencies. We are honored to have these wonderful representatives of humanity’s highest ideals as part of the TBA family.

This holiday season in particular please show your appreciation to our first responders. Support the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station Annual Holiday Toy Drive. Most importantly simply by saying thank you, or really we appreciate the service and sacrifice you make for our community on a daily basis, can go a long way in reminding these special people that we value the amazing work they do.

Chanukah celebrations are everywhere in Santa Clarita, with TBA spreading the holiday lights. We invite you to join us in Temple Beth Ami’s annual Chanukah events:
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Sunday, Dec. 2, 5pm - Santa Clarita’s Jewish Community Party at Westfield’s Valencia Town Center (outside by entrance to food court)
Monday, Dec. 3, 10:00am - Chanukah at the Old Town Newhall Library
Monday, Dec. 3, 6pm - Join us as we light the Stevenson Ranch Community menorah at Stevenson Ranch Parkway and Holmes Place
Tuesday, Dec. 4, 10:00am - Chanukah at the Valencia Library
Thursday, Dec. 6, 9:30am - Chanukah at the Canyon Country Library
Thursday, Dec. 6, 7pm - Chanukah Celebration at Barnes & Noble, Valencia. Fun for all ages!
Friday, Dec. 7, 7pm - Don’t miss TBA’s famous Chanukah Party and Shabbat Celebration with presentation of Pasha Award at Temple Beth Ami
Saturday, Dec. 8, 7pm - Vodka/Latke at the Blazer’s

​As we close out this year 5778 and welcome in the possibilities of 5779 we once again reflect on our lives and our place in the world.  At Temple Beth Ami we consider what we have done as a holy community, a kehillah kedosha, knowing that there is a quite a bit we can be proud of, but also knowing there is so much more we can do.

At Beth Ami this past year we added new staff and leadership.  While we miss the sound of Cantor Kenny Ellis and Eileen Weiser, at TBA we are very excited to have one of the most innovative and talented new voices in Jewish music.  Alyssa Rosenbaum is currently a cantorial student at the Academy for Jewish Religion, and has already written several original compositions.  Hear her soon to be released new crowd funded album: www.jewcer.org/project/alyssarosenbaum
 
We added several wonderful people to our already competent and devoted board, led this year by a gifted mind and dedicated soul, Don Cogan.  We were so fortunate to have Jennifer Twitchell take over the direction of our religious school.  She has made a tremendous impact in a very short period of time.  Jennifer and her family were at TBA all summer leading the efforts to refurbish our classrooms, which look beautiful now.  Many thanks to all who lent a hand.  There is still some more beautification work that is being undertaken by two of our Eagle Scout candidates.  See inside the newsletter for more information.

Our teen group, Ignite@TBA is back in session after the summer and a new leadership group is working on an exciting schedule for the New Year.  Once again our teens have our Teen Torah group meeting one Sunday per month at 1:00 pm beginning September 23rd.  This new opportunity was established by the teens themselves, who wanted to continue to learn post-B’nai Mitzvah.

Our adult education continues to thrive with our Tuesday morning Midrash discussion meeting at 9 am, and our weekly Torah portion discussion convening at 7 pm.  These groups are a world of mental and spiritual opportunities unto themselves, and a weekly pleasure for all who participate.  Don’t worry about joining in at any time.  Each person in our community has a voice that is an integral part of the harmony of Torah study.
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However, this is only just the beginning.  This year each one of us will see continued opportunities for making a meaningful difference, literally the ability to create a new reality.  We encourage you to be a part of it. During the coming year we hope you will join with us at Temple Beth Ami in working in common cause on tikkun olam/Repair of our World.
 
Also, beginning this month, TBA will offer several opportunities in this election cycle to help us to become better informed and meet our political leaders.  Over the next weeks we will have candidates and pundits as guests.

Congressman Steve Knight, (R) representing the 25th Congressional district covering Santa Clarita, will be with us for Shabbat on September 21st at 8 pm.  

We look forward to getting this new year off to a great start.  In 5779 we will once again be celebrating High Holiday services at Santa Clarita United Methodist Church, 26640 Bouquet Canyon Rd.  We look forward to being with you all soon.
 
LE-SHANAH TOVAH TIKATEVU -- MAY YOU BE INSCRIBED FOR A GOOD YEAR!

Two years ago I led Santa Clarita's first Birthright trip to Israel. The young people who traveled on this trip not only had a deeply memorable trip, bonded with Israelis their own age but most importantly strengthened their connection with Jewish thought and tradition.  It was one of the most important outreach/inreach activities I have ever been part of.

My only disappointment was that there wasn't a program for Jews who weren’t between the ages of 18-26. But this year, Birthright took the remarkable step of opening up the trips for those between 27-32!  This now opens up the trip to thousands who had missed out.  (Maybe one day they will make it even older.)
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Summer trips are closed, but registration for winter open up on September 5.  Visit, www.birthrightisrael.com, for more information.  Remember, Birthright isn't one trip, it is an organization that runs journeys through many organizations and companies.  Our trip in 2016 was organized by Kesher, a project of the URJ, and the spiritual component may have been more emphasized than on than other Birthright groups, but it is impossible to travel to Israel and not be spiritually moved. That is what makes Israel so different from other places, and why Birthright is such a triumph.

Birthright most significantly reaches Jewish young people at a critical stage of their lives, often after several years of disengagement.  The project helps plant the seeds of further connection, and challenges the participants to find meaning in their Judaism as adults.

Once again this summer I am proud that several of our TBA young people are visiting Israel as part of various Birthright cohorts, from their colleges and universities, and with groups focused on specific interests. We also have families that are traveling in Israel at this very moment, celebrating life cycle events and connecting with a remarkable country which always inspires.

Be sure to watch for future TBA trips to Israel for people of all ages. We know that we will be travelling to Israel on TBA’s eighth organized journey sometime in the near future.  Once again the price will be as reasonable as possible, and in the past has been over $1500 per person less than comparable trips departing from LAX.
 
While not subsidized, we always make sure that these life changing journeys to our homeland are always as affordable as possible.  We look forward to making the dream of L’shana haba’ah b’Yerushalayim/Next Year in Jerusalem, a reality.
 
Have a great summer,
Rabbi Mark

Another school year has flown by and as we head off into summer we know that we have finished a wonderful year of religious school.  Not a week went by without us witnessing students excited by their studies, feeling pride in their accomplishments and enthusiastically participating in innovative programs.  The wonderful contributions our religious school students have made to the class level led services and community service projects have been inspiring.  This is in large part due to the dedication of our teaching staff, and brought into reality by Jennifer Twitchell who completed an amazing first year as our Education Director.  Jennifer has already added so much to a highly regarded program, and we are seeing tangible results of our new Hebrew curriculum and added offerings for our teens.

​At the end of May we will install the next cycle of leaders at Temple Beth Ami.  The annual ritual of the Annual General Meeting, while secular in origination, is in reality a holy moment. For those of us involved with the preparation of programs and services, we have the opportunity to reflect on the previous year, concentrate on our current state of affairs and create a vision of tomorrow. Our congregation continues to grow, and our programming improves dramatically to meet these needs.

You should be proud that the tradition of dynamic leaders at TBA continues.  With the next generation of trustees, supported by those who have been involved since the beginning, TBA is an influential force in Santa Clarita and indeed throughout Southern California.

I want to thank everyone who has participated and lent their energy to making this a vibrant  community, and congratulate those taking on the mantle of leadership.  Rosemary Watson ends her term as President, and her endowment of work, wisdom and wealth has been unbelievable.  Most importantly, the positive impact of her leadership will be felt in years to come.  She set a remarkably high bar for the every leader in our community.

Temple Beth Ami’s strength has been made possible through the hard work of so many of our congregants, board members, employees, volunteers, parents and students.  The road ahead is challenging and exciting, but with all of our continued commitment, we will assuredly have much to be proud of this time next year as well!

Summer may be here but that doesn’t mean things are quiet at Temple Beth Ami.   We hope people have a great vacation and enjoy some relaxation, excitement and travel over the coming months, but rest assured there are many exciting activities at TBA and sponsored by us in locations around the area.

Starting SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2018 11:00 am - 2 pm, join Temple Beth Ami at Santa Paula Airport. 800 E. Santa Maria Street Santa Paula, as Rosemary and David Watson invite you to visit their hangar and enjoy the First Sunday Open House. Aviation history comes alive as the pilots of Santa Paula Airport invite you to view their historic airplanes and tour the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula. Bring a picnic lunch and a dessert to share. Children ages 8-17 can experience a free introductory flight with the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles program (weather permitting). Get more information and pre-register at http://www.eaa723.org/young_eagles.html

Once again we will gather under the stars for a wonderful outdoor Shabbat at Valencia Meadows Park, Friday, July 13th at 7 pm (bring a picnic dinner starting at 5:30 pm.)

​Ands don't miss our annual tradition, the BEACH HAVDALAH at Marina Park, Ventura, Saturday, August 25, 3:00 pm. Bring picnic. Dress warmly. Take 126 freeway west to 101 north. Exit at Seaward Ave. in Ventura. Turn left over freeway. Go to the second street, Pierpont. Turn left. Continue straight to park entrance. It's a great TBA tradition.

Have a wonderful summer,

Rabbi Mark Blazer

At 4 P.M. on the fifth of Iyar 5708, May 14, 1948, the fiery Zionist leader David Ben-Gurion, surrounded by members of the Provisional Council of State on the ground floor of the Tel Aviv Art Museum, issued a proclamation to the world: We, members of the people's council, representatives of the Jewish community of Eretz Yisrael and of the Zionist movement . . . by virtue of our natural and historic right and on the strength of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Yisrael, to be known as the State of Israel.

The Declaration of Independence granted freedom, justice, and peace to everyone, guaranteed freedom of religion, and safeguarded the holy places of all faiths also extended a hand "to all neighboring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness." It appealed to them "to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel was prepared, the Declaration continued, "to do its share in common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East."

Two thousand years of waiting to be restored to our homeland—two thousand years of longing, wandering, and suffering— came to an end.  And sixty years later we still celebrate the miracle, even as the vision is yet to be fully realized.

For thousands of years Jewish tradition has seen visiting Israel and making aliyah as a holy mitzvah.  It has been a part of our traditional liturgy for centuries, an integral part of several prayers.  As you are reading this, there is a good chance that some your Temple Beth Ami family are walking the streets of Jerusalem, planning the next trip or currently living there.

This year we will be celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s 70th Independence Day, with festivities open to our community, Sunday, April 15th, beginning at 10 AM.  We are honored to be hosting Moe Blumin, TBA board member Kim Fogel’s grandfather, as a special speaker.  Moe was born in 1931 in pre-state Israel. He joined to Hagganah at age 14, the Palmach at 16 was wounded in the line of duty at 18. He will share his amazing story of fighting in Israel's War of Independence, 1948-49.

Last year Temple Beth Ami visited Israel for the sixth time in the last decade.  Rest assured, if you missed a previous trip you will have another opportunity soon.  On our next trip we will have another opportunity to celebrate B’nai Mitzvah in Jerusalem, and there will be new experiences and discoveries on our future journeys to Israel.  Temple Beth Ami is committed to bringing people of all ages to rejoice in the land of our history and future, as we live out the dream, L’shanah ha-ba’ah B’Yeruslayim,  Next Year in Jerusalem.

In all of Jewish history few communities have rivaled that of The Golden Age of Spain.  Jews first arrived in Spain, called Sepharad in Hebrew, during the Roman period, and by the early Middle Ages Andalusia was the center of the entire Jewish world, producing important scholars and one of the most stable and wealthy Jewish communities ever in existence.
 
In Toledo, Jews translated Arabic texts to the romance languages, as well as translating Greek and Hebrew texts into Arabic. Jews also contributed to botany, geography, medicine, mathematics, poetry and philosophy.  The sciences flourished especially astronomy. Abraham Zacuto and Levi ben Gershon, great lights that emerged from the Golden Age of Spain, created instruments and maps that guided maritime exploration. 'Abd al-Rahman's court physician and minister Hasdai ben Isaac ibn Shaprut, was the patron of other Jewish scholars and poets. Jewish thought during this period flourished under famous figures such as Samuel Ha-Nagid, Moses ibn Ezra, Solomon ibn Gabirol Judah Halevi and most famously, Moses Maimonides. 
 
Maimonides, born in Cordoba in 1135, was the preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars of all time. He worked as a rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Spain, Morocco and Egypt. With the contemporary Cordoban sage Averroes, he promoted and developed the philosophical tradition of Aristotle.
 
Caught between both Moslem and Christian rulers, Jews joined the armies of Alfonso VI of Castile, with as many as 40,000 joined in the fight against the Almoravids, who also had large numbers of Jewish troops in their armies.
 
In 1497, as part of the Reconquista and Christianization, Portugal followed Castille and Aragon and expelled the Jews, bringing the Jewish contribution to Iberian culture and the sciences to an abrupt end. It is estimated that the Jewish population numbered 500,000 in the 15th century, making it a greater percentage of the peninsula than Jews are today in the United States.
 
The Sephardic Jewish Diaspora would spread over the Mediterranean, and make up the first Jews of the New World.  And wherever they went, the Jews continued to speak Ladino, Judeo-Spanish.
 
Not even 100 years later, with the defeat of the Armada, Spain began it retreat into history.  In a monumental 1987 visit to Los Angeles’ Sephardic community, King Juan Carlos I apologized for and affirmed the tragic mistake of his ancestors that also helped bring an end to his country’s power.
 
This summer Temple Beth Ami will make an exciting visit to Spain and Portugal, and retrace the footsteps of our ancestors.  Included on our itinerary are visits to both ancient synagogues and modern Jewish centers.   We will have the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Spanish and Portuguese coasts that still inspires poetry and song.  Join us as we explore the rich cultural history of Sepharad.  More information can be found on our website:

​http://www.templebethami.org/spain--portugal-trip-summer-2018.html

We will be having an informational tour meeting on Thursday, January 11th at 7 pm with videos and literature on our journey (Spanish wine and cheese too!).  Please call 661-255-6410 to RSVP.
 
Buen dya, (good day in Ladino)
 
Rabbi Mark Blazer

     Whether through natural disaster, health challenges or economic tribulation, life throws us some curves.  The holiday of Sukkot is a yearly reminder of this truth.  According to Jewish law, the Sukkah structure we build during this festival, must be fragile and impermanent.  It must be able to collapse under a strong wind. 
     The sukkah is built to be a metaphor for the fragility of life and human endeavors. But this reality should not lead to despair. On the contrary, the symbol of the ever-fragile sukkah, prone to even a casual rainstorm, teaches us to see the importance of every day, every moment.  This year, after a hurricane season and recent earthquakes that caused so much destruction, we are even more cognizant of this truth.  We have witnessed buildings built of brick and cement collapse, but we have also seen the indomitable spirit that emerges from destruction, and we have been inspired by those individuals who have supported and comforted strangers half a world away.
     Once again this year we have several opportunities to take part in the mitzvot surrounding the holiday.  Several upcoming events at Temple Beth Ami will be held in our ‘Super-Sukkah’ and a Sukkot guide is also available at the Temple.
      Some of the events in our Sukkah this year include:

     Friday night, Oct. 6th at 8 PM we will have shabbat services in the sukkah, and we will once again host a surprise visitor to our Sukkah.  Previous visitors included 442nd Veteran/Medal of Honor Winner George Sakato, Tariq Altas from SCV Islamic Center, Rev. Lynn Jay and Rev. Ricky Hoyt and Bryan Geroge.     
     Sunday night, Oct. 8th at 6 PM our annual Wine and Cheese Adult Social will be held at the Blazer Family Sukkah.   Sometimes we also drink other things, like vodka, so don’t worry if you are not a wine drinker.

     Then comes Simchat Torah.  The holiday ranks with Purim for unbridled fun and craziness. The Torah Scrolls are taken from the Ark and carried in a parade of dance and song, called Hakafot, around the bimah.  The Hakafot are performed seven times. Throughout the world as each Torah is opened for the year, the congregation rises and recites: "Chah-zak, cha-zak, v'nit'cha-zek, Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen each other." 
      Join us this year at Temple Beth Ami for a Simchat Torah filled with music, dance, food and drink, Thursday night, Oct. 12th at 7 PM. Take part in unrolling the entire Torah scroll as we complete the yearly cycle of reading, and begin a new one.  For those who are able to come early, we will be having pizza at 6 PM, immediately after religious school.
      And that weekend please join us for our special Celebration of Life-Animal Service. Bring your pets and animal friends to this unique outdoor experience. As we read the story of Noah, Saturday, October 14th, 12 PM.
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CHAH-ZAK, CHA-ZAK, V'NIT'CHA-ZEK.
BE STRONG. BE STRONG. MAY WE ALL BE STRENGTHENED.

Rabbi Mark Blazer