CBS December Newsletter

Monthly Newsletter
December 2024 Vol. 1 Ed. 4
@cbsnapa www.cbsnapa.org 707-253-7305

Table of Contents
A Note from Rabbi Niles
President’s Message
Calendar of this month’s events
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Yahrtzeits
Services
Onegs
Torah Portion
Torah Study
Education Corner
Welcome to New Members
Open Donations for Franchise
Dialogue with the Director
Arts ARTicle
Things to Know/ Previews
Kehilah Corner
Ways to Support CBS
Board
Contact Us

A Note From Rabbi Niles
Dear friends,
We are now past the recent national, state, and local elections, and many
people in this country and here in Napa are disappointed and distressed.
Some are elated. This happens with every election cycle. But as I noted
at services a few weeks ago, synagogues are and ought to be safe
spaces where blue and red, liberal and conservative, Democrat and
Republican all have a home. We have people with many different views
not only on American politics, but also on Israel at CBS. Let us treat one
another with civility and respect.
In the Jewish calendar, the next major holiday is Chanukah, the Festival
of Lights, which occurs at the end of the month. At the darkest time of
the year, Jews throughout the world celebrate the triumph of the
Maccabees over their Syrian-Greek occupiers, the miracle of the
rededication of oil in the Temple in Jerusalem, and the last period of
Jewish sovereignty over the Holy Land until 1948. Chanukah is about the
triumph of freedom over oppression, and about the special relationship
between God and the Jewish people. I hope you will take advantage of
the various activities and programs that CBS is offering in December.
One of the core messages of the Festival of Lights is that Jews need to
stick together in mutually supportive ways; you don't need to go it alone.
We are always stronger when our community acts as one. So please
make a special effort to invite a Jewish friend or neighbor to come to
CBS for a Shabbat service, Torah study, or any of our many and varied
events. No Jew ought to live out their Jewish identity in a vacuum.
Simply put, it won't work.
May each and every one of us be inspired by the joy and reward of
Chanukah's lights!
B'shalom, Niles

President’s Message
Giving Thanks
For most of us, Thanksgiving is spent with family. But why limit
this to only one day each year?
Create a Friendsgiving Day to enjoy the laughter of friends,
mouthwatering aromas, and cheer that you’ll remember for years
to come.
Establish a theme-oriented lunch or dinner to thank your coworkers
for all they do to make it a successful and supportive
place for you to succeed.
Start an annual potluck for your neighborhood. You’ll be
surprised how much may has changed in just one year.
We are fortunate to have so many CBS events during the year.
Take the opportunity to participate in the ones that will enrich
your life.
But overall, I am thankful that you chose me to be President of
CBS. I am constantly amazed at how much CBS has to offer our
members and the community at large. My goal is for CBS to grow
and prosper and meet the needs of our congregation.

Calendar of Events
Sunday, December 1 (Cheshvan
30)
9:30am Religious School
Wednesday, December 4 (Kislev 3)
6:00pm Movie Screening and
Discussion Group*
Tuesday, December 17 (Kislev 16)
10:30am Soul Sisters Book Club
7:00pm Board Meeting
Erev Shabbat, December 20
(Kislev 19)
6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Erev Shabbat, December 6 (Kislev
5)
6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday, December 7 (Kislev 6)
10:30am Torah Study with Rabbi
Goldstein
Sunday, December 8 (Kislev 7)
9:30am Hanukkah at Religious
School
9:45am Shorashim
Thursday, December 12 (Kislev 11)
3:30pm Your Write to Resilience
6:00pm Latke Throw Down*
Erev Shabbat, December 13
(Kislev 12)
6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Sunday, December 15 (Kislev 14)
9:30am Hanukkah at Camp
Newman*
Activities marked with * require prior registration.
Saturday, December 21 (Kislev
20)
10:30am Healing Circle with Art
Grand
7:00pm Youth Group Silent Disco
at Shomrei Torah*
Wednesday, December 25 (Kislev
24)
Hanukkah begins at Sundown
Thursday, December 26 Hanukkah
(Kislev 25)
5:30pm Hanukkah at Silverado
Erev Shabbat, December 27
Hanukkah (Kislev 26)
6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Shabbat, December 28 Hanukkah,
Miketz (Kislev 27)
10:30am Max Petrick's Bar Mitzvah
Service
Sunday, December 29 (Kislev
28)
CBS Hanukkah Celebration*

Religious School Calendar

Birthdays
Click to sponsor an Oneg in honor of
a loved one’s birthday or
anniversary, or any special occasion
12/3 Samuel Sparks, Ophir Orr
12/5 Barbara Levin, Mark Gardner
12/6 Allison Frost
12/8 Tamar Weir, Michael Dellar
12/9 Ari Eisenberg, Lauren
Chevlen
12/10 Anita Catlin
12/11 Hazel Weiss
12/12 Vanessa Blatteis, Tom Sabo
12/13 Jonah Eisenberg
12/14 Rachel Friedman,
Cadal Newton
12/15 Lee Trucker
12/16 Hannah Paley, Oliver Lustig
12/17 Irit Weir, Forrest Downey
Anniversaries
12/18 Barbara Schwartz
12/19 Kate Enos, Dick Wollack,
Gage Goldman
12/20 Rivka Livni
12/21 Griffin Riendeau,
Matthew Zeiderman
12/23 Mark Charney, Suzie Frank
12/25 Max Petrick, Sylvia Samrick
12/26 Donna Schaechter
12/27 Geffen Abramovitch
12/28 Joe Winograde
12/29 Bradley Wasserman,
Melvin Cohen, Karen Lustig,
Elizabeth Olcott
12/31 Paul Frank
12/1 Fred & Candace Hacker (46)
12/19 Bob & Berit Muh (56)
12/26 Barbara & Marty Nemko (48)
12/26 Rona & Kevin brackett (52)
12/27 Suzie & Paul frank (60)
12/28 Roberta & Robert Solomon (27)

Yahrtzeits
In Memorium, we remember the anniversaries of
our loved ones, who are no longer with us.
12/1 Alan Jawitz, Claire Stein
12/2 Jacob Rosen
12/3 Bernard Charlup, Philip Duben, Stephen Gardner, Herbert Padrid, Basha Snyder
12/4 Max Charlup, Gertrude Corrente, Jack Fleiderbaum, Harriet Kesselman Hansher, Michael Jacobs,
Joseph Kostin, Annie Levi
12/5 Sallie Alice Goldman, Velma Hirsch, Gilbert Schnitzer, Earlene M. Weibel
12/6 Leigh Medine, Benjamin Nehoray, Elaine Press
12/7 Roberta Conrey
12/8 Louis Friedman, Lillian Fruitman, Berna Joseph Sherman, Pearl Schein
12/9 Eva Halperin Bartos, Donald S. Feiner
12.10 Maryam Mashadi, Jennie Stone, Robert Wilvers
12/11 Jacob Margolis, Rahel Moradi
12/12 Herman Mautner, Thelma Schnitzer
12/13 Harry Zeitlin
12/14 Ruth Watter
12/15 Lucille Meltzer, Isadore G Meyers
12/16 Adele Pesses Kaplan, Ann Nuemann-Libov
12/17 Sophie Boverman, Richard Magano
12/18 Paul Decker
12/19 Oscar Dover, Edward Goldberg
12/20 Dorothy Sills
12/21 Esther Abrams, Rebecca Baylinson, Moshe (Max) Levin, Jack Reisman
12/22 Alan Unger
12/23 Leon Bloomberg, Morry Sherman, Joyce Wright
12/24 Ludwig Green
12/25 Alan Balccher, Etty Tetenman
12/26 Majer Danon, Sam Fink, Annie Lazarus, Anna Sarah Shanske, Garry Singer
12/27 Michael Leaken
12/28 Yosef Shein, Ben Solomon
12/29 Helen Schwartz
12/30 Simcha Ben Chaim Abramowicz, Ethel Bas Simcha Abramowicz, Dorothy Novack, Jack J
Schwartz, Mrs. Herman Shwarz
12/31 Arthur Waldinger
Click to make a donation in
memory of a loved one.

Services & Weekly Torah Portions
Click Here for CBS YouTube
Weekly Torah Portion
Services Led by:
Oneg Sponsored by
Service Start Time
12/6 Vayeitzei
12/6 Rabbi Niles & Gordon
Genesis 28:10−32:3 Lustig
12/7 Torah Study w/ Rabbi
Niles
Kathleen Conrey
6:00 PM
12/13 Vayishlach
Genesis 32:4−36:43
12/13 Rabbi Niles &Gordon
Lustig with D’var Torah by
Sally Besser
Hannah Paley
6:00 PM
12/20 Vayeishev 12/20 Gordon Lustig & Nadya
Genesis 37:1−40:23 Schmeder, Drash by Art
12/21 Healing Service w/ Grand
Art Grand
Amy Hall in honor of her
conversion to Judaism
6:00 PM
12/27 Bar Mitzvah of
Max Petrick
Mikeitz
Genesis 41:1−44:17
12/27 Rabbi Niles, Gordon
Lustig & Max Petrick
YOUTH CORNER
Naomi & Jesse Petrick in
honor of their son Max’s Bar
Mitzvah
Consult the Religious School Calendar for all kid-friendly
programming.
Consider joining us on the following dates:
Dec 4: “Just for Us” Movie screening, Youth
Group Event*
No RS:
Dec 8: Hanukkah Happening at Religious Dec 22
School
Dec 29
Dec. 8: Shorashim: Music w/ Megan
Dec 15: Hanukkah at Camp Newman*
Dec 21: TEEN Silent Disco at Shomrei Torah*
Dec 28: Max Petrick’s Bar Mitzvah
6:00 PM

Welcome to New Members
Introduce a friend to CBS
Bring a local Bay Area family to any CBS service or
activity as your guests. If your referral joins CBS,
you will receive a $180 credit on your account.
To
Terra Pepper, Meredith Cutler,
Rebecca & Joe Blum and Vincent
Traverso
on joining the CBS family!

Donations
You can celebrate a simcha, commemorate a loss or mark a special
occasion by contributing to Congregation Beth Shalom, in honor or in
memory of someone important in your life. Click the banner above to make a
contribution.
L’Dor V’Dor
Donna Mendelsohn
In honor of Mara Bleviss & Mike Edwards - Maxine Miluso
In honor of Storey’s 3rd Birthday - Maxine Miluso
In honor of Roberta Solomon’s birthday - Maxine Miluso
In memory of Michael Blend, husband of JoAnne Miller - Maxine Miluso, Kathleen Conrey,
Sandi Hyman, Harriett & Marty Spitz
In memory of William Hudson, a devoted husband, father and grandfather. - Ellyn Elson,
Sandi Hyman, Harriet & Marty Spitz
Lifelong Learning
In memory of Michael Blend. May his memory be for a blessing - Lauren & Michael
Chevlen
Ner Tamid
In memory of Ziva Sivan & Rose Shefren - Donna Mendelsohn
In memory of David Mendelsohn - Donna Mendelsohn
Youth & Shorashim Programs and Scholarship Fund
In memory of Michael Blend - Paul & Deb Bloomberg, Roy & Sue Barush, Rita Burris &
Charles Slutzkin
In memory of Michael Blend, whose tireless efforts and dedication to the Napa Law
Library have made a significant impact on our community - Jason & Mary Luros
In honor of the birthday of Mary Luros - Maxine Miluso
In memory of William Powell Hudson, father of Mary Luros - Paul & Deb Bloomberg,
Suzanne Shiff, Maxine Miluso, Rita Burris & Charles Slutzkin
In memory of the November Yahrtzeits for my mother and father Blanche & Joseph
Brugheimer with loving memories - Martha & Richard Pastcan
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
In memory of William Hudson, father of Mary Luros - Deveraux Smith & Larry Kamer
In memory of Mary Luros’ father - David & Lola Safer

Dialogue with the Director
When I arrived at CBS last June, having picked up my life in
New York and moved clear across the country, I had no real
expectations. I did it on a whim. My time here has turned out
to be a pretty good whim, and has far exceeded any
expectations I could have had.
Now surrounded by friends, I have come to call Napa my
home. I explain it to non-Napkins as living in a Hallmark
Movie. Where else can you run into people you know
everywhere you go, and have a meal and some homemade
soup brought to your door when you are under the weather.
The support I have felt from CBS has been overwhelming.
At the end of this month, I get to witness a “project” I have
been working on since I got here “come to life.” I cherish my
time with all of the students in the Religious School, and those
who I get to know one on one in B’Nei Mitzvah lessons. On
December 27th and 28th, my B’Nei Mitzvah “guinea pig”
student will be called to the Torah. I know that my pride in
Max will never exceed that of his parents, but I appreciate
them all for taking this leap of faith with me. I know Max will
make everyone proud, including himself as he becomes a Bar
Mitzvah.
Hoping you all had a happy, healthy and delicious
Thanksgiving,
wishing you a Hanukkah filled with light and laughter,
as well as only good things in the New Year.

Dialogue with the Director
It is that time of year. again, so take out
your rolling pins and get baking! I have
had this recipe since second grade, and
it can’t be beat for a simple yet delicious
Hanukkah cookie.
It also doubles as a great hamantaschen
recipe to be filled during Purim.

Art’s ARTicle
All of You Can Help - Art Grand
In the wake of the election, many of us are feeling despondent. We
wonder whether antisemitism will rise, whether our democracy will
survive. So I want to tell you a story – a story that has lasted half my
lifetime. It’s a story that’s true, a story about how an average group
of people defeated the most powerful dictatorship in the history of
the world.
In the 1970’s, I was working on a master’s degree in computer
science. I wasn’t too political - just one of thousands who marched
occasionally for one cause or another. The Cold War was raging, and
if you lived in the Soviet Union, it was dangerous to be a Jew. Jews
who expressed their religion or talked about moving to Israel were
sentenced to prison.
I had gone to marches for Soviet Jewry, of course, like every Jew in
our country. But eventually it got personal. The Soviet government
declared that every Jewish computer scientist who talked about
moving to Israel would be jailed for life, and Jewish computer
scientists were exiled to Siberia.
My department chair at the time was Jewish, and he had been
corresponding with of my counterparts in the Soviet Union, a sweet,
brilliant graduate student who would never hurt a fly. He was
completing his PhD, and as soon as he graduated, he would be sent
to prison for life.
We went to the State Department, asking them to help. And
eventually they came up with a plan. We would go to Moscow for a
joint conference on computer science, and in turn, the State
Department would pressure the Soviets to spare this student and to
release the leader of the Jewish activists.
And so, on my twenty fifth birthday, I delivered a paper in Moscow –
the first American scientist in history to deliver a paper in the Soviet
Union. And the next morning, two burly men walked up to me – one
from the State Department and one from the Soviet government. “If
you agree to give your paper again at a laboratory outside Moscow,”
they said, “we will release an activist.”
The conference ended, and it was time travel to a secret city outside

Art’s ARTicle cont’d
Moscow. But there was one problem: when you checked into a hotel in
the Soviet Union, they took your passport for “safe keeping” and
stored it in the KGB office inside the hotel. It was dangerous to go
anywhere in the Soviet Union without a passport. And when I went to
checkout from my Moscow hotel, they told me that the “passport”
office was closed.
I had a once in a lifetime chance to free a dissident, to make a
difference for all of the Jews in the Soviet Union, and the train out of
Moscow was leaving. If I waited for the office to open, I would miss
my opportunity, and if I went without my passport, I would be risking
my life.
By then, I had gotten to know the Soviet culture, and I knew exactly
what to do. I broke into the KGB office and stole my passport!
I knew that there would be no one to stop me. I knew that the KGB
agents were probably out somewhere, buying and selling on the black
market. And I knew that the lock would be flimsy, because that’s how
the Soviet Union worked. The government would pay a locksmith 100
rubles to install the strongest lock on a KGB office, and he would
install a cheap lock and pocket the difference.
The State Department told us about Soviet culture beforehand. “The
whole country is filled with corruption,” they told us. And I expected
to find a country where people were miserable, and depressed.
But what I found instead was a nation of guerilla fighters. For those
KGB agents, coming in late, taking time off from work to engage in the
black market were acts of defiance. And that fragile lock was not an
accident. It was the work of one unknown guerilla fighter, doing what
he could to bring down the system, to bring freedom to his country.
And no one was depressed. The Soviet people were alive and joyous.
They knew something that we in America are just beginning to learn.
Every act of honesty, every act of joy, every act of letting the system
collapse under its own weight is a step towards freedom.
My story doesn’t end there. It goes on to New York and Jerusalem, and
ends at Camp Newman, at the Bat Mitzvah of an incredible girl from
the former Soviet Union who was acting as the president and “rabbi”
of her congregation back home.
I’ll tell you more of the story next month. But know this: if an unknown
locksmith can help defeat a dictatorship, so can you.

Things to know/ Previews
December 17,
The Heaven & Earth Grocery
Store
by James McBride
Please contact the temple office
with questions.
New members welcome

For many of us, these are difficult times. Some of fear for the
future of our country, some are in pain, and some of us are
dealing with personal tragedies. In difficult times, the only
answer is to come together, to hold each other, and to listen to
each other.
“Life may be hard,” wrote Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, “but it can still
be sweet.” All of us, he adds, can help each other. We can give
each other the gift of community. We can create communities
where we help others and others help us and where we learn that
joy is doubled, and grief halved by being shared.
From the day I met you, I knew that Congregation Beth Shalom
was that kind of community. I’ve seen all of the ways that you
help each other. But this year, perhaps, we need something more.
So we’re going to try something new. Once a month, I’ll be
leading a Friday night service – the usual service we all know and
love. And then on Saturday morning, I’ll lead a healing circle – an
opportunity to say a few prayers, to comfort each other, and to
be there for each other. We’ll listen to each other and pray for
each other. And together, we’ll find community and joy.
Our first healing circle will be on December 21 at 10:30. Join us if
you need comfort, if you are willing to help others, or if you just
need some light in the days before Chanukah.

Wednesday
December 4th at
6pm
Members &
Teens 12+
WATCH AND DISCUSS “JUST FOR US” A
COMEDY SPECIAL ABOUT HIS ENCOUNTER
WITH ANTISEMITISM
BY ALEX EDELMAN.
PIZZA AND POPCORN TO BE SERVED.
CLICK ABOVE TO REGISTER

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Things to know/ Previews

Community Corner
Kehilah Corner
(community)
This space is reserved for members of the congregation
and the community at large to promote, whether it be a
business, an event, or something else personal you would
like to share.
An $18 donation to CBS will get you the space in our
monthly newsletter, and potentially on a special page of our
website from the time you submit until your event’s
conclusion.
Please contact office@cbsnapa.org with questions. All
submissions must be received by the 15th of the month
prior to publishing. CBS reserves the right to deny any
submissions.

Ways to Help CBS
Please consider purchasing from these
vendors and ordering from the links below
to further support CBS
Click to purchase a plaque for the
memorial board.
@cbsnapa www.cbsnapa.org 707-253-7305

Board of Trustees
2024 - 2025 CBS Board Officers
Eve Kahn - President: President@cbsnapa.org
Scott Brown - Treasurer: Treasurer@cbsnapa.org
Lara Shumer - Secretary
Roberta Solomon - Past President
Contact Us
Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or just to have a
cup of coffee and a chat. Our doors are always open to you.
Rabbi
Niles Goldstein
rabbi@cbsnapa.org
Synagogue/Education Director
Marah Peresechensky
office@cbsnapa.org
Music Director
Gordon Lustig
gordondlustig@gmail.com
@cbsnapa www.cbsnapa.org 707-253-7305