Rabbi's Message
Tu B’Shevat is a distinctive moment of the Jewish year. In the Talmud, the 15th day of the month of Shevat, which this year corresponds to the 17th of January, is our New Year’s Day for trees.
We need to remember that our ancestors were deeply immersed in the world of nature. The rhythms of the year were significant to them. Tu B’Shevat marked a time, therefore, when they were especially aware of the miracles that are part of life: winter passes, spring emerges, the seasons alternate in a regular pattern, and trees are a highly visible aspect of that process.
Even when most Jews no longer lived in the land of Israel, Tu B’Shevat was still observed. For Jews, throughout the world, it became an expression of attachment to Eretz Yisrael. In the 20th century, with the return of large numbers of Jews to Eretz Yisrael, Israelis assumed the responsibility for changing the barren hillsides into forests with massive tree plantings on Tu B’Shevat.
But there are also other contemporary implications, which deserve our consideration on Tu B’Shevat. In this era of global environmental threats such as the “greenhouse effect,” the solid-waste crisis, oil slicks, and the pollution of our water and foods by pesticides, Tu B’Shevat reminds us how fragile and complex our ecosystem really is. Protecting the natural world becomes both a legal and ethical imperative. If trees were to be preserved in time of war, how much more so the earth, the water, and the air in a time of peace!
Our tradition has a message to give us about the environment. On Tu B’Shevat we need to focus on those teachings and the way in which they can sustain and enhance our world. As daylight hours lengthen, we project ahead towards spring and summer. Tu B’Shevat challenges us to turn our attention to the Mitzvah of preserving the divine gift of nature. As we celebrate Tu B’Shevat, which this year coincides with Martin Luther King Day, may we feel joy in the beauty of nature all around us and find time to acknowledge the great Dr. King who dedicated his life to peace, love, and co-existence.
Wishing all of you, a year of Joy, Health, and Prosperity. Perhaps soon, our prayers will be answered, and I will have the pleasure of welcoming you at Shabbat and High Holiday Services.
Rabbi Jerry
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CAT FNL (Friday Night Live) on Facebook Live
Where:
In your home
We will be meeting on
Friday, January 7, 2022 at 6 PM PST
Why?
Tradition!
Please like and share with others.
Click on this link where we will be live streaming:
You will also be able to view it on Our Website (creativeartstemple.org) and YouTube as well.
This is a Streamlined Shabbat Service with special guests. You will be able to chat with us, share any news from your week, or send a virtual hug all via Facebook.
We will be chanting the Mishabeirach for global healing and reciting the Kaddish for the current yahrzeits. If you have the names of loved ones you would like to include, please let us know.
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Do you shop on Amazon?
Please help to support CAT when you shop on Amazon.
All you have to do is go to http://smile.amazon.com and follow the instructions. Add Creative Arts Temple to your charity of choice. Easy Peasy! Then when you make a purchase on Amazon, begin your shopping at smile.amazon. The temple will then receive 0.5% of your eligible purchases. It is a win win!
If you want Amazon to donate to the 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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Renew Ralphs Community Contributions Now!
Please Register today!
For your convenience, step-by-step website registration instructions can be found at www.ralphs.com, or if you are having a problem registering call the temple office at 310-720-9618 and we will help you.
Also, if you don't have computer access, you can call Ralphs at 1-800-443-4438 for assistance.
CAT NPO# 92136
Ralphs Rewards Card
Donate to CAT while you grocery shop
Participants are required to register for the new term online at www.ralphs.comor by calling Ralphs at
1-800-443-4438.
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You will be asked for The Creative Arts Temple NPO number. It is NPO# 92136
Please Note!!
The Scan Bar letters will no longer work at the register.
To verify if Creative Arts Temple is your charity of choice, look at the very bottom of your receipt next time you shop at Ralph's. It should say "At your request, Ralph's is donating to Creative Arts Temple." If you do not see that, you will need to register through the Ralph's
website.
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January Anniversaries
Mazel Tov to our CAT lovebirds!
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Sherwyn & Edythe Horwitz 1/4/2022
Louis Milkowski & Gloria Jennings 1/6/2022
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With a donation of Chai ($18) or above, CAT will mail out a tribute card in your honor of Birthdays, Anniversaries, Get-Well-Soon wishes, Congratulations and In Loving Memory. |
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DONATIONS
You now can Order Tribute Cards, Remember A Yarzheit, Make donations to the Services, Order a Plaque through your Temple Talk Email or on our website.
Just click on the link and choose what kind of donation you would like
to make.
Paypal is secure and safe. You can choose to use your credit card or through your bank. Once we receive your information, we will send you a confirmation email to let you know that we are in receipt of
your donation.
Or, you can call the office or just send a donation in the mail.
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You can now make a donation through Venmo. Our username is @CreativeArtsTemple-10
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January Birthdays
And many happy returns!
Barbara Dekovner Mayer Harris 1/7/2022
Nicole-Marie Slayton 1/7/2022
Ron Fields 1/11/2022
Sharon Shaw 1/12/2022
Phyllis Spear 1/14/2022
Alan DuFine 1/15/2022
Julie Gold 1/15/2022
Katy Haber 1/15/2022
Larry Crestol 1/16/2022
Mallory Sobel 1/22/2022
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December Tributes
Your Thoughtfulness is Truly Appreciated
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Service Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors!
Shabbat Sponsors:
Gregory Cruz - Shabbat Sponsor
Sherwyn & Edythe Horwitz -
In honor of their 69th wedding anniversary
Nicole Karsenty-Ligeti - Shabbat Sponsor
Roni Miller - Shabbat Sponsor
Howard and Molly Murray - Shabbat Sponsor
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Get Wells
Refuah Shleima
CAT wishes speedy recoveries to:
Claire Begelman, Ken Bitticks, Lowell Dreyfus, Phil Felson, Andrew Martin, Peter Paul, and Renee Taylor
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We are so very sad to announce the passing of our good friend and cherished member
Eunice Brown
Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family and to her sons, Michael and Richard.
Eunice was an organizer and an avid fundraiser, organizing an annual charity luncheon at the Beverly Hilton that included Hollywood stars. She loved socializing with friends, music and dancing, traveling, and a commitment to raising money for the City of Hope research hospital.
May her memory be a blessing for all of us.
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December Yahrzeits
We thank those who have made a donation in memory of your loved one.
Marc & Barbara Barenfeld
In memory of Abe Barenfeld
Ross & Fern Bloom
In memory of Nathan Bernard Taylor
Fern Field Brooks
In memory of Norman Brooks
Lorain Goldberg
In memory of Charles Zaggy Goldberg
Joseph Hoffman
In memory of Rochelle Hoffman
Maria Jacobs
In memory of Simmy Jacobs
Nicole Karsenty-Ligeti
In memory of Charles Ligeti
Joy Kritzer
In memory of Sheldon Kritzer
Barbara Persten
In memory of Peter and Barry Block
Gail Rund
In memory of Jerry Rund
Sandy & Beth Schron
In memory of Sherry Weinberg
Phyllis Spear & Irwin Schwartzman
In memory of Delphine Schwartzman & Rebecca Gomberg
Lucy Weltsch
In memory of Riza and Ron Weltsch
May you be comforted by the mourners of Zion
If you made a donation and you don't see it here, it is because it was received after the publication deadline and will appear next month
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Mazel Tov
to our members Godfrey and Barbara Harris for the successful entry of their grandson, Scott, to the Blackstone LaunchPad Ideas Competition.
Scott Harris, Quale
University of California, San Francisco
Quale is a noninvasive visual prosthetic that allows visually impaired people to navigate the world through a device that continuously snaps pictures and then transforms the images into audio signals, creating a continuous audio feed that functions as a user’s “eyes” by informing them about every aspect of the visual world they encounter.
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Our good friend, Broadway, film and television actress, Barbara Minkus, invites you to watch her new uplifting videos, ABOUT LIFE Series, which is now available for your viewing pleasure on her
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This was super. Terrific. I loved it. Made my whole day!
H. Ader
This is great! Thank you.
M. Peters
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Fern Field Brooks, author of Letters to My Husband, has written a new meowmoir on her cat called Destiny's Children. You can order this charming book at http://www.books2cherish.com. Temple members and friends can add "Temple Member" to your shipping instructions and 10% of all sales will go to C.A.T.
"LOVED IT! A clever and refreshing approach to a memoir!"
Mary Lou Belli, Director, Author, Teacher
"Wow! Destiny is incredible! I read it in two evenings and was absolutely enthralled. This book is one in a million!"
Laurel D. - Miami
"I Love Destiny and Fern! I was concerned for Destiny on every adventure, felt relieved when all was well, and eagerly await the rest of the series! Engaging. Charming. Insightful - about cats and humans!"
Dr. Linda Seger, Author, Script Consultant, Lecturer
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21 reasons to be cheerful at the end of 2021
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Another difficult year of Covid is coming to a close, leaving us all exhausted by the twists and turns of this seemingly endless pandemic. Each time we think it’s coming to an end, nature throws us a curveball – first it was Delta and now it’s Omicron.
While the pandemic may have upended our lives, and dominated the news cycles worldwide, there are plenty of other things that have also been happening that not only warrant our attention, but in fact deserve a shoutout.
As we near the end of 2021 and look forward to what we all hope will be a better new year, join us in celebrating and sharing some of the many positive things that have happened this year.
Here are 21 reasons to be cheerful. Why not share with friends and family to raise the spirits of all as we move into a new year.
6. Even in conflict there is hope
16. New techs could help fix the shipping crisis
18. Technology is making farming easier
19. Nothing stops aid work
21. People are magnificent
We could go on and on because the truth is there are so many people who do astounding things and rarely get noticed. Here’s to them, and here’s to you!
In 2022, we look forward to bringing you more stories that show the amazing spirit of the people living in this tiny patch of land.
If you would like to read the full article, click here.
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Creative Arts Temple
P.O. Box 241831
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-720-9618
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