Isn't this a great new look! We hope you like it.
Following the service there will be a Kiddush lunch sponsored by the board of
Lev Eisha in honor of Rabbi Toba August.
Our April service is on April 1 (no fooling.)
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We are introducing a new column we think you will enjoy.
It will feature a recipe that is relevant to the holiday taking place during the month.
In the month of March we celebrate Purim.
One of the traditions of this holiday is Shalah Manot or the giving of gifts.
The gifts are a meal wrapped up and placed in colorful baskets.
This is a good time to get children involved.
The following recipe is easy enough for children to prepare with just a little help.
It has been a favorite in our family for a long time.
Rocky Road Bars
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts
1 - 6 oz package of semi-sweet chocolate
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add sugar, egg, butter, vanilla and mix well.
Stir in finely chopped nuts.
Pour into a 9-inch square pan that has been sprayed well with non-stick spray.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bake for about 15 minutes. It should be lightly browned.
Remove from the oven.
Sprinkle remaining ingredients over the top in the order listed in the recipe.
Return to the oven for 2 minutes so that the chocolate will soften.
Remove from the oven and swirl the chocolate over the marshmallows and nuts.
Cool until chocolate is set and cut into bars.
If the kitchen is warm, place baking dish in the refrigerator until chocolate is set.
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Shabbat Shirah
Installation of Rabbi August
Lev Eisha Fundraiser
The Board
Torah Thoughts from From Rabbi August
At last month's breakfast study Rabbi August talked about Shabbat Shirah coming up the next week. The following Friday in the Jewish Journal her article appeared continuing on that theme.
This Sabbath is so named because Moses and the Israelites sang "The Song of the Sea" after they experienced the redemption at the splitting of the Red Sea. The Rabbi references Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav who believed that we each have the task to find our own special melody.
Rabbi August went on to say, and I paraphrase, that when we sing our true song we can praise God in times of pain, sorrow and joy. May we all be inspired to sing our songs.
The complete text of the article can be found here.
On March 11, 2006, Adat Shalom is celebrating the installation of Rabbi August with a gala affair.
Rabbi Naomi Levy will be the installing officer.
Joe Klein, author of "Primary Colors" is the featured speaker.
If you have not received your invitation please call the Adat Shalom office at
310-475-4985. We hope you will join us for this splendid occasion.
SAVE THE DATE: April 30, 2006 at 2 o'clock
Our 2006 Lev Eisha fundraiser event, "The Heart of Fashion" will
feature 10 Lev Eisha models, showing off beautiful outfits from Draper's and Damon's.
There will be a variety of vendors selling fashion and home accessories, wonderful raffle gifts, and a scrumptious hors d'oeuvres and dessert buffet.
The Master of Ceremonies is our own flamboyant Mollie Wine.
This sounds too good to miss.
The funds raised by this event and membership dues support our monthly service and events throughout the year.
The Board is having another enjoyable year. Soon it will be time for the nominating committee to look for next year's board members. New members bring fresh ideas and new ways of doing things. If you would like to join us we could sure use your help. Let us know you are interested by e-mailing info@leveisha.org or letting any of the board members know your interest when you see them at services.
Come join the fun! Yes I said fun and I am also benefiting from my new friendships.
(The editor)
We are at Sinai, waiting and preparing to receive the Torah. Imagine really being there; really being there! The anticipation, the fear, the hopes, and most of all, the unknown. Who is this God and what is "Torah"? Why do we need commandments? Do we have to follow them? What if we can't or don't want to? What if they will change my life? Who will I be then? Where are we going and what are we becoming on our journey?
Our Torah readings for these weeks in late February and early March deal with the events leading up to receiving the 10 Commandments.
I would like to share some ideas from Rabbi Shefa Gold, whom we all know through her music, especially "Mah Gadlu"- a meditative prayer that we sing on Shabbat morning at our service.
The Blessing, by Rabbi Shefa Gold
"The great blessing that comes to us this week of Parshat Yitro is the blessing of Divine revelation. When, in our wanderings, we come to Sinai, God speaks to each of us directly. The mountain of revelation appears to us on our journey when we are ready to receive the awesome truth of our connection to The Source, to each other and to all of Creation. In that moment it will become clear - obviously, God is the true reality. Bowing down to my illusions would be silly.
Of course, I cannot hurt any other living thing without hurting myself. We are a part of each other. Of course, there is no need to steal. Who is there to steal from, but another part of the larger self that I am? In that moment of revelation it will become clear that the desire that has created such turmoil within me is based on an illusion of lack. I, who am connected to all of Creation, am rich beyond measure..."
Rabbi Shefa Gold tells us that the "moment of revelation is a moment of clarity." At that moment, when we open ourselves to receive a deeper understanding of our "selves" in relationship to "God - the source of creation," we receive a perspective on the "whole". For that moment when we are able to "receive" we know that we are all part of the Divine Universe of Light, Justice, Love and Peace.
We are taught in the Talmud that the purpose of "Revelation," the giving of the Torah, is to complete the act of creation and to perfect humanity. We receive an awareness of the Divine, the possibilities of being Godlike in our world and we are raised up, transformed and refined.
My dear friends, let us prepare to receive. Take time to breathe, to laugh, to dance, to walk to learn and to love. When we are engaged in these activies, and others, we have time to let God in, and to discover the Holy places within ourselves. Let us share when we meet in March at our Lev Eisha service, the insights we have gained, the actions we have taken and the songs that we have sung, as we opened up to receive the Holy Light, from within -from our God. Amen Selah.
