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Archive for May 2008
19th May 2008, 10:30 am
This week a learning event will take place in our community, which was co-sponsored by the JCC of Sonoma County, Congregations Beth Ami and Shomrei Torah, and Lehrhaus Judaica. See details below.
Understanding Israel: Connecting the Biblical and Modern Land
Tuesday, May 20th at Congregation Beth Ami, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Wednesday May 21 at Congregation Shomrei Torah, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Cost: $18 covers the cost for both evenings
To understand Israel’s present and future, you need to start with its past. This course explores Israel’s two histories, Biblical and modern, to discover and document the unbroken links of our people to the land. In the first session, students will travel on a visually rich virtual guided tour of Biblical Israel (1200-400 BCE). In the second session, we’ll introduce the brief, but dramatic history of modern Israel to date, touching on the central achievements and conflicts of the Jewish State. In the process, we will also explore the connections between the two Israels, past and present.
If your thirst for knowledge is not satisfied with these sessions the library has plenty of books to get more in depth understanding on these subjects.
19th May 2008, 06:50 am
We need a new TV with RCA line (the red-white-yellow combination of plugs) going in.
If you tried to arrange a viewing of any DVD at CBA for any reason you might ended up frustrated. Our TV-set cannot be hooked up to a DVD player. We also have a really tiny TV-set, but it is too small, when at least 5 people want to watch, not to mention dozens. As the library is gearing up for a summer film club (more on this later) , it would be important to share the movies in a comfortable size.
Hopefully you are aware that “on February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital.” (dtv.gov) This means that your old TV will be able to receive broadcast TV, unless you buy a converter. Lot of people are using this opportunity to buy a new TV. If you are one of them, please consider donating your old, functional, large screen TV to us.
18th May 2008, 03:10 pm
 Did you know that Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaqi, the famous 11th century scholar) had three daughters, but no sons? When Maggie Anton learned of this, she started to research them. She already wrote a novel about two of them and the third one is coming up too. The first, about Joheved, won the Benjamin Franklin Award’s “Best New Voice” category. The library had that volume since it came out. When Ruth Risenberg, our volunteer noticed that we do not have the second volume, about Miriam, she brought in her own copy. Thank you, Ruth.
Below is the official description from the series’ website. The site has a sample chapter, further information and the author’s oft-updated blog.
Miriam, emboldened by her knowledge and mourning the death of her betrothed, is determined to become not only the community’s midwife, but also their mohel—performing circumcisions. As devoted as she is to her chosen path, she cannot foresee the ways in which she will be tested and how heavily she will need to rely on her faith. And when a shadowy new suitor arrives in Troyes, an exceptionally learned and handsome young scholar who struggles with a secret that, if revealed, would expose them both to ruin. Somehow the formidable and independent Miriam must decide if they can forge a life together.
18th May 2008, 07:50 am
Al Batzdorff was telling me a few days ago that when he moved to the area the only air conditioned place was the movie theater, which even advertised itself emphasizing its cool air. May I recommend a place to seek escape from the heat today, after such a hot week? Come to the Friedman Center for today‘s installment of the Absolute Music series. At 2 PM, at the Oliver and Helle Margolni Memorial Concert the String Circle, under the direction of Joe Edelberg will play Beethoven and Brahms pieces, featuring Norma Brown on piano.
12th May 2008, 10:21 am
 Mrs. Katz and Tush
by Patricia Polacco
Reviewed by Susan Miller
You may know this sweet story with a friendship between a sweet elderly lady Mrs. Katz and her neighbor Larnel. Mrs. Katz mourns her husband, having no children to celebrate the holidays with. Larnel and his mom spend holidays with their dear neighbor and her new pet kitten. Mrs. Katz named her pet, the Yiddish name Tush. The author introduces Yiddish terms like Bubeleh, Kattieleh and chuppa. The water color drawings will hold the attention of young readers as does the story.
11th May 2008, 10:37 am
Today is mother’s day, therefore it seems appropriate to introduce one of our new books: “You never call! You never write! A history of the Jewish mother; A history of the Jewish mother.” I wish Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers in our community with this four minute interview with the book’s author, Joyce Antler. It will enlighten you about the underlying positive aspects of the stereotypes. But to get the full (and historically rich) picture you may want to read the whole book.
11th May 2008, 10:20 am
 Elijah’s Tears: Stories for the Jewish Holidays
by Sydelle Pearl
Ilustrated by Rossitza Skortcheva
Reviewed by Susan Miller
This small hard cover book contains 5 original stories, each linked to a Jewish Holiday. Rabbi Georg introduced the story Elijah’s Pearls before Pesach. Each story introduces Elijah, some times in disguise. On our family Passover Seder, I read the story, “The Tallis.” It actually connects the holiday of Yom Kippur, but I had fun with it and put on a Tallis and told how the Tallis became an important tie between father and son. The boy’s mom had died when he was young and his dad lost his faith. I don’t want to give the story away, but in this magical tallis, the dad writes special messages to his son. In time, they wear their talisses and go off to shul in Jerusalem.
8th May 2008, 04:24 pm
Today is Yom-Ha’Atzmaut, when we commemorate the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948. For this occasion I recommend two items. First is Rebirth and destiny of Israel, a collection of essays and addresses delivered or written by David Ben Gurion from 1915 to 1952. This is a thick volume with plenty of content to munch on. I would also suggest to read today of all days, Israel’s declaration of independence itself. It is not very long; you can do it in 10 minutes. You will feel as elevated as I do now. Here are the first three paragraphs of the English translation:
ERETZ-ISRAEL (the Land of Israel) was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.
After being forcibly exiled from their land, the people kept faith with it throughout their Dispersion and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom.
Impelled by this historic and traditional attachment, Jews strove in every successive generation to re-establish themselves in their ancient homeland. In recent decades they returned in their masses. Pioneers, ma’pilim (immigrants coming to Eretz-Israel in defiance of restrictive legislation) and defenders, they made deserts bloom, revived the Hebrew language, built villages and towns, and created a thriving community controlling its own economy and culture, loving peace but knowing how to defend itself, bringing the blessings of progress to all the country’s inhabitants, and aspiring towards independent nationhood.
The rest is here.
8th May 2008, 03:59 pm
The library has been receiving a steady flow of donated books in the last few months. Finally today I caught up with processing them, these are on the shelves, ready to be checked out. Thank you for all your donations, you know who you are. So will those who borrow these books, by looking at the book plates on the inside covers. In the coming weeks I will introduce most of these books one, but for now, here is a quick list of the recent additions.
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