March, 2025 Megillah
RABBI'S NOTES
You may be familiar with the Jewish teaching that human nature has two contrary inclinations: a yetzer ha-tov, an inclination to do the good and virtuous thing; and a yetzer ha-ra, the, uh, opposite inclination. The vast majority of Jewish life and practice is designed to cultivate the good inclination and to redirect our impulses from the other one.
But there is one fabulous little counter-teaching that shows up in a couple places in rabbinic sources: “Were it not for the yetzer hara, a person would not build a home, or marry, or have children, or engage in business” (Genesis Rabbah 9:7). Mishnah Brachot (9:5) further states, kind of amazingly, that the commandment to love God “with all your heart” means, “with your two inclinations: with your yetzer ha-tov AND your yetzer ha-ra.”
All of which is to say, in my loose paraphrase: Of course we are supposed to try to do the good and the true MOST OF THE TIME, BUT if we didn’t have a little bit of that other kind of juice, we’d never hold a party, have sex, have any fun at all.
Those wise Jews! Every year they give us the month of Adar (which coincides perfectly this year with the month of March) for playing and partying and messing around. The apex of Adar is Purim—when, among other wholesome religious activities (such as eating cookies shaped like our enemy’s ears), we are commanded to costume up, get blasted, mock the wanna-be emperor, and drown out his name. I like it!
The great New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote a column years ago that he titled ”The Power of Mockery.” In it he described a tactic employed by the Serbian youth movement of that time: “One of Otpor’s insights was that the most effective weapon against dictators isn’t bombs or fiery speeches. It’s mockery. Otpor activists once put Milosevic’s picture on a barrel that they rolled down the street, inviting people to hit it with a bat.” In the same column Kristof wrote about TV anti-smoking ads in which teens prank call an ad agency that promotes cigarettes, trying to award them a prize for killing the most teenagers (April 16, 2011).
I think of Abbie Hoffman, of blessed memory, and the iconic photo of him standing grinning hugely on a balcony at the New York Stock Exchange, holding aloft a burning five dollar bill. That day he and his fellow Yippies threw money down on the traders—a prank, a mockery, a great, joyful, protesting joke against the citadel of power.
Clearly it’s not a straight shot from mockery to topplery. It took vastly more than a barrel roll to take down Slobodan Milosevic. People gave their lives to do so. Abbie Hoffman sadly is no more, and the stock exchange lumbers on unimpeded by raining dollar bills. I think here too about Pussy Riot, the fabulous, tireless, incredibly brave Russian activists, some of whom have spent years at a time in prison for mocking Vladimir Putin. Unfortunately, Putin has not been toppled. (But then, neither has Pussy Riot.)
My theory is that mockery of this kind exercises our yetzer ha-ra. Like any muscle, the YHR needs to be stretched and flexed a bit to stay in shape. Mocking the oppressor, painting his face on a barrel, tossing her favorite accoutrements down on her acolytes, making prank calls to him, dressing up like them, drowning out his name whenever it is mentioned all help awaken the rude, lively, id-ish impulse inside us (“Putting the id back in Yid,” as Philip Roth memorably said). It gives us a certain kind of energy.
Often in life our yetzer ha-ra is plenty active, maybe overactive: we chase money, houses, partners, adventure, supremacy. We mock, we troll, we disparage, we dismiss—all that bad stuff that needs to be restrained and trained away from with utmost seriousness. But there may be a few times in our personal lives when we are deficient in YHR energy, when we are flat and dispirited, when a good eyeroll, a laugh at the expense of someone we think has all the goods, a bit of mockery and prankery and foolery might do us good.
Now, when many of us feel defeated and dispirited by the rampage of a regime that seems to have unlimited power and destructive intention, there is a collective wan-ness. In such grim times is it not easy to access our joyful, zestful, playful life energy. We need to exercise our tired, mopey yetzer ha-ra just a little tiny bit.
Now let me be a proper rabbi and remind us that our tradition gives us a plethora of noble tools for living in difficult times and for trying to make them better: prayer, tzedaka, fasting, the examples of brave revolutionaries throughout history, even, for the adept, mystical practices intended to hasten the coming of mashiach (the messiah). We have those holy admonitions to love the stranger, to love the neighbor, to speak truth, to abstain from murder and theft, to pursue justice. We have holidays that remind us that the Divine hears the cries of the downtrodden. We have the sacred story of the exodus from slavery, which we imbed in our souls countless times each day, week and year in song, story and ritual. There are more-or-less ten major holidays in the Jewish year—of these nine of them are yetzer ha-tov-driven, crafted to strengthen our inclination to love and generosity and devotion to good. One holiday per year is given over to the yetzer ha-ra. That holiday, of course, is Purim!
And every year—one full month of every year, and an extra leap-month more than a third of all years, thank you—we have Adar in which to strengthen our sad, discouraged souls through foolery, mockery, indecorousness, silliness, wildness, excess, and transgressiveness. If you work in those leap months, roughly 10% percent of the year is for Adar-keit. So 90% good and true; 10% wild and ribald.
Not a bad ratio. After all, we’re supposed to love God with ALL our heart, with the rude part too.
All of the above is geared to get you ready for this year’s kick-ass Purim in which we will exercise our collective yetzer ha-ra vigorously. Instructions will be forthcoming. Get ready to get it on. Levity is not reserved for the Levites!
PAIGE NOTES
The first day of March brings the first day of Adar! Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe from the 20th century, taught that Adar is a month of mazal dagi (good fortune) represented by Pisces/fish. He suggested that during this moon cycle in particular, we should engage in new ventures, as the spiritual energy of the month proves to be favorable for growth, success, and overcoming obstacles. Etymologically, the name Adar connects to the Hebrew word adir, meaning power/strength. Therefore, we may have extra luck this month in our pursuits.
During some of the hardships of the infamous Purim story, which we will read on the full moon of Adar, Megillat Esther (4:14) uses the phrase l’et cazote (for times such as these). I have been ruminating on this phrase lately, both because a book came out recently with this title and it feels so pertinent to the current context of our world. I have heard some people describe us as being in “unprecedented times,” but as we will be reminded when we return to the Purim story, these may not truly be unprecedented. Nonetheless, l’et cazote lets us know what we’re talking about, without actually saying it. That’s how I also feel about the word “God.” In just three letters, it does not describe the Divine energetic Source of Life and Oneness, or however you personally define God, but rather it refers to a complex concept that we all, at least abstractly, can recognize. So, in times such as these, I feel grateful to be entering a month of mazal dagim, overcoming the obstacles in our lives.
Rabbi Jericho Vincent teaches that the Hebrew chochmah (wisdom) can be broken down into two words chakeh mah (wait for what?). They teach that part of having wisdom, and inherently strength, during “times such as these” is actually waiting, trusting that you will know when to stop waiting when the time arrives. Responsible activism may not always be reacting to news right away, in that “responsible” breaks down into “response-able,” an ability to respond. When we find ourselves overwhelmed with bad news, we must give ourselves time to process it before being “able to respond.” Responsible caretaking is having the chochmah to know to chakeh mah for the proper moment to respond. May this month bless us with the adir to overcome obstacles, the chochmah to discern the right moments for action, and the faith to trust in the unfolding of time. May we find the mazal dagim to navigate l’et cazote together, with resilient, open hearts.
BLESSED EXCESS
Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian. It is so named because the evil Haman threw lots to determine when he would carry out his diabolical scheme. But lots can also connote overmuch and that’s how we’re taking it! This year on March 13th the festivities will begin at the shul at 5:30 PM. It will be an extravaganza designed to fire us up in the best (i.e., worst) possible ways! For now start thinking about dressing up as Haman, in whatever way you envision the dastardly foe. Further instructions to follow.
HAMANTASCHEN BAKING
Yiddish speakers call them hamantaschen—“Haman’s hat.” Hebrew speakers call them oznei Haman—Haman’s ears! Either way, come bake up a bunch of them on Wednesday, March 12th, starting at noon at the shul. All the supplies* will be there. Come on by and roll and fill and fold and bake, or just come by and keep everyone company. It’s always fun, and all ages and skills are most welcome. *If you want fillings other than the canonical prune, poppy and apricot, or if you’d like gluten free, vegan or other variants, please bring ingredients. Thanks!
Moishe: "Shmuli, can you have a look at my left turn signal and tell me if it is working or not?"
Shmuli: "Of course I can, Moishe. Yes ... no ... yes ... no ... yes ... no …."
Double Chai Celebration
Honoring Rabbi Margaret’s 36 years of blessing, supporting, & serving our community! ♡
Luncheon at Sunday, March 30th, Caspar Community Center
RSVP to ellensaxe@mcn.org or text (707) 684-0004
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES
A full Shabbat service is led by community members, with singing, chanting and silence, Torah teaching and reading, blessings for healing and peace, and time for mourners to say Kaddish. The teachers for March are listed below. We have hybrid services, so come to the shul or Zoom from 10:30 AM until about 12:30 PM.
| 3/1/24 |
Terumah |
Margaret Holub |
| 3/8/25 | Tetzaveh |
Leslie Krongold |
| 3/15/25 | Ki Tisa |
Paige Lincenberg
|
| 3/22/25 | Vayakhel |
Andrea Luna |
| 3/29/24 |
Pekudeh |
Estreilla Allen |
If you would like to give a Torah teaching during Shabbat services, or want more information about what’s involved, please contact Raven Deerwater at raven@taxpractitioner.com or (707) 937-1099.
KABBALAT SHABBAT
On Friday, March 21st our host will be Jane Corey at 35920 Philo-Greenwood Road in Elk. Please call (707) 337-5078 to RSVP and get directions. Following a short service, we will share a vegetarian potluck.
In April we will be hosted by Bonnie Mahoney in Fort Bragg. We need hosts from late summer onward; if you’d like to host, but don’t have the space in your home, it’s possible to do it at the shul. To schedule a Shabbat gathering, please contact Mina at (707) 367-3390 or mcohen@mcn.org.
ZOOM ADDRESS
We are using the Zoom address below for many MCJC events. Password is shalom. Disregard the numeric passcode at the bottom of the invitation unless you’re dialing in on a landline. If you have questions or problems, contact susan.tubbesing@gmail.com.
Join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7071836183?pwd=NzFaTkpjOXVYMDNnNnprOXlnZjVhQT09
Meeting ID: 707 183 6183
Passcode: shalom
Numeric Passcode: 776001
PESACH PLANS
Pesach begins with the first seder on Saturday night, April 12th and concludes at sundown on April 20th. Plans are being made for several MCJC Pesach events. One is in the item below and please wait for other details to come.
WOMEN OF EXODUS SEDER
On Sunday night, April 13th, 15 Nisan 5785, we will gather in the shul at 6:00 PM. All are welcome to attend. Women and non-binary voices will lead the Seder. We will follow the traditional Seder/Order and will tell the Magid/Story through the ancestral voices of the archetypal women of Exodus. We will follow the remembrance of the plagues with a ritual of transformation and blessing; since it will be the second night of Pesach, we will finish with beginning the mystical Omer count. *If you want to participate in the seder, please contact Luna: text (707) 972-4494, or email havaluna.18@gmail.com.
GOD-ZOOKS!
The God conversation continues: the six-session exploration about God and faith unfolds on some Wednesday evenings, 5:30-7:00 PM at the shul. A time to think about what we really believe. The first three sessions have already taken place, but the remaining dates are March 12th, 26th, and April 9th. Let Margaret know if you would like to join in now at mholub@mcn.org. You are welcome to come to any or all of the meetings.
BIRTHDAYS
Please reach out to the celebrants noted below and spread love. If you would like your natal day listed, email rabbipaige@gmail.com with your birth date. (We list the day, but not the year, and your name will be featured only during the actual month of your birthday.) There are four March birthdays:
3/11 Steve Antler, 3/19 Alena Deerwater, 3/27 Donna Medley, 3/29 Karen Rakofsky
HERE FOR YOU
Rabbis Margaret & Paige want to remind you all that we’re always available for you in any way we can be! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of them to go on a walk or have tea with you.
THE LAST CHAPTER
The Death Conversation Committee thanks all who took part in the Death Over Donuts meeting last month, and they want to keep the discussion going. They are working on the next event, but until then want to alert everyone to an upcoming local event. “Getting the Last Chapter Right” is sponsored by Friends of Health on the North Mendocino Coast, a nonprofit that has provided assistance to clients and agencies on the coast since 1988. The free community forum is happening on Saturday April 5th from 9 AM–4:00 PM at the Caspar Community Center. Register on this page: https://friendsofhealthmendocino.org/upcoming-events. For help or for more information, call Ellen at (707) 357-1738.
ELDERS’ CONVERSATION
The Elders meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 3:00 to 4:30 on MCJC’s zoom link. March meetings will be on the 11th and 25th. Usually we pick a new topic for our next conversation at the end of every meeting. People of all ages who would like to reflect on matters of aging in an honest and connective context are most warmly welcome.
JUSTICE GROUP
MCJC’s Justice Group meets at 5:30 PM on the last Monday of the month. In March, that will be the very last day of the month, March 31st. All are invited. For information or to receive Justice Group announcements, contact Donna Medley at dmthebeez9@gmail.com.
CITIZENSHIP PROJECT
The Justice Group created the Citizenship Scholarship Project eight years ago to help local immigrants get through the costly and challenging process of becoming U.S. citizens. Our scholars are here legally, but they are not yet citizens. To reach that goal, they take a citizenship class at Fort Bragg’s Coastal Adult School, and then they must pass a test, successfully complete an interview with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and pay an application fee. The fee for each application is $750.
To date, the fund has awarded 65 scholarships, but there is a pressing need to award more. The scholarship fund has been replenished in the last two months by generous and concerned donors, but we are still accepting any amount of support in order to serve as many immigrants as we can. Every dollar goes directly to our neighbors who have requested our help. Donations may be sent to: MCJC, PO Box 291, Little River, CA 95456. Please note “scholarship” on your check’s memo line.
BOOK GROUP
The dedicated readers will meet Monday, March 17th at 2:00 PM to discuss Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy by Anne Sebba. In June, 1953, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a couple with two young sons, were led separately from their prison cells on death row and electrocuted moments apart. Both had been convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union, despite the fact that the U.S. government knew the evidence against Ethel was shaky at best and based on the perjury of her own brother. This book is the first in more than 30 years to focus on Ethel, and much new evidence has surfaced. Ethel was a bright girl who wanted to be a good wife and mother while battling the political paranoia of the McCarthy era, anti-Semitism, and misogyny. Because of her loyalty to her husband, she refused to incriminate him, despite government pressure to do so. Instead, she faced the death penalty for a crime she almost certainly did not commit, orphaning her children. This is the first time Ethel’s story has been told with the full use of the prison letters she exchanged with her husband, her lawyer, and her psychotherapist over a three-year period, two of them in solitary confinement. Hers is the resonant story of a government motivated by fear trampling on the rights of its citizens. If you are not currently in the Book Group, please contact Fran Schwartz for the Zoom invitation at franbschwartz@gmail.com. Books are usually at Gallery Bookshop.
SHARE YOUR TALENTS
At the Matanah on Sunday, March 23rd from 2:00-4:00 PM, Estreilla Allen will guide us in creating individual panels for a gift quilt. No fiber arts experience is necessary; just come to create and enjoy time together. During the Double Chai Luncheon Celebration on March 30th, there will be an opportunity for community members to create a fabric square for a "Commemorative Names Quilt" that will be gifted to Rabbi Margaret Holub. Each family will be provided a 9" x 9" square of material to design & decorate their family's association with Rabbi Margaret's leadership of the MCJC. Fabric markers, felt cutouts, trim, buttons, colored rhinestones, ribbon, embroidery threads, iron-ons, fabric glue, and lettering stencils will also be provided.
The Matanah will be an opportunity for those who want to spend more time working on their square or cannot attend the celebration. Please bring your own fabric scissors. Community members can bring their own decorations for their family square either to the Matanah or the Double Chai Celebration. Those who want simply to write their family members’ names with colored fabric markers on a square are welcome to do so. All the squares will be sewn together and given to Rabbi Margaret after the celebration on March 30th. If you plan to attend the Matanah, please send a RSVP to Leslie at elkrong@yahoo.com.
MCJC BOARD MEETING
The MCJC board will meet on Wednesday, March 5th at 5:30 PM on Zoom. If you wish to attend part of the meeting, please contact Susan Tubbesing at (707) 962-0565, or susan.tubbesing@gmail.com, and she will give you the address.
THANKS TO THE MAILERS
Nina Ravitz and Terry Clark stepped up to the plate and hit it out of the park. In life, as in baseball, you can always spot the champions. If you volunteer for this rewarding and selfless task yourself, all the mitzvotearning materials will be brought to your door. DoorDash has nothing on us. Please contact Sarah at 962-0565 or sarah.nathe@gmail.com.
MEGILLAH SUBSCRIPTIONS
The Mendocino Megillah is published monthly as an emailed PDF and an online version. The online Megillah is posted on the newsletter page of the MCJC website: www.mcjc.org/newsletter. Any information on changes in email address or in email notifications should be sent to Sarah Nathe at sarah.nathe@gmail.com. If you choose not to be a contributing member of MCJC, we request a $54 annual fee for the Megillah.
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING DONORS
Donna Medley, Donna Weintraub, Michael Sigman & Wendy Block, Myra Beals, Leslie Krongold & Jessica Nussbaum, Clare Ervin Lee, Mary Lacey Gibson, dobby sommer, Adina Merenlender & Kerry Heise, Ellen Robin & Michael Katz, Danny Mandelbaum & Benna Kolinsky, Esther Faber, Linda Levya, Iris Cutler, Linda Rosengarten, Lew Mermelstein, Evely Shlensky, Judith Stavely, Ronnie James, Jennifer Kreger & Wade Gray, Deborah Karish, Linda James & Richard Sacks-Wilner, Ronnie Karish & Ellen Saxe, Sandy Glickfeld, Mina Cohen & Jeff Berenson, Susie Lampert, Shelley Martin, Diana Douglas & Lester Howard, Josh & Carolyn Latkin, Laura Goldman & Dennak Murphy, Bob Evans, Sarah Nathe & Susan Tubbesing, Robert Cutler & Jeannette Rasker, Carolyn Metz, Susan Hofberg, Jeanette Boyer, Nona Smith & Art Weininger, Karen Novak & Daniel Dickson, Kath Disney Nilson, Tracy Salkowitz & Rick Edwards, Fran Schwartz, Carolyn Isaacs, Rachel Lahn & Jim Young, Ronnie James, Fanshen Faber, Joel Ginsberg, Marnie & Ron Press, Samuel Markson, Donna Feiner, Henri Bensussen, Helen Jacobs & Karen Rakofsky, Rik & Peg Super, Theresa Glasner Morales, Julie & Bob Melendi,
dobby sommer in honor of her mother, Vivian Sommer
Marsha Epstein in honor of Aviya Farkas
In Honor of Rabbi Margaret’s Double Chai Anniversary: Susan Tubbesing & Sarah Nathe, Marnie Press, Alix Sabin & Nancy Drooker, Julie & Bob Melendi, Raven & Becky Deerwater, Donna Medley, Fran Danoff, Nina Ravitz & Terry Clark, Joy Lancaster & Marty Freedman, Karen Rakofsky & Helen Jacobs.
Justice Group Citizenship Scholarship Fund
The Klein Family Fund for South Coast Opportunities, Esther Faber, Carla Jupiter & Steve Antler, Felicia Rice, Buzz & Pam Graham, Marnie Press, Joy Lancaster & Marty Freedman, Jeanette Boyer, Claire Ellis & Chuck Greenberg, Fanshen Faber
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Mendocino Megillah is published monthly, except for August. The deadline for article submission is the 20th of the month before publication. The editor will include all appropriate material, space permitting, with the exception of copyrighted material lacking the permission of the author. Divergent opinions are welcome. Material printed in the Megillah does not necessarily represent the policy or opinions of the MCJC Board of Directors.
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| Chevra Kadisha |
Clare Bercot Zwerling |
956-571-0945 |
clarebercot@icloud.com |
| Cemetary |
Donna Montag |
707-877-3243 |
montag@mcn.org |
| Outreach (new to the community), Finance Committee, Announcements |
Susan Tubbesing* |
707-962-0565
|
susan.tubbesing@gmail.com |
| Justice Committee |
Donna Medley* |
707-962-9493 |
dmthebeez9@gmail.com
|
| Women's retreat, Annual dinner |
Harriet Bye |
707-937-3622 |
bysawyer@mcn.org
|
| Kabbalat Shabbat Coordinator |
Mina Cohen |
707-367-3390 | mcohen@mcn.org |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Susan Levenson-Palmer |
707-882-1750 | slevensonpalmer@gmail.com |
| Building Maintenance |
Marnie Press* |
707-937-1905 | marniepress@gmail.com |
| Treasurer, Finance Committee |
Raven Deerwater* |
707-964-8333 | raven@taxpractitioner.com |
| Landscaping, Library |
Nina Ravitz* |
707-357-6462 | ninabo@mcn.org |
| Secretary, Finance Committee |
Alix Sabin* |
415-238-1342 | alixsabin@gmail.com |
| Book Group, Bikkur Cholim |
Fran Schwartz |
707-937-1352 | franbschwartz@gmail.com |
| Web dude |
Gus Mayeno |
webmaster@mcjc.org | |
| Megillah Editor, Name & Address & Subscription changes |
Sarah Nathe |
707-962-0565 |
sarah.nathe@gmail.com |
| Rabbi |
Margaret Holub |
707-734-0311 | mholub@mcn.org |
| Rabbi |
Paige Lincenberg |
rabbipaige@gmail.com |
