May 4, 2021 | Social Action
Did you know that in addition to low-income housing, Many Mansions provides many great services such as summer camp for their residents?
This year summer camp will be held virtually to keep their children and teens engaged and connected. The children will be engaged in arts, crafts, and more!
“Due to the current circumstances, Children Services will not be able to hold in-person Summer Camp this year. Instead, they are working diligently to create a virtual Summer Camp to keep our children and teens engaged and to ensure we are staying connected and supporting them as much as possible during this time. They will be sending home weekly packets for arts, crafts, and activities that we have prepared and that we will be demonstrating with them online. There are seven themed weeks planned that the children are very excited for.”
They also provide theme-based raffle prize baskets for participating children.
Apr 29, 2021 | Uncategorized
JAETY & AETY (6th-12th graders)
Jurassic World at AMC, Thousand Oaks
Saturday, March 20th, from 7:15-10:00 p.m.
- Cost: $5.00 members and $15.00 non-members (includes a movie ticket, popcorn, and a drink).
- Mask required at all times except when eating.
- Space is limited in the theater so RSVP before we run out of room!
- RSVP HERE by May 14th.
- Questions? Email Carolyn, Youth Advisor, here.
MAETY & JAETY (4th-8th grades)
Trolls World Tour at AMC, Thousand Oaks
Saturday, May 22nd, from 7:15 – 9:30 p.m.
- Cost: $5.00 members and $15.00 non-members (includes a movie ticket, popcorn, and a drink).
- Mask required at all times except when eating.
- Space is limited in the theater so RSVP before we run out of room!
- RSVP HERE by May 21st.
- Questions? Email Carolyn, Youth Advisor, here.
Apr 26, 2021 | Adult Education
Classes on Science & Religion and the Afterlife
When: Wednesday evenings, May 5th through June 9th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Rabbi Lotker’s Zoom Room – https://zoom.us/j/8190896166
Will the sessions be recorded? Yes and they will be sent to you by email and also posted on my YouTube channel.
Is There a Fee? No, the classes are sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Ventura County and Joel & Barbara Aaronson & The Affordable Living Choices Trust in my role as Community Rabbi. You can donate to them here at https://www.jewishventuracounty.org/ways-to-give.
How do I register? Simply Email Rabbi Lotker lotker@aol.com (you will get class reminders and alerts of changes -if any)
Can Bring a Friend? Sure! Just pass along this e-mail
“Science and Religion: Conflicts Confusion and Clarity” (May 5, 12, & 19)
Join us as we explore the intersection of the worlds of science and religion. We will touch on everything from Quantum Mechanics to Kabbalah and Revelation to Relativity and even Einstein to Rashi. I will discuss how my religious faith is informed and strengthened by my scientific training and 30-year career as a physicist. I will present the evidence for God’s existence, the truth of the Bible, the question of how a good and loving God can allow evil and tragedy in the world and the question of why be religious. You don’t need to review your Calculus or Aramaic or even bring your slide rules. Just bring an open mind and lots of questions.
What Happens After I Die? – Jewish Views of the Afterlife ( May 26, June 2 & 9)
Many Jews are surprised to learn that Judaism has always held that there is something beyond the grave – a life in the “world to come.” We just don’t know (or teach) the details because no one has come back to tell us and because Judaism’s focus is on this life. In this class, we will explore the wide range of authentic Jewish beliefs about the afterlife and how these beliefs have affected Jewish traditions of burial and mourning. In our sessions we will examine what the Bible has to say, the Rabbinic and Talmudic thoughts and commentaries, the amazing world of medieval commentary, mystical and kabbalistic insights and well as what modern thinkers contribute. We will also explore the world of Jewish funeral and mourning customs and their origins.
Apr 20, 2021 | Uncategorized
This recipe is intended to make about 20 ¼ matzah spring rolls. All the filling and spices are suggestions, so please experiment and season to taste.
Ingredient List:
5 whole matzah
¼ green cabbage
¼ onion
1½ carrots
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Yoshida sauce
2 eggs
Ginger root – 15 to 20 grams
Directions:
1. One hour before starting, take the whole matzah and wet them liberally on both sides.
2. Make a pile of the wet matzah and wrap them in a dish towel. Check the matzah after about 30 minutes and see that they are getting soft. If needed, wet them again.
3. Dice the onion and cabbage and set aside.
4. Peel and grate the carrots and ginger root and set aside.
5. Combine all vegetable ingredients in pan and sauté in oil until soft.
6. Add salt, pepper, soy sauce, and Yoshida sauce while sautéing and mix the vegetables.
7. Taste as you go along and season to your liking.
8. Once sautéed, remove from pan and let cool for a few minutes. This will be the spring roll filling.
9. Heat another pan and fill with about ½” of oil.
10. Cut soft matzah carefully into ¼ pieces.
11. Wisk two eggs in a bowl. Add a tablespoon of water to dilute it slightly. You can also add a teaspoon of salt or lightly season to taste. The egg will be used as a binder to keep the spring rolls together.
12. Place some filling on a ¼ piece of matzah and roll it. It is best to go with the grain to make it easier to roll.
13. Dip the spring roll in the egg and place it with the seam side down in the pan with oil.
14. Flip the spring roll when it is browned.
15. Once both sides are browned evenly, take out and put on a plate with a paper towel to absorb the excess oil
Apr 20, 2021 | Uncategorized
INGREDIENTS:
4 large apples, Granny Smith or any tart apple, cored and cut into medium dice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
6 plain matzahs
8 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter or margarine, melted
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup dried apricots, medium, chopped
4 tablespoons butter or margarine, cut into small pieces, for casserole topping
PREPARATION:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Toss the apples with the brown sugar and orange juice, set aside in a medium bowl.
3. Break the matzoh into 2- to 3-inch pieces and soak in 1 cup of warm water until soft but not mushy.
4. Set aside.
5. While the matzoh soaks, beat the eggs with a wire whisk in a large bowl until blended. Add the
6. salt, sugar, cinnamon, melted butter, raisins, and apricots.
7. Squeeze the liquid from the softened matzoh and add the matzoh to the egg mixture with the
8. apples. Stir the kugel well and pour into a lightly greased 2 1/2-quart casserole dish or a 10×14-inch pan. Dot the top of the kugel with the 4 tablespoons of butter.
9. Bake the kugel for 1 hour. Cover the top with foil if the top begins to become too brown early in the baking. Remove the kugel from the oven and cool to room temperature.
Apr 20, 2021 | Temple Event
Join Lois Roman, trustee of the Memorial Scrolls Trust, as she discusses the history of the Czech Scroll, the most ancient Torah scroll in our temple’s ark.
Sunday, May 16th, at 7:00 p.m.
Followed by a Yizkor (memorial) service led by
Rabbi Diamond and Cantor Shukiar
7:00 p.m. – Lois Roman of the Memorial Scroll Trust will speak, followed by a Q&A
Immediately following, 8:00/8:15 p.m. – Yizkor
(Link available soon)
About Lois Roman
Lois Roman is a Trustee of the Memorial Scrolls Trust (MST), and serves as the US Representative based on the East Coast. The Memorial Scrolls Trust is a London based non-profit which oversees the legacy of 1,564 Czech Torah scrolls that survived the Shoah. After a miraculous story of survival, these scrolls arrived in London and were dispersed on permanent loan to caring communities around the world. Lois began her involvement with MST several years ago following a long career on Wall Street as a money manager. She has a degree from Brandeis University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
The Czech Scroll Story: from WWII to the Diaspora
A series of miracles allowed a huge hoard of Czech Torah scrolls to survive the devastation of the Shoah and stand as a testament to the communities that perished. The Memorial Scrolls Trust is committed to maintaining the legacy of these scrolls by dispersing 1400 of them around the world on permanent loan from our collection. To those who were entrusted with the scrolls, they are a symbol of hope as well as sorrow. The hope pushed forward an ongoing mission. We believe these Czech scrolls should be reinstituted in Jewish life as a memorial to the vanished communities which once treasured them. The Memorial Scrolls Trust bears witness to the fulfillment of this hope. Let us teach our children about the world of miracles and let us use the scrolls to remind people about what binds them together everyday.
Read about the holiday of Shavuot here.
Apr 20, 2021 | Uncategorized
Matzah toffee ingredients:
4 sheets of matzah
1 C Brown Sugar
1 C Butter
1 Bag (12 oz) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Cardamom Candied Pecans ingredients:
1 lb raw pecans
½ C granulated sugar
⅓ C light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg white
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 250. Line a cookie sheet with foil (for easy cleanup) and then parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients: pecans sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk egg whites until frothy.
- Add in vanilla.
- Pour egg mixture over pecans.
- Mix everything together until everything is evenly covered.
- Pour over cookie sheet until there is a single layer of pecans.
- Bake for 1 hour.
- Take out of oven and cool on cookie sheet.
Matzah Toffee Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Cover Rimmed Cookie Sheet with Aluminum foil (for easy clean up), then place parchment paper on top.
- Cover whole sheet with matzah, breaking pieces to fill in all the spaces.
- Make Matzah Toffee: In a medium sauce pan combine brown sugar and butter.
- Heat of medium heat until all brown sugar is dissolved.
- Then continue to heat for 3-4 minutes until nice and bubbly and thick.
- Don’t overcook or it will become too brown and taste burnt.
- CAREFULLY pour toffee over all the matzah. Use a spatula to make an even layer of toffee over all the matzah.
- Put whole sheet in oven for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes all the toffee should be bubbling and hot.
- Take our of oven and immediately cover with chocolate chips.
- Wait about 3 minutes until chocolate is softened and use a spatula to spread evenly over all matzah.
- Cover with crushed pecans and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes until chocolate has hardened.
- Break into small pieces and put in tupperware.
Mar 24, 2021 | Temple Event
April 11th, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
As a Health Psychologist, Dr. Lipson helps clients suffering from pain, cardiac conditions, cancer and autoimmune disorders, and helps people cope with grief.
Throughout the past year, we have experienced stress, anxiety, loss, illness, and more.
During this webinar you will learn about tools to help deal with many of these issues. There will be an opportunity to participate and interact.
Passcode: TAE-HELPS
Mar 17, 2021 | Brotherhood
CONGRATULATIONS BOB GROSSMANN
FOR RECEIVING THE BERNIE ENTIN
MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Since joining TAE over 35 years ago, Bob Grossmann played an active role in all aspects of temple life. Not content to be simply a member and board member, he initiated some of our most respected and beloved groups. He has served multiple roles on the TAE Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Brotherhood Board. He established and was president of TAE Seniors, which for many years provided seniors in the Conejo Valley with a place to socialize, learn, and enjoy a variety of entertainment acts, regardless of temple membership. He led and co-led the Monday Night Men’s Torah Study, as well as introducing the Men’s Golf Group, understanding the need to keep both mind and body active. Among his proudest achievements was launching the TAE Choral, especially finding and interviewing David Shukiar for the choir director, which ultimately led to his long-term position as cantor. When not at TAE, Bob enjoyed volunteering at senior communities, most notably leading Shabbat services at Atria Grand Oaks, where Jewish residents could look forward each week to his knowledge and warmth. A true mensch in every sense, the title of Bernie Entin Man of the Year is well deserved.
Jan 19, 2021 | Temple Event
Tu B’ Shevat, the “New Year of the Trees,” is observed on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Today, Tu B’ Shevat has become more of an environmental holiday: a day to remind us of the Jewish duty to care for the natural world, and a tree-planting festival for both Israelis and Jews throughout the world. (Union for Reform Judaism, 2021)
Join Rabbi Diamond for a Tu B’Shevat Seder
Thursday, January 28th, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
as we celebrate the importance of protecting our environment.
In order to participate in the seder, please have the following available to follow along at your home:
Drinks:
-
- White wine or juice
- Dark wine or juice
- A glass from which to drink the wine or juice
Three Fruits:
Group 1
-
- Any fruits where the inside is edible but the outside is inedible, such as citrus fruits, nuts, pomegranates, sabras (prickly pear), bananas, pineapples.
Group 2
-
- Any fruits were the outside is edible but the inside is inedible such as apricots, cherries, dates, mangoes, nectarines, olives, peaches, plums.
Group 3
-
- Any fruits where the entire fruit is edible such as berries, figs, kumquats, persimmons, star fruit.
Something Fragrant:
-
- Bring a fruit or herb that is fragrant such as rosemary, jasmine, mint, thyme, etc.
Download a free Tu B’shvat Haggadah here! Click here to join the seder on January 28th, at 3:00 p.m.
