March 9th, 2016 
29 Adar
CALENDAR

Thursday,
March 10th
7:30 PM
Conversations with Rabbi Eger featuring Dr. Steven Windmueller

Friday,
March 11th
8:00 PM
Shabbat Services with Rabbi Eger and Student Rabbi Jeremy Gimbel

Saturday,
March 12th
10:00 AM
Torah Study with Student Rabbi Michael Shefrin

Saturday,
March 12th
12:15 PM
HIV+ Shabbat Lunch 

Sunday, 
March 13th
8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Kol Ami Volunteering at SOVA

Sunday,
March 13th
9:00 AM
Religious School is in session at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills. The Purim Carnival starts at 11 AM!

Sunday,
March 13th
10:00 AM
Intro to Judaism with Rabbi Sabine Meyer

Sunday,
March 13th
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Purim Rehearsal!!

Sunday,
March 13th
2:30 PM
Book Club Meeting at a member's private home

Tuesday,
March 15th
6:30 PM
Minyan Rotation

Friday,
March 18th
8:00 PM
Shabbat Services with Rabbi Eger and Student Rabbi Jeremy Gimbel

Sunday,
March 20th
No Religious School in session. Kid's Retreat is taking place.

Sunday, 
March 20th
10:00 AM
Intro to Judaism with Rabbi Sabine Meyer

Sunday,
March 20th
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Purim Rehearsal!!

Tuesday, 
March 22nd
6:30 PM
Minyan Rotation

Tuesday,
March 22nd
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Final Purim Rehearsal!!

Friday,
March 25th
7:00 PM
Purim Shabbat Service and Megillah Reading with Rabbi Eger and Student Rabbis Jeremy Gimbel and Michael Shefrin

Saturday,
March 26th
5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Classic Hollywood Gala!
Watch Services 
 
We are excited to debut a new online webcasting system! You can participate in the community and services even if you're out of town or just can't make it to the synagogue.

The new system is a significant improvement in both audio and video quality over our previous system, so if you haven't seen the new broadcast, you haven't seen us. Click here to watch live. 
Refuah Schlemah
 
Please keep the following people in your prayers: 
 
Marilyn Ader
Brian Garfield
Jeannette Kaufman
Ben Reback
Steve Reissman
Ivan Rosenberg 
Tom Royer
Henry Schaumberg
Lowell Selvin 
Michael Silverman
Edie Siteman
Max Snow 
Cathee Weiss


Mazel Tov to 
Elyse Resch and Arlene Drake on their recent wedding.

Mazel Tov to
James Pepper and Thom Macias on their son Adam's Bar Mitzvah this coming Shabbat.
The Kol Ami Mitzvah  Corps is available to visit you at home or in the hospital, bring a hot meal or run an errand.  Call the office at 323-606-0996 and you'll be contacted with-in 48 hours by one of our Corps members. 

 

If you are interested in joining the Mitzvah 

Corps please contact Kelsi at [email protected] or 323-606-0996. 




March 13th
8:30 AM - 12 PM
1140 N. La Brea

Please email Ed Casson at: [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering.  Thank you, and remember, SOVA is here to serve you if you are in need. Visit their website atjfsla.org/sova. 

This month's most needed donation items:
peanut butter
cold cereal
canned pasta
cooking oil
coffee and tea
soap (liquid or bar)
razors
toothbrushes
toothpaste
deodorant
shampoo & conditioner
lotion
feminine products
canned tuna


Rabbi Denise L. Eger's article, "Whosville," co-written by Matthew Louchheim was published, yesterday, by the Jewish Journal.

One state, two state(s), red state, blue state.  

2015 was a challenging year for Reform Jews.  

In congregations across America we wrestled with global issues such as the Iran Deal and Israeli elections to more local ones such as Black Lives Matter and "the Donald".  And by the end of the year, not everyone was left whole. 

Though perceived as a liberal bloc, Reform Jews in fact run the gamut.  As a result, rabbis self-censored, congregations grew divided, and individual congregants left their synagogues over disagreements with their clergy - over what they said, or perhaps, what they chose not to say.  No doubt 2016 will bring more challenges, from the predictable -- Election 2016 -- to the unforeseen. 

Therefore, are there any issues we can address in the congregational setting?  And if so, how can we acknowledge the diversity of opinion among Reform Jews, while at the same time maintaining tenets central to the Movement?

Returning to some words that Dr. Seuss actually wrote -- in Horton Hears a Who! - the author offers some guidance.

Continue reading on the Jewish Journal's website. 


Pull up to a beautiful home in the distinguished 90210 zip code, throw your keys to the waiting valet and stride up our red carpet to be photographed with Marilyn Monroe herself! Your night has only just begun!

Our Classic Hollywood themed gala will be a party to remember with live, "vintage celebrity" entertainment, a brass quintet and piano player, passed hor d'oeuvres, a full sit down dinner and open bar, plus prizes for those with the best Classic Hollywood costumes!

Kol Ami's masquerade gala will be taking place at Don Klein's Beverly Hills home on March 26th, 2016 from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM. 

We are so proud to be honoring Michael Becker and Marilyn Ader, PhD! Don't be the one to miss this incredible evening!
 

The Election and the Jews: A Post-Super Tuesday Analysis of the Jewish vote

Taxes.

The Death Penalty.

Health Care.

Syrian Refugees.

Climate Change.

Gun Control.

Immigration.

Where do you stand on today's biggest issues and what does that mean for your vote?  


Join Rabbi Denise Eger and renowned political expert, Dr. Steven Windmueller, for a extremely informative discussion on the on-going presidential race. 

A specialist on political issues and American Jewish affairs, Dr. Windmueller holds a doctorate in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Windmueller has written extensively on the Middle East, Jewish public and civic affairs, and global social trends.  Currently, he is writing about Jewish political behavior, having released several studies on Jewish voting patterns, including a major study entitled "Are American Jews Becoming Republican?

In 2014, Dr. Windmueller completed work on two books, one entitled The Quest for Power: A Study in Jewish Political Behavior and a second publication, In this Time and Place: American Jewry 3.0 which is a collection of Dr.Windmueller's research and writings. 



Our first Purim rehearsal is set for Sunday, March 13th from 1 PM to 3 PM, here at Kol Ami! All are welcome!

Rabbi Denise L. Eger invites you to attend this important evening program with her. Engage in the on-going discussion of what the Kotel compromise has wrought. 


Kol Ami's Book Club is meeting again at a member's private home on Sunday, March 13th at 2:30 PM. Book Club is not all about reading the book. It's mostly about having a nice time, sharing great conversation and feeling a sense of community. It's a little bit about the nosh, as well. 

Check out their "Now Reading" The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman.
Would you like to join Book Club? RSVP for the location! 

Registration is now open! 

We're so excited to be exploring all the different aspects of ourselves that make us simultaneously unique and similar. Our memories, our passions, our families - the experiences that make up who we are as individuals also come together to make up the fabric our communal Jewish identity. 

This weekend will be full of laughter, music, art, food, friendship and faith. It will feature an optional activity to work with local artist, Isaac Brynjegard Bialik. Through art, we'll discuss community and express our unique statement about what makes Kol Ami so special. 

Retreat Dates: March 20th to 22nd at Brandeis-Bardin Campus in Simi Valley
Single Occupancy: $425
Double Occupany: $325

Price includes all planned programming, lodging for two nights, meals (Dinner Friday night thru Breakfast Sunday morning) and snacks.

Congregation Kol Ami needs your help to raise funds for the children living in Guatemala. Funds that pay for housing, education and medical treatments. On our annual mission trip, our members have met families that have touched their hearts. These connections remained top of the mind throughout the year.

Imagine building a home for a family to provide shelter and safety.

Imagine a child walking again with the aid of prostheses and a young girl smiling for the first time after surgery for a cleft palate.

Imagine sponsoring an entire year of education for more than a dozen children.

It is our goal to return this year with the ability to make an even larger impact than before. Donate to our Tikkun Olam service trip and help us improve the Lives of the Children in Guatemala

Our goal is to raise $5,500. and with your help this great mitzvah is possible.

Give now to be the lasting difference in a child's life.




Time is flying by!
Deadline for Voice of My People Scholarship Applications is March 15th!

The Voice of My People Scholarship grants are meant to support students who identify as LGBTQ, or whose parent(s) identify as LGBTQ, and are committed to social justice and making strides in creating a more fair and just world.  

The application process opened January 1, 2016. We will accept the first 50 qualifying applications in the order in which they were received, or until March 15, 2016, whichever comes first. 

If you would like to support these incredible students, either individually or through a corporate sponsorship, please contact Sadie at [email protected] or call 323-606-0996.


Building a Greater Los Angeles
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles Interfaith Luncheon

In partnership with the Interreligious Council of Southern California, the South Coast Interfaith Council, and Future 50, we would love to continue the conversation about the need for affordable housing in our city and tell you about ways you can be involved in the five year, Building a Greater Los Angeles Campaign we recently launched. 

To have members from the Jewish community at this event will speak volumes about our tradition's commitment to making the world a better place, and specifically engaging in efforts with people of multiple faiths to do so.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016 
11:30 AM -1:30 PM

Episcopal Cathedral Center of St. Paul
840 Echo Park Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026

 Please RSVP to[email protected] by March 29th if you plan to attend. 


Why does the AIPAC Policy Conference matter? 

The AIPAC Policy Conference is the largest gathering of America's pro-Israel community. Through demonstrations of groundbreaking Israeli innovations, keynote speeches by American and Israeli leaders, inspiring moments on stage, and intimate educational sessions, Policy Conference delegates experience the full scale of pro-Israel activism in three powerful days. 

The conference culminates with the opportunity for delegates to lobby their members of Congress in support of legislation that enhances the relationship between the United States and Israel.

Rabbi Denise Eger has again been asked to attend as a featured speaker. She will be a panel presenter in the program, "The Progressive Case for Israel" on Sunday, March 20th at 11:30 AM. 

It is our sincere hope that you will consider joining Rabbi Eger, 2/3 of Congress and more than 275 synagogues in Washington D.C. on March 20-22, 2016.