The Bulletin of Congregation Ner Tamid, January 2003

Copgregatioi; Ner Tarpid Tan u n5ns The Reform Jewish Congregation of Las Vegas ...A Special Place to Belong January 2003 - Vol. XVIjNo. 10 Sanford D. Akselrad Rabbi Jennifer C. Weiner Assistant Rabbi Bella Feldman Cantorial Soloist Stewart Blumenff.ld President 27 Tevet - 28 Shevat 5763 Irv DuCHOWNY Executive Director Jacqueline Fleekop Education Director Lois Bergman Preschool Director Andrea Brunner Bulletin Editor Mazel Tov to TJ. Coon Congregation Ner Tamid?s Congregant of the Year "The temple is like a mobile - you touch one part of it and it affects all the rest.? Although T.J. Coon has only been a member of Con?gregation Ner Tamid for a little over three years, he is major part of the mobile affect he speaks of here. T.J. is this year?s Congregant of the Year, an honor truly befitting for a man who loves the temple, loves his faith, and loves to help others. Originally bom in Cadillac, Michigan, T.J. moved here in 1945 at the ripe old age of four. His dad and grandfather moved the family to Las Vegas after purchasing the Warm Springs Ranch, a dude fcnch at the time. After a short time in the dude ranch business, the ranch was sold to Roy Rgers (yep, the one and only, folks). The family then turned to the farming business with the original Smoke Ranch, still present today on Smoke Ranch Road where T.J.?s mother continues to live in the family house his father built. They raised dairy cows, grew apricots and various orchards, and harvested pecans, figs, and alfalfa. As a kid, T.J. always had horses and helped with the Las Vegas farm. Today T.J. is the Chief X-ray Technician at Lake Mead Hospital, managing his department. He has been in the medical field for 32 years now. He has six grown children - one his own and five adopted from a previous marriage, as well as two children currently at home - Kirby, who will graduate from Basic High School this year and join the Coast Guard as a Marine Biologist, and McKenzie, 10, who can often be seen by T.J.?s side at Ner Tamid. His older children are: Pam, Ty, Kim, Karen, David, and Jeff. T.J. along with his daughter, McKenzie are Jews by Choice. He his active in the Men?s Club, acts as a greeter, helps with the children?s programs, assists Sisterhood in the kitchen, and can often be seen helping the staff in the office. He and McKenzie have also participated in the Interfaith Hospitality Network program each year since joining CNT. ?We?re helping hold families together,? explained T.J. about his involvement in IHN. ?You just bask in their excite?ment and feeling of success when you help them.? McKenzie is also quite active, now in TNT, Jr. Choir, and going through Hebrew School. ?I?ll be in everything they?ll allow me to be in,? she explained as she actively participated in T.J.?s interview! Overall, T.J. is a model congregant and gives us all something to look up to. His philosophy is ?the more you put into it, the more you get out of it and the more friends you make.? T.J. also explained that he had never had so many good friends and that the temple has given him much more than he could ever possibly return to it. ?Nobody can be more proud of getting this honor than me,? he explained. Well, T.J., we are quite proud to present it to you! Please join CNT in honoring T.J. Coon as our Congregant of the Year on January 31, 2003. This || 11 also be the New Member Shabbat honoring all our new members from 2002. T.J. has truly een an inspiration to our entire congregation and we know he sets a wonderful example to our newest members. Danny Maseng Scholar in Residence On February 7th and 8lh we will be hosting a very special guest for our annual Scholar in Residence program, Danny Maseng. There are great singers, there are gifted teachers, there are master storytellers, there are inspired speakers. Once in a generation they all come together in one person....Danny Maseng. Danny will be conducting a Shabbat service with a unique blend of the most popular melodies, old favorites and new originals, with great reverence along with our Cantorial Soloist, Bella Feldman and the Congregation Ner Tamid Adult Choir. In the morning, he will lead a brief Shabbat service followed by a program entitled: The eyes of continued on page 10 In This Issue... Worship Services 2 Rabbi's Message 2 Message from our President 3 Executive Director Message 4 Religious School/Preschool 5-6 Auxiliaries 7-9 January B'Nai Mitzvah 13 Anniversaries 18 Birthdays 18 Tributes 19-20 In Memoriam 15 Yahrzeits 21 (the Bulletin is published monthly) 1 A Special ?Place To ?BelongI____________________________?1 Worship Services Conducted by Rabbi Sanford Akselrad, Rabbi Jennifer Weiner, & Cantorial Soloist Bella Feldman Friday, January 3 Tot Shabbat 6:30 p.m. Shabbat Services 7:30 p.m. Oneg sponsored by the Sisterhood Saturday, January 4 Greg Herman Bar Mitzvah Kiddush sponsored by the Herman Family Bible Study 9:00-10:00 am Minyan and Torah Study 10:00 -11:00 a.m. Friday, January 10 Family Service with the Shabatones 7:30 Oneg Sponsored by the Sisterhood Saturday, January 11 Bible Study 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Minyan and Torah Study 10:00-11:00 a.m. Friday, January 17 Singles Service 6:00 p.m. Bar Mitzvah of Ian Shapin 7:30 p.m. Oneg sponsored by the Shapin Family Saturday, January 18 Bat Mitzvah of Megan Stolberg Kiddush sponsored by the Stolberg Family Bible Study 9:00-10:00 a.m. Minyan and Torah Study 10:00-11:00 a.m. Friday January 24 NFTY Shabbat/Conclave Weekend 7:30 p.m. Oneg sponsored by Parents ofNTTY Saturday January 25 9:00-10:00 a.m. Bible Study 10:00-11:00 a.m. Minyan and Torah Study Friday January 31 New Member photos 6:45 New Member /Congregant of the Year Shabbat 7:30 Oneg sponsored by the Popowcer Family in honor of TJ Coon and Alan?s Birthday Saturday February 1 Bar Mitzvah of Shaun Pink 10:00 a.m. Kiddush sponsored by the Pink Family Bible Study 9:00-10:00 a.m. Minyan and Torah Study 10:00-11:00 a.m. Rabbi's Message Happy New Year Trees As we approach this January, I want to wish everyone a happy new year. Happy new year? But is not that a greeting for Rosh HaShannah? Actually, the Jewish calendar has four new years. This January, we will be celebrating the new year of the tree also known as Tu B?Shavat. Tu B?Shvat is actually one of those holidays that in a way was recreated for the modem world. Back around the 16Ih century, the Kabbalists were looking for a means to celebrate this ancient holidays so they invented the TuB?Shvat seder. A seder? Yes. Yet, this seder was very different from the one that we are used to during the springtime celebration of Passover. Instead of matzah, there are different food categories filled with nuts and fruit. There are also different colors of wine or grape juice. Each category has a different meaning behind it. For instance, there is a category where only the actual fruit can be eaten like an orange where the rind and the seeds are not edible. Then there is the raison where the entire fmit can be consumed. Throughout the seder, we learn that just like the fruits have parts that can and cannot be eaten so too are life experiences and people. Sometimes, one meets a person who is guarded but when one gets to know that person, they have a heart of gold. Sometimes one meets a person who from the start has a heart of gold. Both are worthy people who relate to others in different fashions. So, too, do we do the same. Sometimes we are reserved and uncommitted to a task. Other times, we dive in whole-hearted and give our all. Through Tu B?Shvat and the different categories of fruits and nuts and colors of juice, we learn that there are all different manners of dealing with different situations in the world. In making a new year?s resolution this year, may we learn to be more tolerant of others who like ourselves may display different aspect of ourselves in different situations. May we learn to help others come out of their shells. And may we also learn to deal with and rid ourselves of our intolerances in our own lives. Only then can we truly learn the meaning of the Tu B?Shvat seder from all those centuries ago. Happy New Year Trees! Happy new year to us as we begin yet another of our four Jewish new years. Why is this night different than any other night? Make your plans for April 16,2003. Join with your family and friends for another great festive Seder and find out why... Congregation N e r Tam id January 2003 Scott Stolberg VP Administration Cookie Lea Olshein, esq VP Membership Ira Spector Hillary Torchin Mindy W adkins Gina Polovina Ira Miller Doug Unger Lynn Sasso Maxine Molinsky Yvonne Gordon Beth Bromberg Aimee Knox Cecilia Schafler Stacey Yahraus Marla Letizia Leon Marco JORDIE PRIMACK Ruth Urban Howard Layfer Samantha Willey Herman Steiner Drew Levy Bob Unger Esq. Jerry Gordon Esq. Cal Lewis Eileen Kollins Kenneth Schnitzer Dr. David Wasserman Dr. Steve Kollins |Hon. Michael Cherry JDr. Bernard Farrow ? Eugene Kjrshbaum* David Goldwater* Rabbi Sanford Akselrad Rabbi Jennifer Weiner VP Religious Activities VP Education & Youth VP Member Activities VP Social Action VP Ways & Means Treasurer Secretary Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Sisterhood Men's Club NTTY Golden Chai PastPresident Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Past President Ex Officio Ex Officio Check out ADULT EDUCATION OFFERINGS ATCNT on page 10 ESSAGE FROM OUR TEM PLE PRESIOENT A TALE OF TWO CITIES Well, really two villages. Their names are Kibbutz Metzer and Kfar Meisar and they're located in northern Isra?el just west of the 1967 green line. I have no idea how long the Arab village has been in existence, but Kib?butz Metzer was founded in 1953 on unused land confiscated from near?by villages by the Israeli government when land was exchanged between Israel and Jordan after 1948 . The kibbutz's founders came from Argen?tina and were very idealistic in their love for the land and the possibili?ties of living side by side with their neighbors in adjacent agrarian Arab villages. Kibbutzniks will tell you that they learned how to grow olives from their Arab neighbors and that they in turn taught the Meisarniks how to grow other crops such as ba?nanas and citrus. Over the years, other links grew be?tween the two villages. The two vil?lages have separate wells but made arrangements to share water when one or the other had a problem. Even?tually, pipes were installed that al?lowed water to be routinely transferred between the two villag?es as necessary. The village chil?dren played together and at one point a mixed soccer team was formed to play teams from Israeli and Arab towns. Kibbutniks and Meisarniks at?tended each other's life cycle events and holiday celebrations. As the Jews developed or adopted new technolo?gies for increasing the yield of their fields and orchards, these techniques were transferred to their Arab neigh?bors. The kibbutz even helped the latter buy their first tractors. Since they shared a road, Israelis and Ar?abs gave each other rides to nearby towns as a common courtesy. And in A Meisar there are several homes that are distinctly different than most others; they look, in fact, very much like the homes in Metzei?and so they should: they were designed by the same Israeli architects. Not long ago, the kibbutz hosted a get-to?gether called "A Meeting of Tastes" in which cooks from both villages prepared foods to be shared. And almost unbelievably, when the men of Metzer were called to active ser?vice in the 1967 war, men from Mei?sar helped harvest the kibbutz's apple crop. In the two years of the current intifada, not one person from Metzer has been harmed by their neighbors. In short, these two little villages were a microcosmic example of what might be if real peace settled on Israel. But now the realities of the larger struggle have begun to intrude into the world of Kibbutz Metzer and Kfar Meisar. In October, in an ef?fort to block the flow of terrorists, the Government of Israel decided to build a security fence between most of the Israeli population and the West Bank Palestinians. In Sa?maria, the army determined that the fence should pass 800 meters east of Kibbutz Metzer, a line that cut off part of Meisar's olive groves, as well as a large part of the groves of another nearby Arab village with which the Metzerim had close rela?tions. Upon learning this, represen?tatives of Metzer went to the Ministry of Defense to argue that the fence should be moved nearer to Metzer itself so as to cut off much less of the Palestinians' groves. The issue is still undecided, but the kibbutzniks feel that they are los- continued on page 12 S p ecial January 2003 Place To Belong ? W CNT Participates in Jewish Film Festival ?Solomon and Gaenor Sunday, January 19 4 PM Suncoast Hotel movie theater The 2003 Jewish Film Festival will take place on January, 18, 19, and 20. Sisterhood, Men?s Club, and CNT are jointly sponsoring one of this year?s films, ?Solomon and Gaenor?. The film?s setting is 19lh Century Wales and it tells the story of a young Jewish man and a Welsh girl who fall in love and the problems that they have in dealing with their respective family?s opposition to their being together. This picture was reviewed by our president, Stewart Blumenfeld. It was filmed in Wales and Stewart says that the acting (by Welsh actors not familiar to American audiences) is outstanding and the cinematography, stunning. The film has a completely unpredictable ending. Stewart gives it ?two thumbs up? and commends it ?enthusiastically? to all our members, including teenagers from about age 15 on. ?Solomon and Gaenor? will be shown at 4 pm on Sunday, January 19, at the Suncoast Hotel movie theater. Before and after the screening, someone familiar with the film?s production will be on hand to comment on the film and to answer questions. Tickets are $10 and are available either at the temple office in advance or at the Suncoast box office on that Sunday. All proceeds from the screening accrue to Sisterhood, Men?s Club, and CNT. For a full schedule of the Las Vegas Celebration of Jewish Film check out www.desertspace.org. UAHC PACIFIC SOUTHWEST COUNCIL BIENNIAL CONVENTION Los Angeles - Nearly 700 congregants from the 80 synagogues of the Pacific Southwest Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congrega?tions will gather from Friday, February 21st, to Sunday, February 23rd, to explore, worship, study and celebrate together at the 2003 Regional Biennial Convention in Cost Mesa, CA. The theme for the weekend is ?Ki Mitziyon Teitzei Torah-From Out of Zion Goes Forth Torah.? The weekend long convention will be held at the Costa Mesa (California) Hilton Hotel. Launching the weekend on Friday morning will be a pre?biennial study kallah with two outstanding scholars? Dr. David S. Sperling, Professor of Bible at Hebrew Union College and Dr. Dvora Weisberg, Professor of Rabbinical Literature at Hebrew Union College. The theme of the kallah is ?Visions of Israel: Biblical and Rabbinic Imaginings.? The Biennial formally begins with a plenary lunch on Friday. More than 30 workshops focusing on synagogue management, education and youth, social action and spirituality will be offered, along with creative Shabbat services, one-on-one consultations with the experts, a gala banquet and installation, and music from the leading cantors and soloists of the Region. On Shabbat morning we will test-drive the new Reform prayer book, Mishkan T?filah. For late Friday night Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin is promising a fabulous kumsitz song session, and on Saturday night Rabbi Joe Black, Cantor Patti Linsky and friends will put on a breathtaking songfest. Other distinguished guests include Russell Silverman, Chairman of the UAHC Board; Rabbi Lennard Thai, Senior Vice President, UAHC; Rabbi Daniel Freelander, Vice President, UAHC; Rabbi Larry Raphael, Director of Adult Jewish Growth at the UAHC; Mark Pelavin, Associate Director, Religious Action Center; Dru Greenwood, Director, Outreach and Synagogue Community; Rabbi Richard Address, Director, Jewish Family Concerns; Paul Reichenbach, Director of Jewish Family Concerns; Rabbi Linda Bertenthal, Associate Regional Director of the UAHC, Pacific Southwest Council; and Rabbi Alan Henkin, Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Council. Much of this Biennial?s programming focuses on Israel. On Saturday, five study lunches will look at such issues as the Land of Israel in the Torah, What Makes the Jewish State Jewish?, the History of Zionism, Reform Judaism in Israel Today, and Hamatsav: What?s Going On? In addition, Israel?s Ministry of Tourism will have a display, as will ARZA Travel. Dozens of other vendors will be offering their services, artwork and programs. For more information and to receive the complete registration brochure, call the UAHC office at 888-834-UAHC. You can also download registration material from our website at uahc-psw.org. A special UAHC room rate is available by calling the Cost Mesa Hilton at 714-540- 7000. The Union of American Hebrew Congregations is the central body of the Reform Jewish movement in North America, and represents 1.5 million Jews in more than 900 congregations across the United States and Canada. UAHC services include music and book publishing, camps, adult education, and the Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C. The Pacific Southwest Council of the UAHC embraces 80 Reform congregations across Southern California, Southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas. 1 Congregation N e r Tam id January 2003 Religious School News Religious School Calendar January 2003 Sunday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 1 No R/S 2 No R/S 5 7 6 9 12 14 15 16 19 No R/S 21 22 25 26 26 29 30 January 1st- -2nd Winter BreaK As Strong as the Root Judaism is often compared to a tree. A tree of life, the shape of a menorah and many metaphors. Judaism as a tree growing from a deep-rooted system nourished by tradition, respect, torah and pmily. i have often felt that the children in the religious school are similar to a tree. They seem to be like the trunk of life that grows wider and stronger with the knowledge they obtain from their schools and their families. As I previewed the January calendar, I noticed the Bat and Bar Mitzvah list. I felt proud of the students and thankful for their wonderful, supportive families. Every student that reaches this milestone in his or her life helps me to feel that my life choice to become an educator was and is the correct vocation for me. Our children are what keep the tree of Judaism strong. In our religious school, many of the students are progressing so rapidly in their studies that we are now developing an advance studies program. It has always been a problem in religious schools to have many students with the opposite situation. Some have attended Hebrew day schools, which has helped them to learn at a more rapid rate. We need to teach each child, each mind, with the proper stimuli. My staff and I are aware of this responsibility to our students, to your children. We, the Jewish people, are only as strong as our root system. Our tree of life will only survive with a well nourished root sys?tem and a strong trunk held up by our children, ?OUR FU?TURE?. Please support your children, support our school and please support our youth. Thanks. Shalom, The 2nd & 3rd graders will be performing with the Shabbatones on Friday January 10th Torah 2 U We live in an age of convenience. We e-mail and we use the Internet for almost everything. It sometimes makes us feel as if the personal touch is missing. Torah 2 U is a program for adults that comes to you. Several friends get together to Study Torah in someone?s house. The portion is discussed in an informal manner. Then the evening seems to take off on a magical journey of its own with everyone sharing their opinions and learning with each other. We conclude with some desserts and beverages. If you are interested in being part of this program contact.. .Jackie Fleekop at the Temple office 733-6292. A S p ecial January 2003 Place To Belong cut m/ciieei *n? kih?ercartcm December was an exciting and fun filled month for all of our students and staff here at the preschool and kindergarten. We all worked very hard preparing for our Chanukah program. Our superstar production was certainly Broadway material. Who knows where the CNT kids will go from here. It was delightful to hear our little ones say the blessings and sing the traditional Chanukah melodies. Our youngsters all enjoyed cooking and eating Latkes and Sufganot. We each presented our parents with a hand made gift in handmade wrapping paper with our own great cards. We went on a field trip to the Shark Reef, it was sure fun We also enjoyed singing for the Golden Chai and hearing a story from the Rabbi. Along with all of these activities we are planning many new projects and field trips for this month of January. We will be celebrating Martin Luther King?s Birthday. Miss Lois A the students looking at the voting machines on Election Day Shabbat - L-R: Jared, April A Libby We are preparing for our spring planting for Tu B? Shev;^ Of course we continue to learn our numbers, letters, colors shapes, prereading and math skills, along with music, science, computer and history. Our new semester will be starting this month. We have many new students beginning their Preschool adventure. We have only a very few spots remaining, in Preschool and Kindergarten. If you have a child or grandchild between the ages of 2 1\2 and 5 years of age, and want a quality Secular and Jewish education for that child, call as at the CNT office 733-6292 Lois Bergman Early Childhood Director The Kindergarten class outside in the playground Hard at work on an art project f ? gL Congregation N e r Tam id January 2003 Shalom, It is hard to believe 2003 is already here and Chanukah was over a month ago. Hope your holiday season was wonderful, and I wish you and yours a healthy and happy New Year. Sisterhood has many exciting things planned for January, beginning with Rosh Chodesh on January 4, and a presentation on Women in the Torah by Rabbi Weiner on January 15. We are cosponsoring film for the Jewish Film Festival with CNT and the Men?s Club, on the afternoon of January 19. Please check out the article about the film in this month?s bulletin. A big THANK YOU to Darlene Vaturi and Arlene Kagan, Sisterhood?s Vice Presidents of Ways and Means who spearheaded the sales drive, and an even bigger THANK YOU to all our Sisterhood members and congregants, including the NTTY members, who sold and bought Robinson/May coupon books. We were the winners of the cash incentive for selling the largest number of books, and we placed third for attendance at the event. We are thrilled! fcehbie Hallerman and Andrea Harris, Sisterhood?s Donor Co- TThairs have scheduled our donor event for June I, 2003. I know that seems like a long way away, but it is important for you to keep in mind that now is the time to earn your hours for donor through a variety of ways. You can do so by volunteering at fundraising events or activities, such as working in the Gift Shop and for the Party Shop or helping with special mailings. You can also earn donor credit by baking for Onegs or making direct contributions to Sisterhood or our programs, like the FUN-D 4 Youth. You can also earn donor credit when you purchase a Sisterhood mitzvah membership or send a tribute to your friends and family. There are a lot of ways to earn donor credit, including sponsoring any event such as an Oneg, Kiddush or special occasion through the Party Shop. In order to make donor, members must make a minimum contribution of $100.00 in cash or through volunteer credit. Last year?s event was wonderful and more women than ever made donor. Ladies, let?s break the record this year! The Sisterhood Board is examining a revision in the Bylaws to develop a path for leadership, so the next Sisterhood president has someone she can mentor to fill her shoes. This will shorten the learning curve and provide more continuity for Sisterhood. In order to revise the Bylaws we need to do so at two general membership meetings. We have scheduled those meetings in January and February so we can have the changes made before the nominations and election of a new Sisterhood Board. Please mark your calendars now and plan to come to our general membership meetings on January 15 and February 2. Both meetings will be pot-luck dinners that start at 5:30 and end at 7pm, just before the Sisterhood programs start on those days. On January 15, it is Rabbi Weiner?s presentation and on Feburary 2 it is Rosh Chodesh. Plan to come to the meeting and stay for these two wonderful events. I look forward to seeing you. Check our website for the most up to date information on Sisterhood programs at www.cntsisterhood.com Please feel free to call me at 768-8529, or email me at ruth@ruth-urban-group.com if you have any questions about Sisterhood. I welcome your input and questions My best, %utfi Urban, Sisterhood President Ever wonder who pays for the beautiful Onegs that you enjoy each Shabbat if they aren?t sponsored by a family? Sisterhood has been covering those expenses, and it has become harder and harder to do. Because of this, an Oneg Fund has now been added to the Temple?s list of funds that congregants can contribute to in honor of a special event or in memory of someone. Contributions to this fund will help defray the costs of the unsponsored Onegs that have been picked up by Sisterhood. More and more temples are adding this special fund to their donation opportunities as the costs for food and serving supplies have gone up. Proceeds from this fund will go directly to Sisterhood to help defray Sisterhoods costs. Congregation ?J\er 'Tumid January 2003 A Special Place To Belong CNT ?Mensch of the Year? is a Great Success! Ira and Adrienne Miller, Co-Chairs of CNT?s first ?Mensch of the Year? event, proudly announce that the fundraiser exceeded the ambitious goal. Ed Nigro, Las Vegas gaming executive and developer was most gracious in thanking CNT for this honor. We, in turn, want to thank Ed, his wife Lee, sons Mike and Todd, and Susan Seutter and Simone Matos of Nigro Associ?ates, for their great support and assistance in making the entire weekend event so successful. More than 200 people attended the black tie dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel on Saturday, November 16th. Jerry & Yvonne Gordon and Art & Jayn Marshall served as Dinner Committee Chairs. The honorary chairs were Governor & Mrs. Kenny C. Guinn, Senator Harry & Landra Reid, Senator John & Darlene Ensign, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley and Dr. Larry Lehrner, and Mayor & Mrs. Oscar B. Goodman. The evening started with sumptuous appetizers and cocktails. We were entertained with piano music and the amazing talents of magician Shimshi. The Grand Ballroom was elegantly deco?rated, highlighted by the incredible table decorations designed by Yvonne Gordon. The dinner offered one elegant course after another, accompanied by fine wines. Throughout the evening we were entertained by Los Angeles musician Rick Jarrett and his band. The dancing was great fun! Stewart Blumenfeld, Temple President, led off the festivities with a welcoming speech. Rabbi Akslerad gave the blessing. Jerry Gordon served as Master of Ceremonies during the evening. Other speakers were Brian Greenspun, Bill Weinberger, Alton LeBlanc, Jr., Lee Nigro, and Mike & Todd Nigro. Ed was al?lowed a short rebuttal, but he graciously used his time to again thank us, showing just what a Mensch he really is. Ed was presented with a special yamulke, lovingly sewn by Yvonne Gor?don, as a special memento. Following the speakers, we were entertained by the incomparable Clint Holmes. Bemie Yuman, our Entertainment Chair, was responsible for arranging for both Shimshi and Clint Holmes. Overall the dinner was an amazing event. Special thanks go to Sharna Blumenfeld and Yvonne Gordon, with assistance from Jacky Rosen and Adrienne Miller. Andrea Miera captured the special evening in her wonderful photographs. individuals who helped us honor Ed and raise money to support CNT. The Commemorative Journal could not have been don^fc without the great assistance of Marla Letizia, Tony Schafer, ai^p Danny Herrera, of the Letizia Ad Team. And again Yvonne Gor?don did much of the design and layout and Adrienne Miller made most of the calls to get commitments, copy, and especially to coordinate with the printer. Thanks are also due to Jack Bulavsky who headed up our Public?ity Committee, Irv Duchowny and the entire CNT office staff especially Mary Zone who once again was quietly resourceful and who handled the extra workload with their usual efficiency and good nature, and Stewart Blumenfeld, who helped as usual with whatever needed to get done. Final thanks go to all of Ed?s friends and business associates and the many generous CNT members for their participation and financial support of this major fundraising event. You are all Mensches! On Sunday, the Mensch Golf Tournament teed off at noon at Angel Park. Ed led 40 golfers in a spirited best ball scramble tournament. Prizes were awarded for both the best low gross and net scores. Bob Unger provided beautiful shirts and hats from his soon to be opened Tuscany Golf Course for all the winners. The weather was beautiful, but what else would you expect for a mensch! A great time was had by all. Many thanks to our Golf Chairs, Geoff Schafler, whose team finished second, and Bob Unger, whose team just finished. A special Commemorative Journal was prepared in conjunction with the event. Copies are available at the Temple for all CNT members. Please pick up a copy and note the many firms and Congregation N e r Tam id L-R: Mr. & Mrs. Art Marshall, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Gordon, Mr. & Mrs. Ed Nigro & Mr. & Mrs. Ira Miller L-R: Bob Unger, Geoff Schafler & Ed Nigro January 2003 Auxiliaries Continued Men s Club Men's Club has Busy Schedule January kicks off a New Year of exciting special events planned by your Men?s Club. We encourage your participation. Mark your calendars so you will not miss out on the fun. Our health fair, La Chiani.. .To Life, is Sunday, January 12"' at 9:30 AM. It is co-sponsored by Steinberg Diagnostic Center and admission is free. Presentations by Dr. David Steinberg, radiologist and Dr. Robert Shiroff, cardiologist will provide information on early detection and treatment of cancer and heart disease. Our health fair is a chance to have many of your medical questions answered while enjoying a stroll from booth to booth meeting our health care exhibitors. Free raffles and giveaways will add to the fun. Men?s club will serve Bagels and noshes so you can relax and visit with friends. Jewish Film Festival, Sunday, January 19lh, 4 PM. The Men?s Club, Sisterhood and CNT will sponsor the Las Vegas Premier of Solomon and Gaenor. You will enjoy this Jewish version of Romeo and Juliet set in Wales in 1911. A Jewish boy in love with a Christian girl sparks family disapproval. This is an interesting film that will create lots of discussion. The Holocaust Happened!, Sunday, February 23rd, 9:30 AM. Holocaust survivor Regena Hirsch vividly brings to life the horror ^Hid hope she experienced. You will be mesmerized as you learn "ow an average upper class Polish child is tom from a normal life to experience Hitler?s madness. She has spoken at colleges and meetings throughout the country and has the ability to connect with her audiences. I have met our speaker and guarantee that you will always regret it if you miss hearing her. Men?s Club Annual Golf Tournament, Sunday morning April 6"'. This annual event is the perfect setting for duffer and near pro alike. Designed so that everyone has fun, it is a best ball scramble format. Mark the date and gather your foursomes now. Last year we were entirely sold out. You can register on line at CNTmensclub.org. We are also working on some very special guests for our Sunday morning breakfasts. Don?t forget to check the website so you don?t miss out. TJ. HONORED I was very excited when I learned that T.J. Coons will be honored as our temple?s Congregant of the Year. We in the Men?s Club know how special T.J. is. The committee was right on with its choice. Speaking of T.J. I?m happy to announce that after working for almost a year he has arranged for the M