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Rabbi's Message
I assume by now that most of you know that my views on Jewish law and way of life are in direct opposition to those of the ultra Orthodox. For the most part, I find them much too severe, antiquated and a hinderance to the way we practice our Judaism and live our lives. I found "The Women's Balcony" to be a large step in the right direction. Incidentally, the word 'right' is not used in its political inference but rather in its humane. Sadly, Israel is governed by antiquated laws. Fortunately, for the most part, our people living in that miraculously beautiful country, choose to govern their lives by doing what they believe is just and in keeping within the basics of Jewish observance and interpretation.
"The Women's Balcony" is a step in the right direction giving us hope that we, in the 21st Century, our women are slowly breaking the mold. Yes, "The Women's Balcony" is just a film but an IMPORTANT film! Hopefully, we will be seeing many more films of this genre and continue to bond together to voice more moderate religious practices and finally break the hold of the Ultra Orthodox. Thew following is my review of......."The Women's Balcony" currently at the Laemmle Theatres and still attracting crowds in and around Beverly Hills, is a subtle comedy about Orthodox Women who dare to bond together and defy an ultra Orthodox Rabbi. Written by Shlomit Nechama and distributed by Menemsha Films, tells the tale of a small traditional synagogue in Jerusalem whose balcony, reserved for women only, collapses injuring the elderly rabbi's wife. The rabbi, overwhelmed by his wife's serious condition, falls into a deep depression. Unable to speak to him about the reparation of the balcony, the members of the congregation tell their story to an ultra-Orthodox rabbi who promises to come to their aid.
The construction begins in accordance to the rabbi's design. When it is complete, the women realize that the space left for them to pray is as big as a clothes closet and certainly unfit for prayer. The rabbi, following the very strict dictate that the sight of women during men's prayer takes away the relevancy of prayers from the conscientiously faithful, should not be seen. Hence, a room in a small space would be proper.
But, God bless today's Orthodox women, who are slowly and some with defiance, speaking out. They have yet to demand mixed seating but for now are happy with being in the same synagogue in keeping with Orthodox law. The first step is to speak up for a large and comfortable balcony and accept the age-old dictum of separate seating. They band together and fight for the right to have a spacious balcony and become an integral part of Jewish prayer.
The men are puzzled and yet impressed with their fierce determination. "Hell," said one philosopher," hath no fury like a woman scorned." Much to the disdain of the ultra-Orthodox rabbi, he is badgered and cajoled. "The Women's Balcony" is not only for the Orthodox or even for the Jewish community. It's universal message is in accord with today's modern women who demand to be heard - and it's funny!
S
halom Friends,
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Shabbat Services
Where
When
7:30 pm on Friday,
April 7, 2017
Why
Tradition!
Extras
Turn into the driveway that has the sign "Church Parking" and park on levels P2 or P3. Take the elevator up to P1 (which is also the lobby). Services are in the Town Hall room directly across from the elevator.
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Cantor Paul Dorman
Friday Night Cantor
Cantor Dorman will be joined by a growing and impressive group of singers who will back him up and perform as soloists as well.
Thank you, Rabbi Judy, Nolan Porter, Patrice Zappa Porter, Ashley Cornell, Corinna & Isabelle of Cousin Kate, Brian and Chelsea Cutler!
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Lenny's
Passover Menu
Appetizer
Gefilte Fish
or
Chopped Liver
Soup or Salad
Choice of cup of Soup or Dinner Salad
Entrees
Half "All Natural Roasted Chicken with Kugel, Vegetable and Tzimmes
or
Braised Brisket with Au Jus, Kugel, Vegetable and Tzimmes
Dessert
Choice of Assorted Macaroons or Sponge Cake or Torte Cake
Beverages
Coffee, Assorted Tea or Glass of Kosher Red Wine
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Second Night Passover Seder
Tuesday, April 11 at 6pm
(Unfortunately, our Third Night Seder didn't work out with the Westwood United Church, but...)
We are holding a Second Night Passover at
Lenny's Deli led by Rabbi Jerry Cutler - It won't be kosher for Passover, but it will be a delightful Seder and you can't beat the price!
$36 per person
including tax and tip
We'll be taking the back room and seating is limited. We can only seat up to 40 people so make your reservations now!
We hope you'll join us.
Please mail checks to:
Creative Arts Temple
P.O. Box 241831
Los Angeles, CA 90024
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Arne's Corner
As this is being written - today is Purim. A reminder of days of yore - and NOWADAYS.
FYI - As the world's richest country, Qatar has proven that it controls the three B's: it can buy, bribe or bully its way into owning anything including the World Cup (Soccer) said Ron Prosser, Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN. Qatar has already spread its international influence by purchasing six American universities, Harrod's department store in Britain and the Paris Saint-Germain football club.
Further, Qatar is a major sponsor of Hamas, channeling hundreds of millions of dollars to fund rockets and terror tunnels. Prosser says, "Qatar is spending its way to becoming the world's biggest sponsor of terrorism, second only to Iran."
The Black Lives Matter movement has described Israel as an apartheid state with over 50 laws that sanction discrimination against the Palestinian people. Black Lives Matter states that there is a genocide taking place against the Palestinian people instigated by Israel and called upon the U.S. to stop all aid to the Jewish state.
I don't get it............A biased and unjust agenda demonizing Israel. To what end? What does this accomplish for Black lives? I find that tragic. As we Jews continue to be the best allies the African-American community has.
Arnold Charitan
President
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PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR GOAL!
Thank you to those who have answered our plea!
We now have 19 families registered on the Ralph's Community Contributions list naming Creative Arts Temple as their charity of choice. We are climbing up...slowly but surely.
It costs nothing out of your pocket to sign up and it benefits CAT. Please help us reach our goal of 50 families in 2017.
Please see below how to sign up for Ralphs and Smile.Amazon.
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Please Register today!
For your convenience, step-by-step website registration instructions can be found at
www.ralphs.com, click on Community, click on Community Contributions, click on 'Enroll Now'.
If you don't have computer access, please call Ralphs at 1-800-443-4438 for assistance.
CAT NPO# 92136
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Ralphs Rewards Card
Donate to CAT while you grocery shop
Participants are required to register for the new term online at
www.ralphs.com
or by calling Ralphs at
1-800-443-4438.
You will be asked for The Creative Arts Temple NPO number. It is NPO# 92136
Even if you registered as recently as August 2016, you are required to register again beginning
September 1
st.
NEW THIS YEAR!!
The Scan Bar letters will no longer work at the register.
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Do you shop on Amazon?
Support CAT when you shop on Amazon!
If you want Amazon to donate to Creative Arts Temple, you need to start each shopping session at
http://smile.amazon.com and they will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases.
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Monthly Events
Services, Dinners, High Holidays
Friday - April 7 @ 7:30 pm
Shabbat Services
Belmont Village
10475 Wilshire Blvd
Wednesday - April 12 @ 6:00 pm
Second Passover Seder
Lenny's Deli
$36 per person
Friday - May 5 @ 7:30 pm
Shabbat Services
Belmont Village
10475 Wilshire Blvd
Monday, May 15
Membership Renewals mailed out
Friday - June 2 @ 7:30 pm
Shabbat Services
Belmont Village
10475 Wilshire Blvd
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April Anniversaries
Mazel Tov to our CAT lovebirds!
| Jerry & Jeff Cutler |
4/2/2017 |
| Chad & Melissa Lasdon |
4/4/2017 |
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April Birthdays
And many happy returns!
| Ludmilla Dektyar |
4/6/2017 |
| Bettye Donsker |
4/6/2017 |
| Barbara Takamoto |
4/6/2017 |
| Arnold Charitan |
4/10/2017 |
| Nina Bush |
4/12/2017 |
| Marvin Silver |
4/12/2017 |
| Peter Mark Richman |
4/16/2017 |
| Joanie Crosby |
4/17/2017 |
| Ross Bloom |
4/20/2017 |
| Rochelle Flexer |
4/20/2017 |
| Sue Kogen |
4/20/2017 |
| Arlene T. Sidaris |
4/21/2017 |
| Amy Segelin |
4/26/2017 |
| Ruth A. Pressman |
4/28/2017 |
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March Onegs
Thank you to our sponsors!
Paul & Lee Bernstein
in honor of Lee's Birthday
Doug & Roni Cohen in honor of their Anniversary
Shelley Fisher oneg sponsor
Dan Paulson in honor of his Birthday
As always, thank you to our annual oneg sponsor:
ARNOLD & GLADYS CHARITAN
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Tributes
CAT Member Shout-Outs
Norman Kantor wishes Mathew Millen a Happy Birthday
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Review from the Pew
by Rabbi Jerry Cutler
"Norman...The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer"
I think all of us, even those not from New York, have at one time or another, come into contact with a human parasite whose visions of success and grandeur often prove to be disastrous. In "Norman...The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer," Norman Oppenheimer is played by Richard Gere, offering him a chance to rise above mundane film roles given to actors in their late 60s-and rise he does.
"The Zookeeper's Wife"
Adorable animals and vicious beasts come face to face in a Polish zoo - but, the meeting is terribly one sided as the beasts carry guns, grenades, tanks and hearts filled with unwarranted venom.
"The Zoo Keepers Wife" is a true story based on Diane Ackerman's best selling non-fiction book. The wife, Antonina, brilliantly portrayed by Jessica Chastain, makes her daily walk to town through the zoo which is cared for by her husband Jan, a wonderful Johan Heldenbergh. She happily greets the animals by name and trusts them implicitly because, as she says, "You look into their eyes, and you know exactly what's in their hearts."
The year and place is 1939 Warsaw and goose-stepping Nazis have invaded Poland. Suddenly, the lives of Antonina, Jan and those of the Polish people, are turned into a war zone with the Germans destroying the zoo and rounding up as many Jews as possible, herding them into the infamous Warsaw Ghetto en-route to carry out Hitler's final solution.
Jan is allowed to drive his truck into the Ghetto to collect garbage to bring back to the zoo, which has now become a pig farm to feed the invaders. Jan leaves with the garbage, used as a cover to transport Jews out of the Ghetto. Antonina and Jan hide them in empty animal cages in their now deserted zoo, and in rooms in their home.
Antonina devises a signal, a special tune on her piano, alarming their guests to return to their hiding places whenever the Germans approach. Jan fears the Nazis will soon discover their scheme and kill not only the Jews, but them as well. Antonina's passion convinces Jan to continue. Jan goes to the railroad station and, in a scene I found very hard to look at, he hesitantly lifts up little children as each raise their arms to be lifted into a cattle car, happy to be leaving the smell and dehumanization of the Ghetto.
In all, approximately 300 Jews were saved by Antonina and Jan, and they were awarded for their heroism by Israel as "Righteous Among the Nations."
It is a difficult film to watch although Director Niki Caro skirts the real horrors of the Holocaust. "The Zookeeper's Wife" is beautifully photographed and acted and must be seen by every person with a love and compassion for life.
3 1/2 Bagels out of 4
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Get Wells
Refuah Shleima
CAT wishes speedy recoveries to
LOIS BENNETT,
ALEXIS CRESTOL, JOAN DOREN, FAYE FRANKEL, DR. MARTIN LEVINE, MARVIN MARKOWITZ,
ROBERT & PHYLLIS SLAYTON, BARRY SMITH & PAUL WAYNE
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May you be comforted by the mourners of Zion
| Bailiss, Elton Lewis & Barbara Van Orden |
In memory of Sally Bailiss |
| Berry, Joni & Maitland-Lewis, Stephen |
In memory of Benny Davis |
| Berry, Joni & Maitland-Lewis, Stephen |
In memory of Philip Maitland-Lewis |
| Boykoff, Beatrice |
In memory of Marvin Kahn |
| Brooks, Fern Field |
In memory of Betty& William Field |
| Charitan, Arnold & Gladys |
In memory of Ivan Charitan |
| Damen, Murray & Ronna |
In memory of Joseph Solomon |
| DiPietro, Ruth |
In memory of Abraham Moses |
| Doran, Andrei |
In memory Felicia Doran |
| Drake, Mike |
In memory of Bridget Drake |
| Elias, Alan & Karen |
In memory of Harriet Elias |
| Elias, Alan & Karen |
In memory of Martin Elias |
| Frankel, Faye |
In memory of Milton Frankel & Nell Platzner |
| Gilmore, Martin & Phyllis |
In memory of Lenore Gilmore |
| Goldberg, Lorain |
In memory of Esther Chotiner |
| Gussman, Sheri |
In memory of Florence Gussman |
| Gussman, Sheri |
In memory of Martin Gussman |
| Jaffe, Gladys |
In memory of Sylvia Rosenberg & Morton Jaffe |
| Kahn, Ava & Richman, Mitch |
In memory of Harry Boykoff |
| Kahn, Ava & Richman, Mitch |
In memory of Marvin Kahn |
| Kantor, Norman |
In memory of Hyman Kantor |
| Kassel, Arthur & Blasius, Janet |
In memory of Tichi Wilkerson Kassel |
| Kerman, Pamela & Brandt, Bill |
In memory of Bernice Mackiewicz |
| Kerman, Pamela & Brandt, Bill |
In memory of Anna Brandt |
| Landers, Bill & Gail |
In memory of Lucille Chickie" Bercovitz" |
| Maleck, Jacqueline |
In memory of Charlotte Maleck |
| Sidaris, Arlene T. |
In memory of Andy Sidaris |
| Siegel, Norman |
In memory of Esther Dye |
| Spear, Phyllis |
In memory of Jack Spear |
| Sverdloff, Lea |
In memory of Eli Sverdloff |
| Veprin, Tootsie |
In memory of Billy Veprin |
| Yaker, Larry & Ruth |
In memory of Adele Yaker |
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Bracha Bar
Silky clay based handmade soap bars that are made only with natural ingredients that nourish you.
BODY BARS:
Bracha Detox Bar with Activated Charcoal and Bentonite Clay to draw out impurities and detoxify your skin (unscented)
FACIAL BARS:
Bracha Clarify Bar with French Green Clay, Activated Charcoal, and Lime to balance and toneify combination/oily skin,
Bracha "Botox" Bar with French White Clay, Hibiscus, and Grapefruit to tighten, lift, and moisturize
HAIR BARS
:
Bracha Lustrous Shampoo Bar with Moroccan Red Clay, Neem Oil, Amla, Rosemary, Nettle, Lavender, and Tea Tree oil to promote growth, tame frizz while giving volume, and prevent graying
Bracha CinnaMan Bun Bar with Moroccan Red Clay, Bentonite Clay, Neem Oil, Cinnamon and Eucalyptus to smooth beard and promote even and robust growth
Bracha Bark Dog Bar: Bracha Fur Baby Bar with Bentonite Clay, Neem Oil, Cedarwood, and Lemongrass to deodorize, control fleas, alleviate itchy skin/hot spots while giving a healthy shiny coat.
Handmade by
Chelsea (Bracha) Cutler
BrachaBar.com
(310) 995-1943
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Bracha Detox Bars
Bracha Bark Dog Bar
Bracha Lustrous Shampoo Bar
Pricing:
Body, Facial, Pet,
$10
Hair Bars
$12
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Creative Arts Temple
P.O. Box 241831
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 446-1800
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