.

           

 

Ethnic Studies: Too Important to Get Wrong
by Rabbi Ron Stern

Wise members and many others in the Jewish community have expressed concerns about the California State Board of Education curriculum on ethnic studies. While the objective of the curriculum is admirable: to expose California students to the diverse ethnic communities of our state, particularly people of color who have been historically underrepresented in previous curricular content, the execution is deeply flawed. Thanks to the efforts of many, the State Board of Education released a statement yesterday indicating “the current draft model curriculum falls short and needs to be substantially redesigned.” (Read the full statement here). You can see links to the rejected curriculum at the bottom of the web page here.
Of concern are the following points as outlined in the curriculum: Jews have been omitted from ethnic groups mentioned and antisemitism has been omitted from hate crimes/discrimination sections even though half of religious-based hate crimes in the United States are against Jews.


 

With All of Your Heart — Va-et’chanan 
by Cantorial Intern Sara Anderson

In Parashat Va-et’chanan, Moses tells the people of Israel that he will not be the one to lead them into the promised land. After reviewing the Ten Commandments, Moses speaks the words of what we know as the Shema and most of the​ ​V’ahavta. These two are perhaps the most well known pieces of liturgy/Torah among the Jewish people, and yet the V’ahavta holds within it a complicated idea: the commandment to ​love​ God. Moses is most certain of the message he delivers — God is one. You must love God. Moses was blessed with the chance to communicate with God directly,​ ​and because of this, it’s easy to understand why Moses believes in God so deeply and loves God so much. It is likely​ ​more complicated for the rest of us to believe so strongly without having our own recognizable encounters with the divine. Like with any other relationship, we love, appreciate, miss, doubt, are angry with, are absent from, are lost within God. Sometimes, it can be difficult to feel God with all your heart.


 

 
 

This Week’s Torah Portion: Va-et’chanan

Friday, August 16
6:15 p.m. | WiseStock Shabbat Service | Outdoors on the Wise Campus
Led by Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Cantor Nathan Lam, and Cantor Emma Lutz
Please join us for an outdoor service on the grass of our commons! On this beautiful evening we’ll celebrate Shabbat with prayers and music inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock festival. Bring blankets or beach chairs, family of all ages, and your voices as we sing together to bring more Shalom into the world.
Watch live on Friday night: Facebook | WiseLA.org

Saturday, August 17
10 a.m. | Shabbat Morning Services (B’nai Mitzvah Celebration) | Sanctuary
Led by Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Rabbi Ron Stern, Rabbi Josh Knobel, Cantor Nathan Lam, and Cantor Paul Dorman

Wednesday, August 21
12 p.m. | Talmud Study with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback | Udko Annex

Friday, August 23
6:15 p.m. | Shabbat Services | Geldin Chapel
Led by Rabbi Josh Knobel and Cantor Emma Lutz

Saturday, August 24
10 a.m. | Shabbat Morning Services (B’nai Mitzvah Celebration) | Sanctuary
Led by Rabbi Ron Stern and Cantor Emma Lutz

Monday, August 26
9 a.m. | Bible Study with Rabbi Ron Stern | Conference Room


 

 

High Holy Days with Wise: September 29–October 9

Tickets for renewed members and the general public are now available to select or purchase online.
Wise members: haven’t renewed yet? We cannot send your tickets until you do! Renew online or call us at 310.476.8561.

Visit our High Holy Days web site to find:

 
 

Become An Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Informational Meeting:  
November 5 | 7 p.m. 

 

When a Jew reaches the age of 13, she or he becomes a bat or bar mitzvah, literally a “daughter” or “son” of the commandments. Some, however, did not have the opportunity or privilege at 13 to be formally called to the Torah. Becoming a bat or bar mitzvah as an adult gives one the opportunity to seize a special moment in life. Many choose to mark a special anniversary or to honor the memory of a loved one by becoming an adult b’nai mitzvah. Connect with a group of learners by becoming part of our adult b’nai mitzvah program. After the initial informational meeting, studies will begin in spring 2020 and will culminate with a Shabbat service led by the cohort in late 2020. 
Please contact Cantor Emma Lutz by email at [email protected] or by phone at 310.889.2270 to learn more.


 

Cantors Assembly Trip to Italy with Rabbi Yoshi and Cantor Lam
Rome | Florence | Venice: June  22 – July 2, 2020

Following his incredible concert at the Great Synagogue of Rome, Cantor Nathan Lam and the Cantors Assembly are proud to announce a musical journey through Italy in the spring of 2020. Join Rabbi Yoshi, Cantor Lam, and the many voices of the Cantors Assembly for a magical excursion to Rome, Florence, and Venice.


*Please choose the Super Deluxe category when registering to join this group.

 
 
 

WiseStock: Two Nights of Shalom and Music
Thursday, August 15 | 6 p.m. | Beverly Cañon Gardens
Friday, August 16 | 6:15 p.m. | Wise Campus

Celebrate Woodstock’s 50th anniversary with two extraordinary summer nights of shalom, ahavah, and music. Rabbi Yoshi, Cantor Lam, Cantor Emma, Maestro David Kates, and our musicians and singers will lead a singalong with Mayor John Mirisch in Beverly Hills’ beautiful Cañon Gardens on Thursday evening. On Friday night, we will celebrate a Shabbat service inspired by music from Woodstock. Featuring hits by beloved artists that performed at Woodstock in the glorious summer of ’69, this two-night celebration will bring all of our voices together to offer more peace, love, and music into the world.


 

Lunch Bunch: Caring for the Stranger
Tuesday, August 20 | 5 p.m.

Help our Lunch Bunch care for the stranger by assembling lunches for residents at LA Family Housing’s Irmas Family Campus in North Hollywood.


 

Adult March of the Living Trip with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Rabbi Ron Stern
INFO SESSION:
August 22 | 7:30 p.m. 

In April 2020, join Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Rabbi Ron Stern on the most iconic and unforgettable walk through the darkest time in Jewish history by participating in the Adult March of the Living. The group will visit some of the deeply significant locales in Poland including Krakow and Warsaw as well as the concentration camps in the vicinity and will encounter the amazing resurgence of Jewish life in Poland. Finally, the group will join thousands of high school students from across the globe in making an epic trek of freedom out of Auschwitz concentration camp. Afterwards there, will be an optional add-on visit to Israel highlighting those experiences rarely available on standard tours: cultural experiences, regional tours, and complex political conversations.



 

Wise Jams
Tuesday, August 27 | 7:30 p.m.

Jam with fellow musicians and singers in our community! Are you an ace on the bass? Get your kicks on the sticks? Bring your axe, your sax, your vox, and your chops. We’ll supply the mics, amps, sheet music, and a rockin’ good time!


 

Tot Shabbat
Saturday, September 7 | 10 a.m. | Wise Woods

Gather together with our community for a festive service! Our Clergy and song leaders lead our music- and story-filled service that introduces the youngest members of our community to the joy of Shabbat. Parents and grandparents will love it too!


 

Wise Women presents
Bestselling Author, Therapist, and Speaker Lori Gottlieb in Conversation with Rabbi Sari Laufer

Sunday, September 15 | 10:30 a.m. | Plotkin Chapel

Join Wise Women for a thought-provoking morning with bestselling author, therapist, and speaker Lori Gottlieb, author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone in conversation with Rabbi Sari Laufer. A light breakfast will be served. 

 
 
 

SAVE THE DATE
American Jewish Committee Los Angeles presents
Ira E. Yellin Community Leadership Award

Sunday, November 24 | 1 p.m. | Stephen Wise Temple

Wise members Julie and Steve Bram will be honored by AJC Los Angeles for their outstanding leadership.

 
 

We remember with love those who died in recent days and weeks:
Ervin Goldstein, Mary Myers, Herbert Schaffer

We observe the yahrzeits of:
Ceil Anenberg*, Nathan Bass, Chasia Bereskin, Sidney Allen Berkman*, Elias Berlinger*, Leona Berr *, Robert E. Caine*, Claire Chayt*, Samuel Cohen*, Jenny Flexer, Philip Fox, Walter Fox*, Abraham Glass *, Eva (Grammy) Gold *, Stephen Michael Gurewitz*, Irene Klein, Frances Leigh, Bernice Shufer Lewis*, Lorna Lubarsky*, L.K. Lloyd, Florence Malkin*, Grace A. Markoff*, William F. Myers*, Ethel Perer *, George Pregulman*, Ann Shultz*, Irene Shpall, Lou Slutsky, Bessie Tarnove*, Jacob Teperson*, Ernest Wohl, Rebecca Zilz*

*Designated on our memorial walls

We reach out as a community and offer our support and deepest sympathy:
Melinda and Ken Lindner on the loss of Melinda’s mother Mary Myers.
Steven and Debra Schaffer on the loss of Steven’s father Herbert Schaffer.

 
 

Babak and Nasi Bamshad on their daughter Olivia Bamshad becoming Bat Mitzvah.
Sheila Morovati and Haim Morovati on their daughter Sophia Morovati becoming Bat Mitzvah.
Bob and Linell Shapiro on the marriage of their son Grant Shapiro to Roxine Helberg.

If you have a birth, wedding, or milestone birthday you would like to share with the Wise community, please email us at [email protected]
To schedule a Shabbat blessing or special reception in honor of a simcha, contact Arlene Spiegelman at 310.889.2272.

 
 

We honor our loved ones, our family simchas, and our communal losses through charitable giving. To give in honor or in memory of a cherished family member or dear friend, please visit WiseLA.org/Giving.
 

RABBI YOSHI ZWEIBACK DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Chasia Bereskin, by her daughter Debby Edelsohn

 

RABBI RON STERN DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN HONOR OF
Rabbi Stern, for inviting her to light the Shabbat candles, by Pearl Glick

IN MEMORY OF
Philip Fox, by Marshall Glick, Marni Glick, & Heather Glick-Atalla
Frances Leigh, by Barbara, Andrew, Jessica & Elisabeth Leigh
Ralph Night, by Lana Sternberg

 

CAMP WISE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Lou Slutsky, by Sonia Bordo

 

HOMES FOR HEROES
IN HONOR OF
Shelly Levy, by Lana Sternberg

IN MEMORY OF
Moe, by Shirley Kleiman & Family

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Ernest Wohl, by Steven Weiss

 

SOL AND ESTHER SMITH LIBRARY FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Bernice Shufer Lewis, by Marcia & Mark Smith

 

TIKKUN OLAM LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
IN MEMORY OF
Ervin Goldstein, by Beth & John Wilson

 

WISE HEARTS
IN MEMORY OF
Robert Caine, by Sunny Caine
Rebecca Zilz, by Jacqueline Sunshine

 

WISE READERS TO LEADERS
IN HONOR OF
Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, for officiating our 50th Wedding Anniversary, by Carol & Ed Horowitz
Cantor Nathan Lam, for officiating our 50th Wedding Anniversary, by Carol & Ed Horowitz
Carol & Ed Horowitz’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, by Arthur & Ginny Kahn
Carol & Ed Horowitz’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, by Lana Sternberg
Carol & Ed Horowitz’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, by Ethyle Strommer

 

YAHRZEIT FUND
IN MEMORY OF
bKlein, by Walter Klein

 
 

            

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Stephen Wise Temple | 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive | Los Angeles, CA 90077
Shabbat Shalom