February 27, 2026

Candle-Lighting for Shabbat: 5:30 pm

Dear Friends,

This week we read Parshat Tetzaveh, which includes instructions for the clothing that Aaron and his sons will wear as priests. The latter part of the Parsha prescribes their consecration ritual.

We also commemorate Shabbat Zachor, with the Maftir Aliyah reminding us to remember the cruelty of Amalek and to blot out his name. Shabbat Zachor is always the Shabbat before Purim, since our tradition considers Amalek to be an ancestor of the evil Haman.

This Shabbat we will hold our Annual Library Minyan meeting as required by our Charter. Our enhanced Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by the Library Minyan to facilitate the meeting. Please come and learn what is happening and what is planned for our Minyan and to share your concerns.

Our schedule of Purim activities is arranged cooperatively with TBA. The Erev Purim Schedule can be viewed here: https://www.tbala.org/erev-purim. There will be a LM Sponsored Purim Seudah on Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 in Hersch Hall. The entire TBA community is invited to join us. Our theme this year is a "Bridgerton Tea Party." See the invitation below from Lady Whistledown.

Also in this week's Update:

• Shabbat Services
• Mishna Study
• New Announcements from the Rosh
• From Drash Coordinator Diane Herman
• Purim Seudah - March 3
• Upcoming Events
• Donations This Week
• Haftara Plethora
• Jewish Trivia



If you have questions or suggestions, or would like to include something in a future edition of the Weekly Update, please email Rachel Rubin Green at rachelrubingreen@gmail.com.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rachel Rubin Green

Rosh Minyan

Shabbat Services

Services begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Dorff-Nelson chapel. An enhanced Kiddush will follow in Hersch Hall.

The Gabbai this week will be Rachel Berwald. If you would like an Aliyah tomorrow for any occasion (such as a birthday, anniversary, the yartzeit of a loved one, or other), please email her at rachelab616@gmail.com. She will be happy to hold an Aliyah for you. The Gabbai the following week, March 7, will be Russell Cohen. Russell can be reached at rcohen007@gmail.com.

Mishnah Study

Hannah Kramer will lead the discussion of Tractate Eruvin Chapter 1 Mishnah 7 at 9:15 am in Whiteman Conference room and on Zoom.

From the Rosh:

The LM charter requires an Annual Meeting around Tu B'Shevat. The meeting will take place during Kiddush TOMORROW February 28. Please email me if you have any topics you would like to raise for discussion.

From Drash Coordinator Diane Herman: 

The Library Minyan wants to hear from you! Now recruiting darshanim from March 7 through the end of the year. Most slots are currently available. Stake your claim before it's too late! 

Contact Diane Herman at: dnherman@gmail.com

Purim Seudah - March 3

Please join us for Purim Afternoon Tea with Queen Charlotte and her friends Queens Esther and Vashti and the Bridgerton clan. See the announcement below:

Upcoming Events

3/2 Evening: Erev Purim and Megillah Reading

3/3 Purim Day: Purim Seudah and Shpiel at 4:30.

3/7 Lunch and Learn with former TBA President Michael Cohn, director of UCLA Student Organizations, about Antisemitism on Campus.

3/14 Refugee Shabbat

3/15 Library Minyan Oscars Party at TBA

Donations this Week:

In honor of Rachel Rubin Green for the Hatikvah decision process

-Susan Laemmle and John Antignas

In honor of our the naming of Ivy Nazarian

-Rebecca and Brian Nazarian

Haftarah Plethora

This week we present two episodes, one for the special haftarah for Shabbat Zakhor and one for the haftarah recited on the afternoon of Ta’anit Esther.

In the episode for Shabbat Zakhor, Rick and Larry discuss the perplexing and troubling Haftarah from the First Book of Samuel. Larry wonders if the trope might suggest Saul’s hesitation in carrying out the morally questionable instructions, and Rick empathizes with Saul’s unfortunate predicament. Shabbat Shalom

In the episode for the Haftarah for Fast Day Afternoons, Larry notes that scholars think that the reading from Isaiah combines different authorships. Rick likes the message in the second half of the Haftarah that foreigners and eunuchs who keep the Sabbath should not be cut off from the people and that their sacrifices be accepted. Have an easy fast and a Happy Purim.

Jewish Trivia

Last week's question: What country is home to the oldest continuous Jewish community outside the land of Israel? Answer:  Iran (formerly Persia) can trace its Jewish presence all the way back to when the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V took a number of Israelites captive to the region in 722 BCE.

This Week's Question:  Actors Phoebe Cates (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Gremlins) and Joel Grey (Cabaret among many) were born with the same last name.  What was it, and how does it relate to this time of year? (Answer next week.)