Cantor David and Yetta Kane’s New Book – How to Survive Anything

tbslbDA — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:57:39 +0000

“We are the luckiest people in the world to be in America, and you are too,” said Rabbi David and Yetta Kane as they spoke about their wartime experiences in the Holocaust while signing copies of their new memoir “How To Survive Anything” at a lecture for the Torah school students held at Temple Beth Shalom on Sunday, April 29, 2012.

The couple serve as a local testimonial to happiness and optimism: How is it that someone born in the worst of times and in the worst of places can label themselves the luckiest people in the world? This is an example of seeing the glass as half full – and is a lesson for many who find it easier to complain rather than appreciate all that is still good within their domain.

The book is about their experience growing up during the Holocaust in Eastern Europe. They wrote the book because there are not very many survivors left and they want others to know what they went through. It also talks about their lives here in the United States from how they met, married and raised a family. They have been married for 60 years.

Rabbi Kane spoke first. He said he went through hell and now we are here in paradise. Belief in God and Judaism got us through. He was invited to Buchenwald concentration camp for the 60^th anniversary. He saw the street built by young men like himself called “Blood Street.”

Yetta Kane spoke next. She told her story growing up in Lithuania. She came from what would be considered middle class upbringing. She spoke about when the Germans came and they ran to the woods living there for 4 to 5 months. They experienced pain, cold hunger. They never asked their parents for food because it could bring them more pain. The only thing you could do is to pray. She told one story of how they went to the river up to their knees until nightfall so that the dogs the Germans had couldn’t find their scent. It is very difficult even now to talk about this. The wounds will never disappear.

They did have a positive message. They feel they were blessed to help other people. They have a Neshama or heart. They told the students to learn to fight back and be strong. Always stand up for someone who is in trouble. Be proud of your religion and heritage. The Jewish people have learned to survive. Hate destroys you from within. It destroys your neshama or your soul. Life began for them when they started living in the United States.

Mr. Jack Katz introduced the longtime pillars of the TBS community, and pointed out the extraordinary beauty, quality and value of their hardcover, fully illustrated coffee-table book. $600 was raised at the signing and 100% of the proceeds went to TBS. Please contact the temple office if you are interested in purchasing a copy, as the Kanes have donated several more books exclusively for TBS. The book is also available on Amazon.com. To find out more visit: www.kanememoir.wordpress.com

–Written by Susan Lieberman, Elaine Ash, and David Alpern

Cantor Judy Sofer Joins TBS

tbslb — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:39:35 +0000

The Board is pleased to announce that in September Cantor Judy Sofer is joining TBS as our part-time Cantor and b’nai mitzvah teacher/tutor She is a member of the Cantor’s Assembly and most recently served as the Cantor for the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, where she led services, officiated at life cycle events, produced and directed musicals, conducted youth and adult choirs, led a temple band for musical Shabbat services, taught Torah trope to adults, and tutored kids (more than 400!) for their b’nai mitzvah services. In addition to a fabulous singing voice, Cantor Sofer’s musical talents include playing guitar and piano. Cantor Sofer also serves as the Cultural Arts Program Coordinator for the San Gabriel Valley Jewish Federation and in that capacity she oversees numerous performing arts programs. Cantor Sofer is a talented Cantor, musician and teacher with extensive experience, and we are fortunate to have her as a member of our clergy team.