Congregation Beth David

Copies are now available for pickup at the Beth David office anytime between 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. The directories turned out great! Special thanks to Howard Gannes, Hazak and Sisterhood for their dedication to this project!

The Beth David Star is looking for a new editor. If you like to write and are looking for a meaningful way to contribute to Beth David – this is the perfect job for you! Contact Jane Blumenthal at if you can help. Please note that we will discontinue publication of the Star until a new editor is found.

Special thanks to our former Star editor, Bettina Rosenberg, for many years of excellent work.

Celebrate Israel’s 60th Anniversary!
Now thru May 11

Silicon Valley is celebrating Israel’s 60th anniversary! Join us for the following great events. For complete details, click the item that interests you, or visit: http://www.svjcc.org/israel@60/index.html

Saturday, May 10, 8:00 pm
Community Dance for Teens

Sunday, May 11, 9:30 am*
Walk for Israel

Sunday, May 11, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Israel @ 60 Festival

In addition, Hillel of Silicon Valley is organizing several great events for college students.

*In honor of the community-wide celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut on Sunday May 11, Congregation Beth David will be joining with Congregation Sinai and Congregation Shir Hadash (at Congregation Shir Hadash) for a community wide minyan starting at 9:00 am. PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL NOT BE A MINYAN AT BETH DAVID ON MAY 11. Following minyan, we invite you to stay and join in the rest of the community planned events for the day, beginning with the Walk for Israel which starts at 9:30 am.

Jewish Book Group
Saturday, May 10, 1:30 pm (approx.)

The Jewish Book Discussion Group will meet on May 10 at approx. 1:30 pm (in MPR-D) to discuss A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz, led by Eve Kedar. "The award-winning author recounts his boyhood in war-torn Jerusalem of the 1940s and 1950s, his mother's tragic suicide when he was twelve, his decision to join a kibbutz and change his name, and his participation in Israel's political upheavals." All adults and teens are welcome. For more information, contact Harry Cornbleet.

The next meeting will be on June 12, when Carol Weiss will lead the discussion on The Yiddish Policeman's Union, by Michael Chabon.

Do you have a toddler? Have you had a long week? Then come and take a break by joining us for Pajama Shabbat! This mini Kabbalat Shabbat service is geared towards tots (ages 0-5) and will feature songs, puppets, felt, story time, plus a kid-friendly Shabbat dinner!! Come as you are with kids in PJ’s! No worries about getting dressed up – this will be a casual night for all!

Cost for Dinner: Adults: $10.00 / Kids (over 3): $2.00 / Tots: Free! RSVPs are requested! Please respond no later than May 14th to or call the office at 408.257.3333.

How great is the reward given to those engaged in providing for communal needs… How many blessings are conferred on them, in each and every synagogue on earth. — Rav Tzidkiyah HaRofei

Rabbis Daniel Pressman and Aaron Schonbrun and the Board of Directors of Congregation Beth David invite you to a special luncheon to honor our volunteers on Sunday, May 18th at 12:00 noon at the synagogue. Everyone is invited to thank those who keep our synagogue vibrant, effective, and relevant. Please RSVP to to help determine numbers. Thanks! See you on the 18th.

Note: Babysitting is available for children ages 3-6 yrs. Religious School students are invited to a concurrent pizza party.

Earn money for Beth David while you shop! Begin your internet shopping from our shopping affiliate web page, then navigate to merchant websites directly from the icons on our page. Beth David will receive a commission for every online purchase. Donating never has been so easy!

Rabbi Pressman and Rabbi Schonbrun have compiled a list of personally recommended books for the congregation. Click here to view this list and/or to order any of the titles. Whenever you buy books through the CBD website* at Amazon, you'll be helping us earn $ at the same time! To place an order, simply click on any of the book title links on our webpage and you will automatically be directed to the Amazon site.

*Please note — in order for CBD to get credit for any purchases made, it must be done from our webpage.

A beautification program at Beth David Memorial Garden has begun. A resolution was passed earlier this year for the pricing of memorial benches. The cost will be $5000 for a granite bench with engraving of memorial commemoration(s) or $2750 for ½ of a bench. Only when a full bench has been purchased will the bench be built and installed. The granite will be similar to the granite gravestones currently at Beth David Memorial Garden. If you have any interest in purchasing a cemetery plot, bench, bronze memorial wall plaque, or would like to discuss this further, please contact Barbara Biran at or 408.366.9106 or Ron Joseph, Cemetery Chair, at .

Ever wonder about future happenings at Beth David? We invite you to visit our web calendar for up-to-the-minute "at a glance" viewing of our upcoming events. To schedule an event, contact the CBD office at 408.257.3333.

Do you have a few hours to donate to Congregation Beth David? We are always looking for volunteers, particularly during the upcoming High Holy Days, as well as for misc. mailings. You can sign up to volunteer from the home page of our web site, just search for ‘Volunteer Opportunities’ or call the office 408.257.3333.

Yad L’Kol 2008 “Resonance Repatterning®”
Sunday, June 8, 10:00 am

Beth David Sisterhood presents Yad L’Kol 2008 "Resonance Repatterning"® with Shyama Orum, on Sunday, June 8th. Resonance Repatterning® is a system that helps one identify limitations, challenges or problems. Through the use of modalities of sound, color, light, breath, movement and energy, you can revitalize and harmonize your body/mind system in ways that support change and learning on all levels. The system is an empowering process for positive change.

Schedule:
9:45 am - Registration
10 am - Program
11:45 - Luncheon

Cost: Free to Beth David Sisterhood members; $10/general public. Please RSVP by June 1 to Davida Adelberg at or 408.777.8875.

Join us for our annual night at the ballpark! Tickets are $20 each and are available in the CBD office. Please make checks out to "CBD Sisterhood". We will be using public transportation to get to the game (sorry - there will be no chartered bus this year). For more details, please contact Eve Kedar at .

See why we donate to the Federation. Check out this entertaining and informative animated video explaining where funds go when donated to the Federation. Visit http://www.jvalley.org/video to view.

Sisterhood has made posters, greeting cards and framed photos of the Religious School students' beautiful artwork tile wall (by the main office) dedicated to Rabbi Pressman last year on his 25th anniversary at CBD. To place an order, please contact Eve Kedar at or 408.216.0072.

For more info on youth services, programs & events, visit our Religious School page

Upcoming Events

Last Youth Congregations: 5/10 and 5/17
Last Haverim: 5/17
5/11 - Entire school to Yom HaAtzmaut event (instead of school at CBD)

You are cordially invited to the 7th grade moving up ceremony and 12th grade graduation! Join us on Saturday, June 7, during Shabbat morning services. A Kiddush luncheon will follow. Teachers, volunteers and Madrichim will be also be recognized. Please RSVP to the Religious School at 408.366.9102 or or to Hebrew High at 408.366.9118 or .

Please note: Every 7th and 12th grade family will be asked to bring something for the Kiddush luncheon.

Senior Kadima Presents:
Pizza-Pop-PJ Party & Israel 60th Birthday Celebration
Sunday, May 18, 2:00 - 4:00 pm

What: Make your own pizza, enjoy your Jewish friends, celebrate Israel together!

Where: Shosh Levitt's Home

RSVP: to Shosh Levitt at

Cost: $6 for members; $8 for non-members / $20 for member families; $25 for non-member families

Please RSVP by Friday, May 23 to Jr. Kadima Advisor, Omer Friedman, at or at 408.828.3091.

Senior Kadima Pool Party, Elections & Senior End of the Year Celebration
Sunday, June 8, 12:00 - 2:00 pm

What: We need you! Come be a participant and/or take a leadership role in shaping Senior Kadima events!

Who: All 6-8th graders are invited to attend! Bring a bathing suit & towel

Cost: $6.00 per person

Where/Contact info: Gabriel Yanovsky's home (21266 Sarahills Dr, Saratoga, 408.867.5547)

RSVP: To Lindsay Greensweig at 650.793.9587 or

• President
• Vice President of Programs
• Vice President of Membership
• Vice President of Communications & Publicity
• SATO (Social Action -Tikkun Olam), Historian
• Secretary
• Seventh Grade Representative

For more information on officer job descriptions, please contact Lindsay at 650.793.9587 or .

ADULT EDUCATION

For complete descriptions of classes and events, visit our Adult Ed page

New Summer Class: Beginning Hebrew

Always wanted to read the Hebrew in our Siddur Sim Shalom? Take this class to make it a reality and have a better understanding of our services!

Class Description: You will acquire basic Hebrew language skills. We will begin with the alphabet, as you learn to read and write (in block and script form) all the Hebrew letters. You will build a vocabulary of 140 words frequently used in the home and synagogue. At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to produce simple sentences and read from our Siddur Sim Shalom.

Instructor: Chuck Taubman: or 408.257.3251

Prerequisites: This class has no prerequisites; it is appropriate for beginners and for students wishing to refresh their childhood Hebrew.

Time/Place: Daytime class, Wednesdays 11:45 am-12:45 pm; first class Wednesday June 4, 2008; approximately 12 classes through early September; held at CBD .

Textbook: Ivrit Alphon (Primer)

Other: Please make time for home study between class meetings. Contact the instructor for more information.

Cost: $30 members, $50 non-members

Registration: Pre-registration required by email (registration@beth-david.org) or by calling Beth David Office (408.257.3333). Indicate that you are registering for the summer Beginning Hebrew class and whether or not you are a Beth David member. Beth David members will have their accounts billed; non-members should pay at the first class.

Join Jews' Next Dor for a cozy potluck Shabbat dinner. Please bring a vegetarian or dairy dish to share. RSVP with what dish you plan to bring (and please consider what others are bringing). The event will be at a private home in San Jose, with limited parking, so carpooling is encouraged. Please note we may be outside. If you have a few extra chairs you can bring please let us know. Please RSVP to for the address.

Jews' Next Dor beer tasting is returning, this time it's open to everyone. Cost is $10 and will start early in the evening, as we gather for a cozy shabbat potluck dinner as well. Please bring a vegetarian or dairy dish to share. RSVP with what dish you plan to bring (and please consider what others are bringing). The event will be at a private home in San Jose, with limited parking, so carpooling is encouraged. Please note we may be outside. If you have a few extra chairs you can bring please let us know. Please RSVP to for the address.

Join Jews' Next Dor in enjoying the tastes from south of the border at our monthly meet and greet. We'll also be celebrating the birthday of one of our members. Meet us at La Paloma Mexican Restaurant (2280 El Camino Real, Santa Clara). Please RSVP to .

SPHDS, Yidventure and Jews' Next Dor encourage you to get on your bike and join them and hundreds of others in the community for the Foothill Century: The Only Kosher Ride in the West! The Foothill Century offers beautiful scenery and a memorable, healthy day for everyone. This year's ride features our renowned, kosher food at all rest stops and improved road markings. Choose from 100K, 50K and 10K routes. You must register to participate. Get the complete details for the days event including lunch, fees, time, route, sponsors from the Foothill Century webpage. The ride supports SPHDS.

Do your best Tiger Woods impression on the mini-golf course at Golfland USA (855 E. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale) on May 20 at 7:30 pm. The cost is $7.00 per person for 18 holes for those there on time (7:30 pm) or $10.00 if you come late. Please RSVP to .

Informally, before the event at Izzy's Brooklyn Cafe (one block away at 783 E. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale; ample parking) you'll find a group of us noshing falafel and other kosher goodies at 6:45 pm.

Bounce off the walls with Jews' Next Dor and Yidventure at Sky High Sports (2880 Mead Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95051 / see directions). Please arrive by 7:45 pm so we can make sure everyone gets checked in before 8:00pm. If you haven't been before please fill out their release and bring it with you. We'll jump for an hour – trust us, it's long enough. There's even a fun foam pit and the beloved dodge ball court. Cost: $10.00 per person for the hour. Please wear or bring tennis shoes (you can jump in tennis shoes or bare feet only). There are lockers to keep your personal belongings. Please note that no cell phones are allowed on the trampolines (see court rules). Please RSVP to .

Come enjoy the Japanese cuisine of sushi with fellow Jewish 20 and 30 somethings at Jews' Next Dor's June Meet and Greet. We'll meet at 7:30 pm at Chocolate Sushi and Tofu House (595 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, 94087). Please note - we will be splitting the bill, so expect to pay around $20 per person, not including drinks. Drinks will be on a separate bill. RSVP required to .

If you choose except the mission, meet your teammates at 1pm at the at the University Ave. entrance to Borders in Palo Alto (456 University Ave, Palo Alto, 94301) on Sunday, June 22. Wear your walking shoes and sunscreen. Come with your wits, digital camera (check your battery and for memory) and water (we'll be walking a bunch). Help your team unravel clues and solve puzzles to get points. After our hunt and the points are tallied, we'll walk to the Cheesecake Factory for dessert. RSVP for an afternoon of fun and games with fellow Jewish 20 and 30 somethings to .

Join with the congregation for a lively Kabbalat Shabbat service followed by a Young Adult oneg in Classroom 1. Shir Shabbat is an upbeat and joyous Friday evening service (held every 4th Friday) welcoming in Shabbat, complete with Carlebachi melodies, dancing and instruments. After the service, young adults will be enjoying a separate kiddush to get a chance to unwind and celebrate Shabbat. RSVPs appreciated to .

22nd Annual AIDS Walk San Francisco
Sunday, July 20, 9:00 am (at Golden Gate Park, SF)

Jews' Next Dor, Congregation Beth David's Young Adult Group, is continuing its support in the fight against AIDS. We will walking 10k in AIDS Walk SF again this year. There are two ways to get involved: sponsor our walkers, or join the team and walk with us. Please register to walk by June 20. Visit our team page online at www.aidswalk.net/sanfran/ to join our team or to make a contribution online. Please specify team Jews' Next Dor (#9980). Thank you in advance! The money raised supports the services provided by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and other benefiting organizations representing the entire spectrum of HIV and AIDS services. More information is available from Aleeza at .

Join Jews' Next Dor for the 3rd year in a row for a night of baseball and gathering of the Jewish community as the SF Giants take on the Colorado Rockies. Cost is $20 a ticket, which includes a Jewish-themed giveway. Contact to reserve a ticket today. We'll be sitting closer to the field, but still in the "Jewish" top section this year.