RABBI DAN’S

RETIREMENT GALA

TRIBUTE BOOK

APRIL 3, 2016 AMERICAN JEWISH UNIVERSITY

RABBI DAN DOES IT ALL!!

Detroit Memories

Vernor’s Plant

Boblo Boat

Cass Tech High School

Palmer Park

Baker’s Keyboard Lounge Motown Music

Sanders Cream Puff Hot Fudge

Briggs Stadium

עולם לך ה ינו מ ה יי אלה רוך את איו, ב תו ליר כמ ח לק מ .שח

Praised are You, Eternal Source of Power and Wisdom, Who provides His wisdom to those who revere Him

To our colleague, teacher, leader, and dayan, Rabbi Dan Shevitz: We’re inspired by your gentle perseverance and steadfast commitment to a vibrant Judaism in the Los Angeles community. We are so grateful for the years of dedication you have given to the Rabbinical Assembly and will continue for years to come. Mazal Tov as this new chapter begins in your life!

The Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly, Pacific Southwest Region

Dear Rabbi Dan,

Thanks for 20 Amazing Years! Our family and the whole Mishkon community will

always hold a special place in our hearts for you.

With love and gratitude for all that we have learned from you,

The Louria Family

Ken, Meredith, Josh and Erin

A Tribute to Rabbi Dan From the Staff of Mishkon Tephilo Rabbi Dan, when we think of you, We will miss your warm smile, Your lovely voice, Your words of wisdom, Your cheerful accordion playing, Your delightful sense of humor. You who are our distinguished Rabbi! This is our blessing to you! May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. (Gaelic blessing)

Rabbi Daniel Shevitz The Holy "Radish"

הרב דניאל שביץ הקדוש ״הרדיש״

מי האיש החפץ חיים אוהב ימים לראות מובWho? The man who seeks life, he loves the flow of days to see even more goodness.

Dear Rabbi Dan,

Thank you for your sacred service, Torah insights and the classical musical modalities you share in your unique beautiful voice with the Mishkon Tephilo community. It pleases me that you plan to stay in the area. Please continue to bring us your blessings!

With Gratitude and Caring,

Rabbi T'mimah Ickovits

Rabbi Dan has taught us that the main purpose of a shul is to create Jews. Over the last 20 years, we have become a compassionate, spiritual, inclusive and scholarly community, and he has been the inspiration for that. I know Rabbi Dan will be part of our community for many years to come - as Rabbi Emeritus, shul member, greeter, maybe even sushi chef. And whatever role he chooses to take on in the coming years, he will do so in his generous and kind way.

Lonnie Friedman

R Dan really is a rabbi's rabbi, who valiantly taught Talmud to those with no Aramaic and little Hebrew. He is a fellow equally at home in the 21th century and the 1st century. He is kind, thoughtful and does not play favorites. Dan is not just a teacher and mentor but the guy who rode my motorcycle back to my house from the impound yard after my motorcycle mishap. You also have to admire someone with good taste in whiskey and who davens so beautifully. We will miss him as our Rav but are glad that he will be a member of our community and our friend.

Jeff Gornbein and Fredricka Martin

Life is a journey & one’s travelling companions make all the difference. For the past 10 years, our journey has been so much richer because you were a part of it. We have so much to thank you for, sharing your wisdom, the depth of your compassion, the gift of your friendship and a wonderful trip to Israel.

On the next stage of your personal journey, may you find happiness, satisfaction and peace!

Ira & Rhona Schreck

Rabbi, teacher, scholar, counselor, pilot, sailor, neon artist, sushi chef, problem solver, auto , timpanist – so many things to so many people. To me, you are rabbi, teacher, hevruta, and Friend. Here’s to your next chapter.

Judy

Dear Rabbi Dan, We have shared many happy moments with you. Our wedding was the happiest. Thank you for your friendship, inspiration and guidance. We look forward to all continuing! Love, Carol Felixson and Bernardo Jaduszliwer

Rabbi Dan, Thank you for your wisdom, your friendship and for inspiring us in our faith. Peter Kunstler

Happy Retirement, Rabbi Dan. From the Zlotolow Family

Dear R Dan: From a 1967 CRUSY

convention in Louisville, to being the

father of a close friend's nephews, to 20

years of rabbinic leadership at Mishkon,

you have been an important part of my

life. Wishing you the best in retirement,

Deborah Bronner

Tashlich

2014

Here’s to drumming and singing all over the world now that you are free to

adventure and roam.

Rena Panush, Teaching voice

to all ages in Los Angeles 973-951-5679, rapan@aol.com

Dear Rabbi Dan, We wish you a happy retirement, but we will miss your sermons, your teaching, your deep knowledge of Torah, your singing and your sense of humor. You are and always will be our favorite Rabbi!

Gregory and Marina Eskin

To Rabbi Dan,

We’ve all grown with your guidance!

David Paris, Nancy Cowen, Robbie, Charlie, Rachel

Shavuos morning – fog New York Havurah retreat You wrapped in a tallit Need we say more? With mazel and beracha Rabbi Laura Geller and Richard Siegel

Thank you for the years of inspiration and support.

We hope you enjoy retirement as much as we do.

Love and all good wishes,

Lorraine and Mort Schrag

Make room for silliness! Love, Cindy

Rabbi Dan,

Thank you for being my rabbi at my simchat bat, my bat mitzvah, and in between.

Thank you for being an important friend to my family for my whole life.

Love, Eva Hale

Rabbi Dan, Have a wonderful retirement. We will miss you! Mary Ann Rosenfeld and Sheldon Kadish

Yes, this is indeed a job for a nice Jewish boy! Gratefully, Carole and David Stein

Psalm 92:15-16.

Hazak ve-Ematz, Dan.

Thank you for your service

and devotion to Mishkon.

With love,

Janet and Howard Davis

Rabbi Dan, I remember your wise words when I spoke with you about a family problem - very kind and loving.

Jane Luna Rieger Karen, Ananda, and Ravi

Amarawansa

Dear Dan,

Your gentle grace (and somewhat sharper wit) ring out not only from the pulpit at Mishkon but from every bimah from which your many students now address their congregations, including my own in New London, CT. You have modeled for us -- as we now attempt to for our own congregants -- what it means to be an engaged and compassionate leader, a caring and thoughtful companion to those navigating life's joys and inevitable pitfalls.

To repeat the words with which new ordinees address their mentors as they transition into the rabbinate:

"As you were once -- and remain -- my teacher, so you are now -- and will forever be -- my friend, colleague and Rav."

With loving memories of the support and kindness that you extended to our whole family during our years at Mishkon, and with the hope that your retirement will bring you new opportunities for discovery and exploration.

-- Rachel and Edie Safman, Daniel, Yair and Baby Robinson

,דן, ברכותי לרגל יציאתך לגמלאות

ותודה על שנים רבות של שירות

אני מאחלת לך . לקהילה היהודית

ונחת רוח , שלוה, אושר, בריאות .מיטב הברכות. עתה ובעתיד ד״ר קלייר הו

To our rabbi,

our teacher,

our friend.

Thanks and appreciation to Rabbi Dan for visits and support during a hospital stay and recuperation.

Roz Silver

Michele and Jeffrey Prince

To Rabbi Dan, our family rabbi and friend! Mazal tov and Derech Hatzlacha on this new adventure!

Love, Jonathan, Aliza, Yael and Ezra

Thank you, Dan, for your many years of devoted service to our community, to our synagogue, and to the Jewish people. Your uncommon ability to match deep learning with wit and high ideals with humility made Mishkon Tephilo a very special place. We will miss you as our Rabbi but will always treasure you as our friend and teacher.

The Fleck Family Jeff, Deborah, Dan, and Jonathan

Thank you, Rabbi Dan, for your guidance in times of joy and times of sorrow.

Love, The Schwartz-Goland Family

I remember Rabbi Dan from the MIT Hillel for his famous 1993 Commencement Invocation. Here’s an excerpt: When he was just beginning his career, Moses had a vision of a burning bush. … I like to think that the bush had been there for years and everyone else, much too busy doing “Very Important Things,” glanced at it and hurried off. … Only to Moses did it occur that he was not so busy that he couldn't stop to check out something that had no immediate use to his career advancement. There are bushes burning everywhere. … You will see these fires if you are fortunate; and you will hear the voice if you merit it. Some of the fires will be destructive, … but others burn and do not consume. These are the ones which a busy man or woman will pass by, but the curious of spirit will turn aside to wonder at that which cannot be grasped with mind alone. … And you may hear the voice of God speaking to you out of those flames. Thank you, Rabbi Dan. Some of us are still out here on the lookout for burning bushes every day. -- E. Fullon

Best wishes for the future . . . May it be full of adventure!

With love and appreciation,

Laura, Loren, Gideon and Raphaela Beck

THANKING OUR SPONSORS

Russell Schwartz and Susan Goland Brett and Rachel Barenholtz

Ira and Rhona Schreck Jill and Bruce Kobritz Sheldon Kadish and Mary Ann Rosenfeld

Melissa and Brian Tarsky Louis and Dina Sneh Stephen and Claudia Wilson Miriam Zlotolow

Jeffrey Fleck and Deborah Steinhart Joan and Richard Harelik Judy Gordon Mort and Lorraine Schrag Alon Ferency Sonia and James Cummings Marcy Drexler

Carole and Rabbi David E.S. Stein