Introducing The Shofar
In response to the Rabbi Evaluation survey last fall, many of you wrote that you want to feel a deeper connection to Netivot Shalom, to know more about what is happening behind the scenes, and to feel more a part of the community. The Board took these comments to heart. As part of an effort to build stronger community bonds, we are revitalizing the “old” Netivot Shalom newsletter (formerly in a print version) and renaming it The Shofar to not confuse it with the weekly emailed announcements.
This is the first of what we hope will be bimonthly editions of The Shofar. Each edition will have a feature article plus regular columns with member spotlights, updates from shul leadership and committees, and chapters from Netivot Shalom’s history; suggestions of Jewish cultural happenings; a recipe; and information about upcoming Netivot events.
We want to hear from you! What would you like us to cover in future issues? Would you like to contribute an item yourself or join the team? Please send us your questions, ideas, and offers to help at theshofar@netivotshalom.org.
Thank you to Lee Bearson for behind the scenes technical work, and to Lisa Sibony for the graphics which accompany each column.
We are excited to share this inaugural edition with you.
Your Shofar team,
Ellen London – Board President, member since 2018, wife of Ethan Simonowitz and mother of three school-age sons who attend OHDS (one of whom is in Amitim), attorney specializing in civil litigation.
Carole Baden – member since the ‘oughts, service leader, member and chair of several committees, former Board member, and technical writer.
Cathy Shadd Rosenfeld – member since 1998, wife of Dov Rosenfeld and mother of two grown daughters, former Shabbat B’Yachad/Rimmonim coordinator, retired teacher and social worker.
How often have you heard someone say, “I’m not very creative” or “I’m not good at art”? Well, Netivot congregant and Jewish Studio Project (JSP) co-founder Rabbi Adina Allen is not having it…
New Member Profiles: Sarah Stone
So happy to have found CNS! My spouse, Ron Nyren, and I first came to Shavuot last year and fell for CNS: the wildly beautiful, loving, funny, serious, and supportive community; the rich, meaningful way everyone creates services, holidays, classes, and committees…
In each issue of the newsletter, we will publish several memorials from our Book of Memories in a column called “Of Blessed Memory.” Rabbi Kelman conceived of the Netivot Shalom Members Memorial Book in 2017 as a way to honor the memory of our deceased congregants. Diane Bernbaum writes the stories and Lee Bearson designs…
The ongoing “From Our History” column draws on and condenses the very detailed history of Netivot Shalom by Diane Bernbaum and Joanna Weinberg, founding members. This introductory column not only summarizes their account, but also contains an introduction to that account by Rabbi Stuart Kelman…
How fun to have a Newsletter again! Many thanks to Cathy Shadd Rosenfeld, Carole Baden, Ellen London, and Lee Bearson for taking on this project! I thought I’d take this opportunity – the first Newsletter – to highlight just a few of the issues that we’re working on. Membership this year is up over last…
How great is this newsletter? We’re just thrilled to get this going in response to what we have heard from you about wanting to be more connected with each other. A HUGE thank you to our newsletter team, Cathy Rosenfeld and Carole Baden, who not only stepped up to help but then went above and…
“I found a fruitful world, because my ancestors planted it for me. Likewise I am planting for my children.” (Talmud Bavli, Ta’anit 23A) That idea—l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation—is at the heart of Netivot Shalom’s legacy effort: creating a reliable source of support…
The American Library Association has announced the 2026 winners of the Sophie Brody Medal for achievement in Jewish literature. As a member of the committee, I am happy to share with you these books published in 2025 and to let you know that they are now in our shul library.
Following a hiatus, the CNS membership committee was reconstituted this year. Our goal is to integrate new people into the CNS community during the first year of their membership. We aim to make them feel welcome and valued…
This has been a Kelman family Passover fave forever. I no longer remember how I acquired the recipe. I usually make two batches before I start cooking anything else. Now my kids all make it too…
This biennial event is our premier community-building activity. For 2026, we’ll be returning to Westminster Woods, the site of our 2022 Retreat. Westminster is a beautiful setting among coastal redwoods in Sonoma County. Over three days and two nights, we’ll celebrate Shabbat together and…
In this tumultuous year, what we need is comfort, with our family, our friends, our community. What is more comfortable than a visit to Bubbe and Zayde’s house (besides the plastic furniture covers!)? Whatever you call your grandparents, or wherever you find comfort, we want to celebrate the feelings of warmth and welcoming…