jvalley.org | jewish community news

Jewish Community News

News: May 2008

Congregation Emeth purchasesfirst ever permanent home

Established 30 years ago by a group of 12 families in the South Santa Clara County, Congregation Emeth realized a long anticipated dream last month with the purchase of its first permanent home.
Officially closing escrow on April 15, 2008, the new spiritual home is located at 17835 Monterey Road in downtown Morgan Hill. The congregation plans to begin using the building by mid-June, and will have full use by this year’s High Holy Days. More

Israeli couple opens new bakery in Pruneyard

Eight years ago Irit Ishai and her husband Moty Aharonovitz moved to the Silicon Valley from Tel Aviv, Israel for Moty to accept a position at the software company Borland. Three years later the couple opened a wholesale bakery in Sunnyvale, followed by a retail bakery at the same location in Sunnyvale. Just two months ago, the couple’s second retail location opened in the Pruneyard in Campbell. Each holds the no nonsense name, Sugar, Butter, Flour. More

Yardstick celebrates 50 years of businesses
By Janet Marcelo

Longtime local Jewish family the Alters (Ruth, the late Bernard Alter and their adult son Jack Alter) are proudly celebrating the 50th anniversary of their local business Yardstick.
While hundreds of businesses have come and gone during the last 50 years, Yardstick has held fast, beginning as a dress fabric store and evolving into a drapery and upholstery store.
“We’re an institution (because) for fifty years we’ve stayed in business and for those fifty years we’ve had the same owners.” Ruth said. “Other businesses may be the same as ours, but (they’ve) not lasted as long.” More

Cotton family leaves $1 million endowment as a permanent legacy to the Jewish community
Longtime benefactor of the Jewish community Mel Cotton recently passed away. In his will, he left a $1 million endowment to the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. Below, his family friend and financial advisor Alan Werba tells of how Cotton came to make this generous gift.

By Alan Werba CPA/CFP

Throughout their lives, Mel and Dorothy Cotton supported many organizations both with their time and their financial resources. Instead of making pledges and mailing in checks, Mel preferred to drop by the Jewish Federation office on Oka Road regularly to donate funds and at the same time check up on the staff. When it was time to support Hillel of Silicon Valley, a breakfast or lunch meeting was arranged so the executive director could give Mel a status report. And of course Congregation Sinai and the Addison-Penzak JCC could also count on the Cotton Family for this same hands-on style of support. More

Temple Emanu-El honors ‘children of the temple’

Temple Emanu-El, founded in 1861, was the first Jewish organization in Santa Clara County. While it counts among its members many newcomers to the area, a significant number of members trace their roots back one, two, and three generations. Many members were born into Temple Emanu-El, acquired their Jewish education and identity there, grew up, were married and brought their own families back to identify Jewishly.
At an April 11, L’Dor V’Dor Shabbat service Rabbi Dana Magat blessed these members for their affiliation and contribution to the temple. Congregants of more than 25, and more than 50 years of membership were honored. More

91-year-old gives tips for staying healthy and engaged

Dr. Sol Carson, 91, is a retired professor emeritus from the State University in Pennsylvania. He is believed to be the most senior member of the APJCC and can be seen many days a week exercising in the gym. Below, APJCC trainer Stephanie Torres asks what keeps Carson going. More

81-year-old gains muscles and confidence through exercising

When 81-year-old Marian Witham lost her husband four years ago, followed by her mother two years later, she lost some of her interest in life.
“It was a very painful and difficult time for me and I knew I had to just get back out there,” said Witham.
Rather than join a movie or widowers group as some people do, Witham joined the APJCC and began exercising with personal trainer Stephanie Torres. The experience was a new one. Not only had Witham never worked out with a trainer before, she had never exercised in a gym. More

Local Jews become family on Federation Mission

Fifty-one men and women from the Silicon Valley Jewish community traveled to Poland and Israel April 28 through May 11 as part of a Federation mission. The trip left the travelers with many feelings. In Poland, it was horrific to witness the remaining physical structures of Auschwitz, Berkanau and Majdanek. In the same breathe, travelers were amazed when a Polish non-Jew emerged from the crowd and apologized for what had happened there. More

Israel@60 Festival at the Levy Family Campus

Nearly 3,000 people attended the Israel@60 Festival at the Levy Family Campus on Sunday, May 11. The festival, which celebrated the 60th anniversary of Israel’s independence, featured youth choirs from Congregation Beth David and Congregation Shir Hadash, speakers from AIPAC and the Israel-Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, a film, art exhibits, carnival games, bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, a kite-flying contest, booths representing local Jewish organizations, synagogues and schools, Judaica vendors, and food booths sponsored by local restaurants & businesses. More

Renowned astrophysicist to speak at Shir Hadash Men’s Club

Congregation Shir Hadash’s Men’s Club will feature University of California astrophysicist Sandy Faber at its Monday, June 2, meeting at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Faber will speak on “The Universe: What Recent Discoveries Mean for Astronomy and for Humanity.”
Shir Hadash member Jim Katzman, an amateur astronomer and member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at UCSC, will introduce Dr. Faber. More

Jewish literature series addresses sex and love

Beginning this July, the Sunnyvale Public Library will host the next regional Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature Series, sponsored by a grant from Nextbook and the American Library Association. The series focus will be “Your Heart’s Desire: Sex and Love in Jewish Literature.” Coordinator of SJSU’s Jewish Studies Program Vicki Harrison will co-lead, along with several other scholars eager to stimulate your minds.
The series, which meets from 7 to 8:30 PM once a month on Wednesdays, opens July 30 with Philip Roth’s Portnoy’s Complaint. SJSU Professor David Mesher will explore the equal-opportunity offensiveness of Alexander Portnoy, Roth’s most over-sexed character. More

News

Features

JCN Issues