Rabbi-Cantor Didi Thomas

01/17/2025

Please join Stacey Morse
Saturday, January 25 at 7 pm,
as she resumes her much loved,
monthly Havdalah service at
Temple Emet

01/13/2025

Thank you to everyone for stepping up to help those in need.

Below are necessities requested for drop off closer to home.

If you can deliver yourself - that would be great. If you
need us to arrange a pick up, please let me know.

URGENTLY NEEDED:

Please drop off any gently used or new men's, women's and
children’s clothing and pet supplies to the following locations:

San Pedro YMCA
301 S. Bandini St., San Pedro, CA 90731

Pedro Pet Pals
at Sirens Java & Tea
402 W. 7th St., San Pedro, CA 90731
Accepting donations 7 days a week 7am - 4pm
(Clean towels, Clean Blankets and Bottle Water)

Shavua Tov,

May the week ahead find a swift end to these fires.

And, may HaShem watch over the first responders and
​​​​​​​all those affected. 🙏🏻

​​​​​​​B’shalom,
​​​​​​​
Rabbi Didi

01/13/2025

FRIDAY, January 17, 2025
5:00 pm

The DEADLINE to RSVP for Friday’s Chinese
dinner is this Wednesday, January 15, at 12 pm NOON. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made for
any reason. Also, PLEASE do not
RSVP unless you ABSOLUTELY
plan to attend. Thank you.

Please plan to arrive timely, and if
you know you will be late, ask someone to put
a plate together for you. We are not responsible
if the food runs out before your arrival,
particularly if we don't know that you still
plan to come.
Dinner begins at 5 pm

These are courtesies we owe not only to our
generous host for this evening's meal,
Richard Goldberg, in honor of his and
his late mother's birthdays, but also to
everyone at Temple Emet who works hard to
ensure these meals run smoothly.

Following Friday's dinner, dessert will be
provided by Joel Rubin and Marty Rengel
to celebrate their upcoming wedding, during
which time Rabbi Didi will bestow upon them
a special blessing. After dessert,
please join us for Shabbat services
at 6:30 pm in our sanctuary.

01/10/2025

Due to poor air quality, please don’t bring pets this Saturday to Shabbat services.
We’ll have to “go to the dogs” next month!

Additionally, we will not be going to Brew's Hall
for lunch following services, because it is all
open to the outside. Instead, join us
for lunch at
The Slip Bar & Eatery
24503 Narbonne Ave,
Lomita, CA 90717
(Parking is available in the lot across from the front entrance on Narbonne, and also on the street on Lomita. There is also a lot behind the back entrance.)

01/10/2025

Please join Temple Emet for our monthly
Third Friday service on January 17
beginning at 6:30 pm in our sanctuary.

Preceding the service, beginning at 5:00 pm,
EVERYONE is invited to a catered,
Chinese dinner in the social hall
sponsored by Richard Goldberg ​​​​​​​in honor of his milestone birthday and in honor of
the birthday of his mother
Miriam Goldberg, of blessed memory.
Reservations to attend the dinner
must be made in advance, no later than
January 13. You may RSVP by
​​​​​​​replying to this email.

To celebrate their upcoming nuptuals,
Joel Rubin and Marty Rengel
are providing a cake for all to enjoy
immediately following dinner, during
which time they will receive a special
wedding blessing. Please join us in
​​​​​​​celebrating their union.

01/10/2025

Hello all,

I have been contacted and told that the LA Fire Department is in
need of Gatorade and/or any electrolyte beverage and to drop these
off in Downtown LA at their headquarters.
I will be going there as well as the Dream Center.

Please add these things to your list for Saturday
drop off from 10-12.

Additionally:

The Pasadena Humane Society has received hundreds of burned
animals and family pets in need of emergency boarding.

They are asking for donations of:
-food and water bowls
-extra large crates
-blankets

Drop off at the donation bin located in front of the shelter's
front parking lot:
361 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena 91105

They also need people who can foster a cat or dog
for at least a week.
Email them or go to the shelter in person to sign up.

Also, money donations can be made via their website.
https://give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/ #!/donation/checkout

Article to read for more information:

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/help-needed-as-injured-animals-arrive-at-pasadena-humane-society-due-to-wildfire/

B’shalom,
Rabbi Didi

REMINDER: If your breathing is fragile or you have
allergies or asthma, PLEASE TAKE EXTRA CARE
​​​​​​​OF YOUR HEALTH!!!

As the deadly Eaton Fire continues burning in Los Angeles County, Pasadena Humane is seeking help as a large number of animals are being evacuated. Over 100 animals arrived at the organization on W…

01/06/2025

Dear Temple Congregants and Friends,

Some of our members participated last year
and really enjoyed it. Below are details for this
year’s great opportunity to help repair the world,
and you can eat dinner as an added bonus!

2025 Homeless Count - JFEDLA Deployment Site
Thursday, January 23rd
7:00 PM - 12:00 AM

The annual Homeless Count is critical to helping the thousands of
individuals experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles County
by identifying the areas of greatest need and allowing for a more
effective allocation of resources and services.

JFEDLA invites you to join them, in partnership with B'nai David Judea Congregation and Repair the World LA, to participate in the 2025
Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, an annual initiative of
the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).

Volunteers are needed at their deployment site in the
Pico-Robertson neighborhood on Thursday, January 23rd.
(This location will be shared with registrants in advance of the event
Light Kosher Dinner will be available at 6pm. Volunteers must be 18+.)

If you don't want to participate on the 23rd or at this location, you can
sign up to count in your local neighborhood.
To count in your own neighborhood, sign up directly with LAHSA at: ​​​​​​​http://theycountwillyou.org

01/06/2025

Please join Temple Emet for our first Shabbat�service of the new (secular) year, Saturday,�January 11, at 10:30 am in our sanctuary,�followed by lunch out at Brew's Hall. �
Let's "take it to the dogs!"�Well behaved dogs (and other�pets) are welcome on our patio�during the service and may

�join us for lunch at Brew's Hall. ���As always, please remember to support Sisterhood's�ongoing food and clothing drive. Thank you!

12/26/2024

12/26/2024

Mark your calendars for
Temple Emet's Shabbat
Services ​​​​​​​and Activities during January and February, 2025

We'll start the year by joining together
at Temple Emet for a potluck brunch
New Year's Day at 11:30 am

Please​​​​ note there will not be
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
a service January 3​​​​​​​ due to the
​​​​​​​New Year's holiday​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​
Our first service in January will be our
regular Saturday morning service on
January 11 beginning at 10:30 am
during which there will be a baby naming for
Harriet's great-granddaughter; we will
enjoy a brief kiddush snack sponsored by
Harriet in honor of her precious new
great-granddaughter, followed by lunch out.

We then will have our regular Third Friday
service and supper on January 17, including
an aufruf celebration in honor of the upcoming
nuptuals of Joel Rubin and his lovely
bride Marty Rengel, beginning at 5 pm

Stacey Morse will resume her much loved
Havdalah service Saturday night,
January 25 at 7 pm

February continues to have an
unusual service schedule, but hey, we do
things differently!!

February 7 will be our first Friday
service followed by dinner out,
beginning at 5 pm

February 9 is Super Bowl Sunday, and we will have our Second Annual
post-Covid potluck party and
​​​​​​​Chili Cook-Off, ​​​​​​​beginning at 3 pm

February 15, will be our second Saturday
service beginning at 10:30 am with a
Memorial Service in memory of the
one year anniversary of the
death of Sandy Teicher, followed by
an extended kiddush luncheon
sponsored by Gail in loving memory
of her beloved husband, Sandy.

As always, watch your emails for more upcoming events,
including lunch bunch, culinary club, movies and more!!

We love to pray and play together . . . Join us!!

12/19/2024

Temple Emet's Second
Annual Chanukah PotLuck
Supper THIS FRIDAY!!!
If you haven't yet RSVP'd,
please do so!!

Friday, December 20th
5:30 PM
(No Shabbat Service)

We will be singing traditional
Chanukah songs
and lighting our personal Chanukiahs
(please bring yours!)

We only have 3 entries for our LATKE contest.
We would love to have more!
(Winners receive BRAGGING RIGHTS for a Year and a Prize)

Please RSVP by NOW
by email [email protected]

Please don't forget Sisterhood's ongoing food drive; all it takes to make
a difference is one can every time you come to Temple

12/19/2024

This Sunday is our
Lunch Bunch Brunch!
December 22 at
11:00 AM

Seaside Bistro
25th Street, San Pedro
(Vons parking lot)

Please RSVP to
[email protected]

12/10/2024

Don't miss Temple Emet's
Second Annual Chanukah
PotLuck Supper
(No Shabbat Service)

Friday, December 20th
5:30 PM

Rabbi/Cantor Didi will lead
us in singing traditional
Chanukah songs
and in lighting our personal Chanukiahs
(remember to bring yours!)

President Marianne will bestow
the traditional President's Awards
to several worthy recipients

We will vote for BEST BRISKET
and BEST LATKES
Winners to receive BRAGGING RIGHTS
for One Year and a Prize
HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE and Sour Cream Provided

PLEASE sign up to enter either the Brisket
or Latke (at least 3 dozen) contest, or BOTH!!

Items people already have committed to bring:
salad, sparkling water, jello mold, steamed
vegetables, kugel, fruit salad,
​​​​​​​cake, and Sufganiyot.

We can use more salad, sides, and drinks.

Please RSVP by Sunday, December 15
by replying to this email

Please don't forget Sisterhood's ongoing food drive;
all it takes to make a difference is one can
every time you come to Temple .

12/06/2024

Dear Temple Family & Friends,

In Jewish tradition it is customary
to make a donation in honor of a loved one
​​​​​​​on the Yahrzeit (anniversary)
date of their passing.

We are starting our own tradition
in the coming new year to honor loved ones
by printing their names in all email notices
sent for the Shabbat closest to their
secular passing date.

For a minimum donation of $18 (or more)
your loved one's name can be honored
in this way.

Please send the names and yartzeit dates
of the loved ones you wish to honor before
December 30th to:
​​​​​​​[email protected]

12/05/2024

Spend New Year's Eve shmoozing
and dining with friends and
family from Temple Emet at
Aliotta's Via Firenze
​​​​​​​December 31 at 7:00 pm

NOTICE: Aliotta's will not split checks!!!
Marianne will charge the evening to
her credit card. Please bring sufficient CASH
to pay Marianne for your bill and please be
sure to note everything you order, including
drinks and extras, and include an extra
30% to pay for tax and tip.
Meals may run $50 to $60 per person.
Additionally, Marianne had to leave
a $100 deposit.
THEREFORE: Kindly please
RSVP if you plan to attend.

Aliotta's Via Firenze
4485 Torrance Blvd, Torrance

RSVP to Marianne at
(310) 488-8703

12/05/2024

Sunday, December 15 at 7 pm
Please join Stacey Morse for a
special gathering instead of our
monthly Havdalah service . . .

​​​​​​​Please remember to bring a donation of food, toiletries, animal food, or gently used clothing every time you come to the Temple.

12/01/2024

Jewish Musical Performance
at The Carpenter Center:
The Klezmatics plus the
klezmer-rock band Mostly Kosher
in their ONLY planned Southern
California appearance!
Thursday, December 12​​​​​​​
8:00 pm

"TOWARD THE LIGHT HANUKKAH TOUR"
A double-bill treat with the bands Klezmatics
and Mostly Kosher! For nearly 40 years,
the Grammy Award-winning
“Jewish roots band” the Klezmatics
have inspired generations and helped
to change the face of contemporary
Yiddish culture with their music.
Special guest Aani Kisslinger joins them.
Klezmatics.
The evening also includes acclaimed
klezmer-rock band Mostly Kosher,
whose original voice resounds with themes
of social justice, human dignity, and
mutual understanding.
This will be a night of joyous song
and superb musicianship!

​​​​​​​Carpenter Center
Cal State, Long Beach
6200 E. ATHERTON ST.
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

$53.75 including fees

Purchase tickets HERE
https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/carpenterarts/6773/event/1383681?venueidlist=22945

Contact me to arrange carpooling and dinner:[email protected]

12/01/2024

We had such a wonderful
time last year, we're doing
it again!!

Please come Celebrate The Festival Of Lights
with all of your temple friends and family

Friday, December 20th
5:30 PM
PotLuck Supper with
Brisket and Latke Making Contests
(No Shabbat Service)

Rabbi/Cantor Didi will lead
us in singing traditional
Chanukah songs
and in lighting our personal Chanukiahs
(remember to bring yours!)

President Marianne will bestow
the traditional, annual President's Awards to several worthy recipients

We will vote for BEST BRISKET
and BEST LATKES
Winners to receive BRAGGING RIGHTS
for One Year and a Prize
HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE and Sour Cream Provided

PLEASE sign up to enter either the Brisket
or Latke (at least 3 dozen) or BOTH!!
OR sign up to bring:
Salad (serve 12) -- need 3
Side (serve 12) -- need 3
Drink (serve 12) -- need 3-4
Sufganiyot (jelly donuts) -- provided

RSVP by Sunday, December 11
by replying to this email