Dear Temple Beth Ami Members:
 
On behalf of the Temple Beth Ami Board,  I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone who attended our Town Hall meeting on April 9
 
The high level of interest and engagement you expressed regarding what's happening at our synagogue, the suggestions you provided about what you'd like to see happen going forward and your feedback on some of the suggested enhancements we provided was particularly gratifying and encouraging.
 
Based on the input and discussion you provided, here are some particular things that we've agreed to pursue.
 
We will:
· Accelerate the security upgrade process by establishing firm deadlines for getting bids required for the fencing and related components. 
· Communicate the progress and milestones of all aspects of the security upgrade project to TBA members until it's complete.
· Upgrade our membership dues process to a "sustainable membership" structure, in which our dues closely reflect our anticipated operating expenses each year, with the dues for each member reflecting their portion of these operating expenses.
· Provide a comfortable and inviting social area in the courtyard area for parents or other family members bringing their children to religious school programs.
 
Each of you are always encouraged to provide your ideas, suggestions and feedback to any of us on the Temple Ami Board. Most importantly, we want and need your participation, ideas and expertise to make these things happen! If you have questions or ideas on how you can best participate, please let us know.
 
The Temple Beth Ami Board members wish you the very best for a happy Passover!
 
Best Regards,
 
Don Cogan
Board President
Temple Beth Ami  
 

The fall season has provided us with some wonderful Jewish holidays to celebrate! We enjoyed a wonderful Sukkot in our new TBA Sukkah, thanks to all the volunteers who helped with its design and assembly.And a big thank-you to the Rabbi and his family for hosting the Sukkot Wine and Cheese party at their Sukkah. We also had a fun Simchat Torah service, getting to unroll the Torah and celebrate h the end and new beginning of the annual cycle of Torah reading.
 
And there’s a lot more coming in this new year to look forward to! Soon we’ll enjoy our Hanukkahh festivities. And Tu B’Shevat, Purim and Passover will be upon us before you know it.
 
The Jewish Holidays are certainly a big happenings at Temple Beth Ami, yet we have a lot more going on to enjoy in our synagogue community. In addition to our Friday night Shabbat services, Tuesday morning Adult Education and Wednesday evening Torah program, we have some fun upcoming events as well – the Progressive Dinner, Casino night, Monopoly Tournament and more. We encourage Temple Beth Ami members to participate in these wonderful programs. That way you get the most benefit of enjoyment, learning and feeling of community from your membership at TBA.
 
All these programs and events are possible through the support of volunteers in our TBA community. Each of you have ideas, creativity and skills that can greatly benefit our programs and enhance what we can offer. Furthermore, contributing to these activities is a great way to meet fellow TBA members and to develop lasting relationships.
 
To find about these activities and how you can participate in planning and making them happen, contact any of our Board members at Temple Beth Ami. We look forward to hearing from you!
 
Thank you.
 
Don Cogan
TBA President
 

The High Holidays are a traditional time to reflect on our lives, the lessons we’ve learned, what we’ve done and what’s happened in our lives during the past year, as well as an opportunity to look forward to the opportunities and challenges of the year ahead.
 
Of course, every day of our lives is an opportunity to reflect, and very worthy opportunity for such reflection came recently to Cheryl and me this summer, when we visited that travel destination hailed as the “Final Frontier” – Alaska. We simply couldn’t help but marvel, throughout our trip, at the sheer splendor and often overwhelming choices of things to see and do in our country’s 49th state.
 
Now that you’re asking yourself “Where is Don going with this?” consider just one of those great marvels of Alaska - the massive glaciers to be seen, whether on board ship traveling through Glacier Bay, or by journeying on land throughout a state. I kept thinking, “How do these seemingly never-moving rivers of ice and snow manage to have such a huge impact on the landscape, carving and shaping it in so dramatic a fashion?” I found out that there’s a lot to be learned about glaciers (try Googling it and you’ll find out), though in a nutshell, I learned that the impact of glaciers on the geology of our planet stems from their power, persistence and combined effort. The forces of ice, snow and rocky materials work together to continually produce astounding results.
 
Now, let’s adapt the concept of perseverance and combined effort to our daily lives, and for the moment, in the context of our synagogue community. We are very fortunate at Temple Beth Ami, to have a wide range and excellent qualify of religious services, weekly educational programs, special events and benefits that we can provide to the Santa Clarita community such as Family Promise. These all are made possible because of the combined participation of our temple staff and many volunteers, working together to make them happen. Nonstop, persistent, dedicated effort - just like those awe-inspiring glaciers, but with an all-important difference - these volunteers choose to so. 
 
Let’s look at one at just one of these endeavors at TBA - the fabulous work being done to prepare the religious school facility for the coming fall classes. Jennifer Twitchell, Kim Boothby-Fogel and many other volunteers, not just from Temple Beth Ami but also from the LDS Church in Santa Clarita, put in countless hours to repaint the classroom building, install brand new flooring, and make needed repairs and fix-ups. Take a walk through the school facilities if you haven’t already to check out that work that’s been done. I certainly was impressed, and I’m sure you will be, too.
 
This is a striking example, and yet one of many efforts at TBA that are accomplished through participation and effort. And this is the arena in which your contribution is so important to us. Even if hands-on “DIY” projects aren’t your forte, no doubt you have experience and ideas that you contribute to make Temple Beth Ami an even better place to belong.
 
So, how do you find about these opportunities to participate? One of these best ways to do so is by becoming a member of our Temple Board. In additional, all TBA members are welcome and encouraged to attend our Board meetings. It’s the perfect way to find out about the opportunities for your contribution, as well as to find out if Board membership is for you. Even between our Board meetings, you can learn about what endeavors might make most sense for you, by talking to our Board members. We’d love to hear from you!
 
Wish you and yours the very best for a meaningful, prosperous and productive New Year!
 
 Don Cogan
TBA President
 

I’m honored and pleased to serve our Temple Beth Ami community as President for the 2018-2019 year!
 
Of course, I’m very fortunate to have a terrific team - the dedicated members of our Temple Board.  We have a talented and experienced Executive Committee with Lori Litel as Vice President, Erika Schwartz as Treasurer, Kim Vogel as Secretary and Rosemary Watson as Past President. And, we have a wonderful Board of Trustees-at-Large with lots of experience to share – Cheryl Cogan, Doreen Hawbecker, Dr. Mike Shoenwetter, Jennifer Twitchell, Chaz Peretz, Bill Schwartz and our newly joined Board member – Karen Blum.
 
Our newly elected Temple Board will have its first meeting July 15 at 6:30 PM - members in good standing are welcome to attend.
 
We have lots to do in the upcoming year! Can you believe we’re almost halfway through the summer? (Where does the time go?) That means High Holidays will be upon us before we know it. We’ll be having services for the third  year in a row at the Santa Clarita United Methodist Church, starting with Erev Rosh Hashanah on September 9.
 
Throughout our upcoming year, our TBA Board is committed to provide our synagogue community with value through varied, rewarding and interesting activities. In addition to our wonderful Shabbat and Jewish holiday services, we offer an excellent religious school program lead by Educational Director Jennifer Twitchell, adult learning opportunities such as the Torah Program on Tuesday mornings, Adult Education on Wednesday evenings and the Meditation program on Thursday evenings. Furthermore, our Family Promise and Food Pantry programs provide support to those in need of extra help in our Santa Clarita community.
 
Of course, to provide these programs, we need participation from our members to make them happen. One of the best ways to do so is by becoming a member of our Temple Board.  If you have a willingness to lead and serve, to provide your skills, talents, creativity and effort to Temple activities, then Board membership is a great opportunity for you to do so. I’m proud of our Board members and grateful that they have chosen Temple Beth Ami as their way of serving our community.
 
Thank you.
 
Don Cogan
TBA President
 

As we enter this season of renewal and reflection, important changes are taking place at Temple Beth Ami.
 
First, I'd like to welcome our new Newsletter Editor and Website Coordinator, Susie Unkeless, and our new volunteer Eblast Editor, Robin Bratslavsky.
 
Together with our Facebook maven, Joyce Stein, and our calendar coordinator, Debra Block, it's their job to get the word out about what's happening at TBA.  Please let us know what you like (and what you don't) so that we can continue to make our communications better and better. Email your suggestions (and complaints) to me at president@templebethami.org
 
We wish the best  to our former administrator Catherine Szyfer, who worked on the newsletter, eblast  and calendar.
 
We've also made some changes in the teaching staff at our Religious School. Our Bar/Bat Mitzvah class has an astonishing 17 members. We look forward to celebrating with them this year.
 
I'd like to express my appreciation to our facilities Maven Bill Schwartz and to Dave Watson, for the emergency repairs they did to the rampway. We may not have the newest, shiniest synagogue building in Santa Clarita, but we do have one whose warmth and activity reflect the love and support of our community. From the tiniest paper fruit adorning our Sukkah to the tribute in bronze of a new Yarhzeit board (thank you, Lori Litel) there is something everyone can do to decorate and improve our spiritual home.
 
It was good to see so many of you at Open House. I look forward to seeing you all at Real Life Church for the High Holy Days. As I write this, the Sisterhood is ordering the Oneg for Rosh Hashanah and the Men's Club's Schlep and Fetchit crew is getting ready to pack up our portable ark, our shofar, our prayer books, our flags and stands, tallit, and kippot and all the other items that have to be moved to our temporary home. Rabbi Mark will carefully move the Torahs, dressed in their holiday whites. The flowers are on order, and the choir is tuning up.
 
 Cheryl Cogan and Debra Block are organizing the food drive. Ours is the SCV Food Pantry's single  biggest donation of the year, so don't forget to take a bag home on Rosh Hashanah to bring back on Yom Kippur. What about replacing that stash of earthquake food before it goes bad?
 
L'Shanah Tovah!

Rosemary Watson

Shalom!

Last time I sat down to write a President's Message for Temple Beth Ami, we had just hired a young Rabbi named Mark Blazer. Now, fourteen years later, it's my honor and joy to lead this synagogue again.

When I first got involved with the Temple, I never thought I was going to be President even once.  I had just moved to Santa Clarita, a young mother looking for a place to continue my children's Jewish education. I already knew that Temple membership was a necessary part of that because without somewhere to put it into practice, learning about Jewish observance is meaningless. As my older son put it, after one yearat an unaffiliated religious school, "Mom, why don't we do any of this stuff?"

So "this stuff":  candle lighting and Shabbat services, High Holy Days, Purim and Sukkot, was already part of my life.  But, I have to say, it was something of a chore, something you did for the kids because it was good for them. It wasn't until I discovered Temple Beth Ami, that I learned that Judaism could actually be fun as well as meaningful.

The warmth of this congregation and its unstuffy  "come as you are" attitude are what first attracted me and what I hope to preserve and expand while I serve as president. Regardless of whether our congregation grows in numbers (and I hope it will) it can always grow in love, in wisdom, in beauty and in joy.

As we enjoy the heat of summer (or not!) and behind-the -scenes preparation for the High Holy Days begins, I hope you will join me in "doing this stuff." Come to an Open House, Shabbat in the Park or the Beach Havdalah.  Join one of our Adult Ed classes.

To our congregants on the European Heritage Tour and to all who are away for the summer, a safe journey and a warm welcome home! To our new trustee at large Robin Bratslavsky, our outgoing Past President John Stulman, to all  the 2014/2015 board members who are continuing to serve,  and to everyone who has helped to make this temple what it is today, my heartfelt thanks.


Rosemary Watson
President

Fellow Congregants,

This is the final article I will write as your President.  I want to thank the congregation for giving me the opportunity to serve our synagogue in this capacity.  I have been honored to work with a dedicated Board of Trustees who have all contributed to providing the leadership necessary to keep our organization moving forward.  I’ve been blessed to work with our spiritual and education leaders who provide the foundation of what Temple Beth Ami stands for.  And I’ve been privileged to work with staff and volunteers who are critical to the operation of our synagogue, as well as the many programs and events throughout the year. 

Please take a moment over the next month to thank the people who have contributed to another vibrant, productive, and fun year at Temple Beth Ami.  It truly takes a village.  Without the time, effort, and commitment of those truly committed spiritual leaders, staff members, Board Trustees, and member volunteers, Temple Beth Ami could not exist.  Without the generosity of those members who have donated their hard earned money and their valuable time, Temple Beth Ami could not exist.  And without the commitment of new leaders, Temple Beth Ami will not continue to grow.

I do want to give special recognition to those who have made generous donations throughout the year.  I have not been as diligent as I should have in writing personal thank you notes or individually recognizing all the generous donors.  But please know that each and every one of you has my most sincere gratitude.

While I am thrilled to be passing the torch to our new Executive Board and Board of Trustees, I do want to recognize the outgoing team…though, most will continue in new roles.  Rosemary Watson has been an amazing Executive Vice President, taking on much more responsibility than any EVP should.  We/I are/am lucky to have her!  Andy Steier and Jeff Stein have been diligent in their roles as Secretary and Treasurer and absolutely critical members of the leadership team.  And John Stulman’s support and contributions as Immediate Past President have been invaluable to me. 

I look forward to seeing all of you at our exciting end of year event, Forever Tonight.  This event is going to be incredible!  The entertainment lineup is impressive.  Lee and Joyce Shulman are a wonderful couple who contribute so much to our synagogue and the Santa Clarita community.  And this amazing event will raise much needed funds for Temple Beth Ami.  Tickets start at just $25, so please purchase your tickets today and join us for this special celebration!

Thank you once again and I wish you all a relaxing summer.

Eddie Nathan
TBA President

Fellow Congregants,

Yom Hashoah has always been a particularly important holiday to me.  Much like Yom Kippur, our holiest religious holiday, Yom Hashoah is a time for reflection.  Obviously, we reflect on the events of the Holocaust, the lost lives, the inhumanity and evil inflicted on Jews, as well as many other groups who did not fit with the Nazi “ideal”.

Often, in focusing on the mind numbing events and brutality, we forget the acts of heroism that were displayed.  My father, Ronnie, posted on his Facebook page one such story that I was unaware of.  Apparently, according to my dad, this particular story is “the last great secret” of the Holocaust.  It’s a story about the rescue of all 50,000 Bulgarian Jews, as documented in the Michael Bar Oar’s 1998 book, “Beyond Hitler’s Grasp”.

 

Bulgaria is a small country.  In 1943, the population was about 8 million with many minorities and very integrated communities.  The feeling of community was strong and racism was virtually non-existent.  At the start of that year, the pro-Nazi Bulgarian government was informed that all 50,000 Jews would be deported and sent to concentration camps in a few short months.  Forty-three ruling party members of Parliament walked out in protest.  Newspapers denounced what was about to happen. And the Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Krill, threatened to lie down on the railroad tracks.  Finally, King Boris III forbade the deportation.  Because Bulgaria was a German ally and the Nazis were stretched thin from war, they chose not to press the issue and 50,000 Bulgarian Jews were safe.

 

What resonates with me the most about this story is that the actions taken by Bulgarians were not particularly extraordinary.  These acts certainly took courage and strength of conviction, but the acts themselves were simply individuals standing up for what they believed and pressuring their leaders to do what was ethically right, rather than politically convenient.  It demonstrates that ordinary acts can lead to heroic results.

 

I’m not quite sure how to segue from a Holocaust survival story to some reminders about upcoming events, so I won’t even try.  I’ll just jump right in…

 

Please sign up for our 2 big year-end events.  It is critical to our synagogue that every member participates in 1 or both of these events.  The uncomfortable fact that I’ve discussed in the past is that our dues do not cover our costs.  So, if we do not raise enough funds at these final events of the year, we will be forced to make some difficult decisions as we move to next fiscal year. 

 

The good news is we have 2 fantastic events coming up! 

 

Our May 9 Poker Tourney is being held at TBA and will be a lot of fun.  Food is included in the entry, beverages will be available, and the grand prize is $1500.  Sign up now and spread the word!

 

On June 7, we’ll be celebrating love with the Shulmans.  It will be a night to remember!  Magicians, comedians, and musicians will provide the entertainment.  The Shulmans will be honored.  And TBA members will come together for one special evening…”Forever Tonight”.

 

I look forward to seeing you soon!

 

Eddie Nathan

TBA President

 

Fellow Congregants,

Yom Hashoah has always been a particularly important holiday to me.  Much like Yom Kippur, our holiest religious holiday, Yom Hashoah is a time for reflection.  Obviously, we reflect on the events of the Holocaust, the lost lives, the inhumanity and evil inflicted on Jews, as well as many other groups who did not fit with the Nazi “ideal”.

Often, in focusing on the mind numbing events and brutality, we forget the acts of heroism that were displayed.  My father, Ronnie, posted on his Facebook page one such story that I was unaware of.  Apparently, according to my dad, this particular story is “the last great secret” of the Holocaust.  It’s a story about the rescue of all 50,000 Bulgarian Jews, as documented in the Michael Bar Oar’s 1998 book, “Beyond Hitler’s Grasp”.

Bulgaria is a small country.  In 1943, the population was about 8 million with many minorities and very integrated communities.  The feeling of community was strong and racism was virtually non-existent.  At the start of that year, the pro-Nazi Bulgarian government was informed that all 50,000 Jews would be deported and sent to concentration camps in a few short months.  Forty-three ruling party members of Parliament walked out in protest.  Newspapers denounced what was about to happen. And the Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Krill, threatened to lie down on the railroad tracks.  Finally, King Boris III forbade the deportation.  Because Bulgaria was a German ally and the Nazis were stretched thin from war, they chose not to press the issue and 50,000 Bulgarian Jews were safe.

What resonates with me the most about this story is that the actions taken by Bulgarians were not particularly extraordinary.  These acts certainly took courage and strength of conviction, but the acts themselves were simply individuals standing up for what they believed and pressuring their leaders to do what was ethically right, rather than politically convenient.  It demonstrates that ordinary acts can lead to heroic results.

I’m not quite sure how to segue from a Holocaust survival story to some reminders about upcoming events, so I won’t even try.  I’ll just jump right in…

Please sign up for our 2 big year-end events.  It is critical to our synagogue that every member participates in 1 or both of these events.  The uncomfortable fact that I’ve discussed in the past is that our dues do not cover our costs.  So, if we do not raise enough funds at these final events of the year, we will be forced to make some difficult decisions as we move to next fiscal year. 

The good news is we have 2 fantastic events coming up! 

Our May 9 Poker Tourney is being held at TBA and will be a lot of fun.  Food is included in the entry, beverages will be available, and the grand prize is $1500.  Sign up now and spread the word!

On June 7, we’ll be celebrating love with the Shulmans.  It will be a night to remember!  Magicians, comedians, and musicians will provide the entertainment.  The Shulmans will be honored.  And TBA members will come together for one special evening…”Forever Tonight”.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Eddie Nathan
TBA President