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Regular Meeting February 24, 2020
At the February meeting the board reviewed our fundraising efforts, which in combination with the cost-saving change to paperless communication, lead to a break-even projection on the fiscal year. The slate for next year’s board was read into the record. The board got a presentation from Rina Liebeskind and Dr. Abby Limmer, Director of Education at Temple Emanu-El, on plans to merge our religious schools. The board voted to go forward with combining our schools in the fall regardless of the status of the congregational merger. We formally endorsed the passage of the MOU, and received updates on next steps, including applying for grant funds and the process for hiring lawyers and a consultant to assist with the process.
Join Your First Zoom Meeting
Using a PC
Click Open Zoom. |
After Zoom opens, another pop-up will appear. It deals with the audio. Make sure to click Join with Computer Audio. You should be able to see yourself on the screen. If your camera is not working, at the bottom left is a video camera icon. If there is a red slash through the camera, the camera is not on. Click on the camera icon to turn on your camera. If the bottom bar is not there or disappears, move your mouse over the bottom part of the screen and it should come back up. When you move your mouse away the bar will disappear. |
When your meeting is in session, this is what the bottom bar on your screen should look like. You will be able to see all people in the class, with their name underneath. When someone is talking, they will be in the big picture and everyone else will remain in smaller pictures around the larger one. When the speaker changes, the larger picture will automatically change to the person talking. When class is over, click Leave Meeting at the bottom right in red. A pop-up will appear. Click Leave Meeting and then the x on top to close out zoom. |
When you click on the link to your zoom meeting, this is the window that should pop up.
When your meeting is in session, this is what the bottom bar on your screen should look like. You will be able to see all people in the class, with their name underneath. When someone is talking, they will be in the big picture and everyone else will remain in smaller pictures around the larger one. When the speaker changes, the larger picture will automatically change to the person talking.
When class is over, click Leave Meeting at the bottom right in red, is leave meeting. A pop-up will appear. Click leave meeting and then the x on top to close out zoom.
Download the ZOOM Cloud Meetings app from the Play Store. After the app is installed, click the meeting link. The app will open automatically.
You can mute and un-mute using the button at the bottom. Once you click the Video button, your image will appear in the bottom right hand corner. 
To switch to Gallery View (to see everyone at once), swipe to the right. To switch back to Speaker View, swipe left. 
Download the ZOOM Cloud Meetings app from the App Store. After the app is installed, click the meeting link. The app will open automatically.
You can mute and un-mute using the button at the top. Click Start Video. You can Switch to Gallery View to view all other meeting participants.Israel 2021: Negev Extension
The Heart of the Negev: Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater) is the world’s largest erosion crater, nearly 25 miles long and between 1-6 miles wide, shaped like an elongated heart. Marvel at the striking red and yellow layers and unique geologic formations. Explore this geomorphic wonder with:
- A two-hour Jeep tour, where we’ll start at the edge of the crater for an overview before descending to Wadi Ramon. Learn about the Maktesh and its formation before continuing our trek to the summit of Mount Gvanim for a stunning view of the entire Maktesh. Our journey will continue along Wadi Gvanim, stopping in the shade of an acacia tree to point out the flora and fauna of the region before we return to Mitzpe Ramon.
- A walk to the unique natural phenomenon known as HaMinsara (The Carpentry Shop), which looks like a pile of wooden blocks, but are actually black basalt rocks. Along the way, explore the rock formations that were created by thousands of years of erosion.
- Wisdom in the Wilderness: Discover the harsh beauty of the desert and the insights of the people who make their home there. Desert experts from local Bedouin clans will accompany us on a camel ride into the astonishing Ramon Crater and reveal some of the secrets of traditional desert life. Our journey will conclude with an authentic local meal, where we’ll experience how hospitality remains central to Bedouin culture.
- Return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
- Dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Sde Boker
St. Joseph Torah
In August of our second year, 1996, we were blessed to receive our first Torah scroll. Goldie Silverman made a kind donation in memory of her husband Jake to afford us the ability to acquire a scroll. Rabbi and Marcia Louchheim travelled to St. Joseph, Missouri to her family’s orthodox synagogue, B’nai Sholem. The scroll was brought from Kharkov, Russia (near the Black Sea) by Marcia Louchheim’s great-grandfather, Rabbi Joshua Frumhoff.
Mary Ann Danin created a mantle and Fran Braverman donated two yaddim. The congregation attended the scroll’s dedication Friday evening, January 29, 1999.
Vallance Torah
In 2003, Zev Vallance placed his five-generation “backpack” Torah in the care of our religious community. This backpack Torah traveled by cart from village to village in Russia, making the “Teaching” available to all. This family scroll, on loan to us from a member family, now becomes part of our family. When Zev’s sister asked who would get the Torah if he didn’t want it, Zev whipped around and said, “It is going to go to whoever cherishes it, stupid” (AZJP, 8/13/04, p. 26). Cherish it we do!
Levy Torah
In February 2006 Or Chadash launched the Make Your Mark project with Sofer Rabbi Shmuel 
Miller writing a Sefer Torah scroll for the congregation. On the 28th of Kislev (fourth day of Chanukah) in the year 2007, we welcomed the Helaine and Yoram “Levy Family Torah” to our congregation.
Czech Scroll
In December of 2009, Herb and Sue Cohn brought to us an Orphan Holocaust Torah scroll. The Memorial Scrolls Trust in Westminster, England loans 1600 Czech Torah scrolls to synagogues across the world. We were blessed to receive this one. Though the scroll itself survives, the memory of its home synagogue has been lost. Thus, it is known as an Orphan Scroll.
Gould Torah
The Gould Family Torah was donated to our congregation by Wayne and Amy Gould in 2017. It is a Sephardic scroll whose origin is traced to southeastern Europe about 150 years ago.
Regular Meeting September 23, 2019
At the September meeting the board focused on planning for the future. At the recommendation of the Finance Committee, the board adopted three financial “triggers” throughout the fiscal year to ensure we are proactively monitoring our status and avoid a spring budget crunch. The board endorsed the president’s decision to appoint an independent committee to run the January merger vote. This committee will design a transparent, confidential, and unbiased process. The joint taskforces are continuing their work, and will be presenting their findings to both congregations in November and December. These taskforces and the feedback from the congregations will inform the Memorandum of Understanding that will be voted on in January.