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INAUGURAL JOHN D. MACKINTOSH VISITING ARTIST WEEKENDVolunteer Recognition & BaccalaureateShabbat Service with MusicalGuest Cantor Natalie YoungFriday, June 10, 7:30 pmSanctuary & Live-streamPlease join us for our Inaugural John D. MacKintoshVisiting Artist on Friday evening with Rabbi PJ Schwartz,Cantor Devorah Felder-Levy, musical guest CantorNatalie Young, and our Shir Hadash Choir. We willcelebrate the beautiful music of Cantor Natalie Young,honor our volunteers, and give a special blessing to allof our baccalaureate students graduating in 2022.Cantor Natalie Young has a gift for writing beautiful andmemorable melodies and has made prayer experiencesaccessible for worshipers young and old. The power ofmusic is something she takes seriously not just in her music writing, but howshe connects with people and crafts services as a cantor. Natalie proudly servesas the cantor at Temple Beth El in Aliso Viejo, California. She is also privilegedto be able to share her musical gifts and teachings with communities as acantor/composer-in-residence throughout the year.Her music is uplifting and joyous and the choir has been really enjoyinglearning her music. We know that you will enjoy her as well.IN THIS ISSUEGala 2From Rabbi Gottlieb 3Shavuot Breakfast & StudySession 4End of Life Planning 4June Services 4Lunch & Learn 5Social Justice Film Series 5NICOnnections! 6June Calendar 6Shabbat Morning Service with Cantor YoungSaturday, June 11, 10:30 amFollowed by Kiddush LuncheonPlease join Cantor Felder-Levy and Cantor Natalie Young for this Shabbatmorning service as we continue to enjoy the beautiful music composed byCantor Young and sing and pray through the service in song.The service will be followed by a Kiddush luncheon sponsored by Naomi andDavid Parker and Jerry Marks.www.shirhadash.org 408–358–1751VOLUME 43, ISSUE 8J u n e 2 0 2 2 S iv a n – T a mmu z 5 7 8 2

Saturday, August 13, 6:30–9:30 pmDust off your feathers and pearls—our annual gala is “roaring” back to life as a1920s-style speakeasy extravaganza. Come celebrate Shir Hadash in person inthe spirit of the 1920s. We’re going to cut loose and fire up the gramophone for anight of jazz, dice games, dinner, and drinks. 1920s social club frivolity meets 2020shealth precautions to bring you back in time for one humdinger of a night. Don’t feel“prohibited”—we’ll have libations and food aplenty. Costumes admired, not required.Register at shirhadash.org/gala2022.C O N G R E G AT I O N S H I R H A DA S H J u ne 2 0 2 2 E - N O T E S 2

FROM RABBI DANNY GOTTLIEBBuilding Upon a Strong FoundationIn September of lastyear, I was engagedbyCongregationShirHadash to serve as your“Transitional Rabbi” duringthe period of transition thatbegan with the retirementof Rabbi Aron and will continue through the integrationof Rabbi Socolovsky. The resignation of Rabbi Riterhad left a vacuum in the leadership structure, and withhis departure there was also a great deal of anxiety(and perhaps a bit of chaos) that had the potential tonegatively affect the rabbinic search and the smoothrunning of the congregation through the transitionalperiod. At the recommendation of CCAR and URJleadership, I was brought on in this newly created role,visiting the congregation monthly and working remotelyin between visits.I was given three priority mandates: To supervise and mentor the clergy and senioradministrative staff. To work with the Board of Trustees and senior layleaders to help ensure a successful search andtransition. To be an active member of the clergy team, withlimited responsibilities in the areas of worship, Torahstudy and adult education, and representation ofCSH in the community.I began my work by conducting an extensive “deeplistening” campaign with senior lay and professionalleaders and other stakeholders, gathering informationabout the congregation, its values and vision, from theBenchmark Survey and Web Site. I met individually andcollectively with the clergy and senior administrativestaff, supervising their work and mentoring them in bothday-to-day issues and long-term career planning.Prior to the completion of the Senior Rabbi search,I designed and led a Board Retreat on Core ValuesIdentification and Prioritization, which I believe washelpful in unifying the Board in its visioning of CSH’sfuture, contributing to a successful search and layingthe foundation for the integration of Rabbi Nico and forsuccessful change management for the future. Uponthe successful conclusion of the Senior Rabbi search, Iorganized and led a clergy retreat for Cantor Felder-Levy,C O N G R E G AT I O N S H I R H A DA S H Rabbi Schwartz, Rabbi Socolovsky, and myself, to beginteam-building and visioning for the future.During my time at Shir Hadash, I spent extensive one-onone time with Cantor Felder-Levy, Rabbi Schwartz, andRabbi Socolovsky, counseling them on matters relatedto the changes in leadership structure, worship, andprogramming that will accompany the change in SeniorRabbi, and on matters related to their career goals andplanning, as well as one-on-one time with Andy Altmanand senior staff and lay leaders, consulting and advisingon a variety of issues.I also had the opportunity to speak at a number ofcongregational events and meetings, preparingthe congregation for transition and change byintroducing principles of transition and changemanagement — “Transition begins with an ending andends with a beginning” — “If it is not broken, breakit!” — “If you run your business today the way you ran it 20years ago, you’ll go out of business!” — “On the thruway,it is good to have a rear-view mirror. But if you spendall of your time looking in it, you will find yourself inbig trouble!”Much of the work that I have done has been “behind thescenes” or “under the radar” because I have found thatto be the most effective way to be helpful to staff andlay leadership. This has allowed the focus to remain onthe resident temple staff and leaders, allowing them togrow professionally with additional responsibilities, andto pave the way for Rabbi Nico’s imminent arrival. I havethoroughly enjoyed my time with you, and I will missbeing a part of this wonderful community. I believe thatyou are poised for success, and that the future will befilled with excitement and vibrant growth, building uponthe strong foundation of those who came before.Last Shabbat, we reached the end of the Book ofLeviticus, a book dedicated to sacrifice as a way ofdrawing oneself near to God. At the end of the finalchapter, we followed the custom of saying, “Chazak,chazak, v’nitchazek—Be strong, be strong, and let usstrengthen one another.” It is my fervent hope that Ihave given some strength to Shir Hadash during thistransitional time, as I can assure you you have givento me.“Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek”J u ne 2 0 2 2 E - N O T E S 3

SINAI MEMORIAL CHAPELSHAVUOTBreakfast & Study SessionSunday, June 5, 9:00 amOn Shavuot morning, prior to our morning services at10:30 am, join Rabbi Schwartz and Cantor Felder-Levy fora dairy-filled breakfast and study session on the conceptof revelation in Judaism.Register on the temple calendar. Cost: 10/person.New Evening Service TimePlease note that beginning July 1,Friday evening services will begin at 6:15 pm.The Benefits of End of LifePlanningMonday, June 6, 6:00 pmDuring the pandemic, more and more people are havinganxiety about their finitude. At Sinai Memorial Chapel, weare able to give people greater peace of mind by helpingthem understand how they can make advance plans fortheir end of life, both for a funeral and a final resting place.As a non-profit, Sinai is offering a service to our membersas well as giving back to the greater community at large.At this meeting, we will discuss: Why plan in advance? What in our Jewish tradition encourages advanceplanning? Who is Sinai and what do we do? What are the core things to think about whenmaking an advance plan? What are the steps to proceed?Please register on the temple website, or reachout directly to Cara Walden, at (415) 921–3636 orcwalden@sinaichapel.org.June ServicesFRI7:00 pmShabbat B’Yachad17SAT10:30 am7:00 pmLast Shir Shabbat ServiceConfirmation Service18SUN59:00 am10:30 amShavuot Breakfast & Study SessionFestival Morning Service with Yizkor24FRI7:30 pmSAT10:30 am341011Volunteer Recognition &Baccalaureate Shabbat ServiceShabbat Morning Service withCantor Natalie YoungFRI7:30 pmSAT10:30 amFRI7:30 pmSAT10:30 am25Shabbat ServiceBat Mitzvah of Sophia JacobsonShabbat ServiceInformal Shabbat ServiceServices are in person unless noted.Live via Zoom. Sign up at shirhadash.org/calendar.I n person, also available live-streamed onShir Hadash TV, at shirhadash.org/live.C O N G R E G AT I O N S H I R H A DA S H J u ne 2 0 2 2 E - N O T E S 4

LUNCH & LEARNSHOC & ADULT EDUCATIONTuesday, June 14, 11:30 amWednesday, June 22, 7:30 pmBeginning with Jewish mother caricatures in the silent era,through their evolution to becoming an indispensablesegment of the Hollywood storytelling machine, Jewishwomen have never failed to capture the big screen withtheir attitudes, intelligence, appearance, style and, mostof all, proudly Jewish wit. From such attention-gettingcharacter actresses as Judy Holliday, Selma Diamond,Madeline Kahn, Sandra Bernhard, Sylvia Miles, and DorisRoberts to superstars like Fanny Brice, Gertrude Berg,Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus,we’re giving it up for the ladies and all the laughs they’veprovided over the decades. And we won’t forget aboutShelley Winters!SHOC (Shir Hadash Organizing Committee) and theAdult Education committee are presenting a five-partcommunity film series on social justice problems. The firstfilm in the series will be shown and discussed on June 22at 7:30 pm, via Zoom. The film is the short documentaryActivized, which tells the stories of ordinary people whofor the first time in their lives have left their comfort zonesand become involved in gun violence prevention, votingrights, and immigrant rights. The film will be followed bya panel discussion, with three panelists who will tell theirstories.Funny GirlsLunch & Learn, a group of seniors that has been meetingat Congregation Shir Hadash for 10 years, has grown tosome 200 members, with monthly programs attracting 40people or more. Join us for the chance to visit, eat lunch,and hear a speaker or program.Social Justice Film SeriesRegister on the temple calendar.The remaining four films in the series will be: July 27: Suppressed 2021: The War on Democracy.Voter suppression. August 24: Transhood. Follows four young peopleand their families as they navigate growing uptransgender in America’s heartland. October 26: Kiss the Ground. Science experts andcelebrity activists unpack the ways in which theearth’s soil may be the key to combating climatechange and preserving the planet. November 30: Pandora’s Promise. The atomicbomb and accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushimahave made nuclear power synonymous with globaldisaster. But what if we’ve got nuclear powerwrong?C O N G R E G AT I O N S H I R H A DA S H J u ne 2 0 2 2 E - N O T E S 5