Mark Blazer This is Me

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1. 1. Education

   ca018.urj.net/tba-education.ht - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/17/2008   Last Visited: 9/1/2008

   Evalyn's family has known Rabbi Blazer for many years and she feel fortunate to have the opportunity to teach at Temple Beth Ami.
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   Rabbi Mark Blazer

2. 2. The Signal: News for Santa Clarita Valley, California

   www.the-signal.com/?module=dis - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/15/2006   Last Visited: 12/15/2006

   Rabbi Mark Blazer, of Temple Beth Ami Congregation in Newhall, has a lot of experience in this area, as approximately 30 percent of his congregation is interfaith, almost all Christian and Jewish.
   
   "Not all, or even most, of the couples (in our congregation) come from particularly religious backgrounds," said Blazer."But it's the fact that Christmas is an American cultural holiday that exacerbates the problem."
   
   According to Blazer, the problem is even more pronounced among "unaffiliated" Jews who aren't connected to a synagogue or temple.He said that the issue brings families, especially young ones, back to organized religion, or for the first time, largely as a result of the curiosity of children, whose inquisitiveness can take interesting forms at this time of year.
   
   Children have been known to ask not only "Are we Christian or Jewish?"said Blazer, but quite simply, "Are we Christmas or Hanukkah?"
   
   When children see the ratio of Christmas to Hanukkah decorations, for most of them, it's the first time they get any indication of how few in number Jews are - in fact, it's one of the best ways to introduce them to the concept of minority, said Blazer, who dealt with the issue with his girls Rachel, 10, and Dina, 7, and expects to do so with Shira, 2 when she hits the age of 5 or so.
   
   "Between the ages of 5 and 7 is when they begin to understand these things," said Blazer."In kindergarten to about second grade."
   
   The message of Hanukkah that Blazer strives to impart to his children and his congregants is an important one that goes to the heart of the Jewish faith itself.
   
   "The Jewish people have survived very difficult circumstances as a small minority by something inherent to our tradition," said Blazer."That's a feeling that each one of us believes we can survive anything - even very dark days - all it takes is a little light."
   
   It is fitting that Blazer leads a congregation whose name means "House of My People," as he has immense confidence in those people - that the Jews will continue through whatever struggles they encounter, and that that, in the end, is an important message of Hanukkah.
   
   "There's nothing we can't do," said Blazer.
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   Temple Beth Ami Congregation (Reform), 23023 Hilse Lane, Newhall 91321, (661) 255-6410; Rabbi Mark Blazer.Congregation Beth Shalom (Conservative), 21430 Centre Pointe Parkway, Saugus, 91350, (661) 254-2411; Rabbi Steven Conn www.cbs-scv.org.

3. 3. Board Members

   ca018.urj.net/tba-contacts.htm - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/27/2006   Last Visited: 1/16/2007

   Mark Blazer Rabbi