Congregation Ner Tamid

04/23/2026

Am Yisrael Chai 💙 Happy Birthday Israel

04/16/2026

A huge Todah Rabah to Molly for all her incredible work getting CNT ready for Passover and helping put on a delicious Passover Seder!!

03/24/2026

Chag Pesach Sameach!

The Caring Committee conducted the first of their 3 Passover Seders at our local Senior Living Communities where several of our CNT members reside. A huge thank you to Rabbi Graetz and Cantor Jaffe who never disappoint.

Thank to our CLAL students for the beautiful cards made for this event.

Everyone enjoyed it thoroughly AND of course enjoyed a very entertaining rendition of Chad Gadya by Rabbi and Cantor to close.

03/23/2026

The Resilience of Life with Dan & Jackie Devries

Out of profound darkness emerges the light of resilience. This is the story of Elfie Devries—her escape from N**i Germany through the Kindertransport, and her family’s return to her childhood home to honor the courage of her parents and the life they made possible.

03/23/2026

Gia’s Bat Mitzvah
Parashah Vayikra

03/19/2026

Rabbi Mijael Even David and his wife, Raya Even David, spoke over Zoom this past Wednesday about what happened to their congregation in Be’er Sheva.

Here is the link to watch the recording - https://youtu.be/qYJXv85l5NA?si=KMz7_Ke3vfxRLmrf

Rabbi Mijael Even David was born in Chile, made Aliyah 20 years ago and received his ordination from the Schechter Rabbinical School in Jerusalem. He was Rabbi of the Noam Youth Movement in Israel and has served communities in Ashkelon, Karmiel, London and, for the last 8 years, Beer Sheva.
Raya Even David was born in Jerusalem to American parents. She has a degree in Judaism and Education from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and has worked in several positions in Jewish formal and non-formal education. Currently she works at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev.
They are parents to Hallel (11), Yair (10), Shira (6) and Nitzan (5).

03/17/2026

L’Dough V’Dough Challah Bake! Thank you to our USYer Noah for planning! It was a beautiful event that exemplified the idea of L’Dor V’Dor!

03/10/2026

Rancho Palos Verdes Interfaith Meeting
Rabbi Graetz teaching his colleagues on The Hill about our sanctuary and the Torah

02/10/2026

01/26/2026

This Shabbat, we mark a moment that is both deeply emotional and profoundly symbolic: the return of the final hostage. On Shabbat Beshalach, the Torah tells the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt, finally stepping out of bo***ge toward freedom. That this final return comes on this very Shabbat feels more than coincidental—it feels like history and hope meeting each other.

The prophet Jeremiah gives voice to our pain and our promise:
“Thus says the Lord:
A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more.” (Jeremiah 31:15)

Yet the prophecy does not end there:
“Thus says the Lord:
Keep your voice from weeping,
and your eyes from tears;
for there is a reward for your work…
They shall come back from the land of the enemy.
There is hope for your future…
and your children shall return to their own border.” (Jeremiah 31:16–17)

We invite the entire community to join us this Shabbat morning at 9:30 AM, as we lower the Hostages’ Flag and recite the blessing of Shehecheyanu, thanking God for reaching this moment.

Please share this video with friends, where you can see how we marked today’s program talking about his return—and how I removed the hostage pin from my jacket lapel after 843 days of wearing it, with prayer, faith, and longing.

May this be a Shabbat of gratitude, healing, and renewed hope.

Kol Tuv,
Rabbi Tzvi Graetz

11/20/2025

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to dust off your sequins, THIS IS IT.

Join us on January 31, 2026 for a night of sparkle, soul, and supporting a cause that deserves a standing ovation (and maybe a little shimmy) while honoring some of CNT’s greatest, Adam & Patricia Feingold and Judy Tobias!

Tickets are flying faster than polyester pants in the 70s — snag yours now before someone else steals your groove! Discounted tickets vanish Nov 30 at midnight!
https://www.nertamid.com/gala26

Let’s dance, donate, and disco our way to doing good!