Community Links #204 by The Jewish Link

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April 6-April 20, 2012

Vol. 9 Issue 204

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No Way to Treat a Veteran – Heck, No Way to Treat a Citizen

Matzah & Maror Worthy Mechutanim

For several hours, I heard the following message in each of my 30 attempts to reach the VA: “Your call cannot be answered at this time. Please call back later.” Dr. Robert Rome

"Light is only fully recognized when emerging from darkness." One can only appreciate the importance of freedom after he fully understands what slavery entails. . Rabbi Eliyahu Hoffmann

THE COMMUNITY LINKS is published biweekly and is distributed free to the Jewish Community of Southern California. THE COMMUNITY LINKS accepts no responsibility for typographical errors or reliability of Kashrus of any advertisers. All submissions become the property of THE COMMUNITY LINKS and may be shortened and/or edited for length and clarity. Articles published in THE COMMUNITY LINKS express the views of the individual writers and may not necessarily represent the views of THE COMMUNITY LINKS. No artwork or any part of the magazine may be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the written permission of the publisher.

Jewish Homeschooling in Los Angeles

Jewish Homeschoolers began about 4 years ago with about 5-7 homeschool families. This year we have over 60 families! Shari Rosenman

A Spiritual Connection Bill Needed

A time to reconnect to our families, friends, and religion. We need to connect to friendliness and show unconditional love. We also need the time for spiritual connection. Rabbi Eli Hecht

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By Robert J. Rome, PhD.

No Way to Treat a Veteran – Heck, No Way to Treat a Citizen Survey after survey tells us about the negative impressions of the government that citizens have in the United States. They don’t like Congress. For the best part of the last two decades, the majority doesn’t like the Presidency. Citizens have negative views of Washington. In California, they don’t care for Sacramento. And with indictments for fraud and abuse by local politicians in a variety of cities and governmental agencies, most don’t seem to trust local government now. Let me provide a personal example of why the public may be turning more and more against the government. As I have written in the past, I am a veteran of the United States Navy, having served as an officer with the Marine Corps and other military units for nine years. I was seeking to refinance my house with a VA loan, one of the benefits of having been a veteran. I am very much appreciative of the benefits that I have received as a veteran. That is not the problem. The problem occurred when I tried to use these benefits. I had a question as to what was required for the VA loan. My loan advisor at the bank advised me to call the VA.

I called the VA number listed in the phone directory. For several hours, I heard the following message in each of my 30 attempts to reach the VA: “Your call cannot be answered at this time. Please call back later.” I went on the Internet to see what information was available online regarding my question. The website did not fully answer my question. After wasting the better part of a day trying to reach the VA by phone and by the Net, and still lacking the answers I needed, I called our Congressman. I asked the aide for alternative ways of reaching the VA. I was given a contact number in the San Fernando Valley, a local number, as contrasted with the 1-800 regional number I had been calling. Over a six-hour period, I called the number close to 100 times (thanks to the redial button). The number was busy for 6 straight hours. After six hours, I called the Congressman back to see if there were any other ways to reach the VA. The aide gave me a special public relations person at the VA who is called by the Congressman when all other attempts fail. The Congressional aide also told me that there is a feature on the VA website for getting answers by email. I next called the special number given to me. I left an answer April 6, 2012 • 323-965-1544 • info@communitylinks.info

on the voice mail (after hours of busy signals or messages to call back later, it was a pleasure to even leave a message). However, as I write this article now three full weeks after my message, I have yet to receive a call back. With no one to talk to on the phone, I wrote an email to the VA, using their special “ask a question” section. Surprise, surprise! The next morning I received an answer. I was given a list of the steps needed to complete the loan. I then supplied the information to our bank exactly as instructed by the email. The loan company then forwarded the information to the VA. The VA is supposed to respond to such letters within five business days. 11 business days later, after the rate guarantee on my loan had expired, I received a response. My letter was inadequate. It did not include a form that is to be completed by the real estate agent involved in the sale of the home. This was a refinance and there was no agent or sale. I wrote back the VA specialist who had sent me the email. He told me that the agent form is not required for a refinance. I contacted my loan officer who then contacted the regional VA office. They responded that the agent form is required in all cases like my loan. There we stand. The national VA told me one thing by email. The regional VA said another. How does one ever get the VA services which they are promised as veteran’s benefits? How can someone like (or even respect) a government that treats its citizens in this manner? I did get the ear and assistance of my Congressman’s staff, but for what purpose as the numbers and website advice given did not pan out. We’ve heard disturbing stories in recent months of federal officials supplying guns to Mexican drug lords. We’ve heard of police in Fullerton fir-

ing on and killing an unarmed man. We’ve heard of the entire group of elected officials in the city of Bell taking salary and benefit packages in excess of up to million dollars or more. We’ve read about the staff of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum taking millions in what amount to bribes while the Coliseum was posting a debt each year. There have been other similar front page stories of corruption in our government at all levels. Both Democrats and Republicans are guilty. And the guilty actions take place at all levels of government, including local, state, and federal. And if that is not enough, President Obama and the other candidates come to town for fundraising only, never to meet the common folk. And with the limos and Secret Service vans driving through town to get the candidates to fundraising dinners, during rush hour, streets are closed and traffic is backed up in every direction. You have no direct access to many of the agencies which supposedly serve us. It is not only the VA where you get busy signals and lousy answers. It seems that the individual citizen is far removed from the government which serves us. We cannot reach our officials. Yet, in this election season, we get called each night directly by President Obama’s campaign, the campaigns of each Republican candidate, and a myriad of candidates for office and their campaign committees or supporters. We are important to each of these groups when they want our campaign contributions, but we often don’t hear from them except during campaign season.

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our Jewish people, the Rabbis of the Sanhedrin in ancient Israel. Each of these Rabbis had a profession both before becoming part of the Sanhedrin, and for many, even afterward. They were shoemakers, farmers, carpenters, and in the case of one noted Rabbi, a Roman gladiator. With only a couple exceptions, they were from the people and of the people, commoners who excelled in the Rabbinic and legislative arena because of their talents and skills, not their money or position. In one of the most famous episodes described in the Talmud, the position of the wealthiest Rabbi was rejected when he continued to oppose the opposing position of the majority. Even though his position may have been technically correct (the Gemara notes that G-d Himself weighed in a response in favor of Rabbi Eliezer’s position), his continued opposition to the majority stance violated a key provision in deciding Torah law, namely “you must incline after the majority.” As Rabbi Eliezer continued to oppose the majority’s position, he was eventually removed from the body. It is far different with our representatives. I have a millionaire Councilman, a millionaire Congressman, two millionaire Senators, etc. The government has become dysfunctional as the common “everyday man and woman” concerns are far from the concerns of these elected officials. They hold dinners where individuals pay $35,000 a plate in an economy where the rest of us debate whether we can afford to take out a pizza on Saturday evening. I am told that there is a TV show where the boss goes undercover as an employee to work as a common worker in the company. The executive of a fast food chain takes a job as a short-order cook in one of the restaurants in the chain, as just one example. The executive soon realizes the sometimes unfair working conditions of his employees. He hears sug-

gestions from the workers as to how to improve the restaurant. It is a telling experience. On TV, there is an ad for Domino’s Pizza where a new item on the menu nationally is the product of the creativity of one store manager in a small town in Ohio. This manager created “parmesan bread sticks,” now one of the most popular items on the Domino’s menu, I am told. His idea has positively impacted the bottom line of the huge chain nationally. If our elected officials had to actually contact the VA, or the IRS, or the Planning Department, or the Board of Psychology, they would see the problems the common people face. They would observe that an agency where phones are busy for six straight hours and into the next business day requires either more phones or more people answering the phones. If they were to observe that there are local or regional requirements actually in opposition to the national regulations, they would seek clarification and changes. If President Obama had to wait his turn in traffic, he would realize that maybe he should plan fundraisers at sites where he could take a helicopter rather than blocking traffic for millions with his limo and entourage. Our government has become largely dysfunctional. No wonder few trust the government anymore. I don’t have all the answers, but someone has to start asking the questions. We just don’t see any longer “a government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” as described by Lincoln. These are the issues that need to be addressed during this election season. The policies of government are important, but the very functionality of the system needs to be addressed. •

Robert J. Rome, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in clinical practice in Encino, California. He can be reached at RJRome@aol.com.

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by Rabbi Eliyahu Hoffmann

As much as we are told that Purim is a Yom Tov of opposites - "ve-nahapoch-hu," the Pesach Seder has more than it's own share of opposites. It can be confusing: Are we commemorating our freedom and the Exodus from Egypt and slavery, or are we remembering the bitterness of our years as slaves under the cruel rule of the Pharaohs of Egypt. We recline, to demonstrate we are free. Yet we dip our food in salt-water to remind ourselves of the tears of our slavery. We drink the "Arba Kosos - four cups" of wine, which represent the "four languages of redemption," but we eat charoses to commemorate the mortar bricks we were forced to make. Maror reminds us of the bitter times we spent in Egypt, yet we recline to demonstrate our liberty.

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The explanation, however, is obvious. As our Sages put it, "Light is only fully recognized when emerging from darkness." One can only appreciate the importance of freedom after he fully understands what slavery entails. To truly praise Hashem for taking us out of Egypt, we must first learn about slavery, and even perform physical symbols to bring home to us how bitter it actually was.

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Matzah and maror can also be seen as "opposites," as the following story illustrates. One Seder night, the holy Rebbe R' Yissachar Dov of Belz was walking through the alleyways of his town Belz. As he passed by the house of a simple yet G-d-fearing Jew, he stopped by the window to listen in on his Seder. He overheard the Jew saying the section of the Haggadah which establishes the correct time to remember the Exodus: "One might think that the obligation to discuss the Exodus commences with the first day of the month of Nissan... therefore the Torah adds (Shemos 13:8), 'It is because of this that Hashem did so for me when I went out of Egypt," [the pronoun this implies something tangible, leading us to conclude that] I have commanded you [to discuss the Exodus] only when matzah and maror are lying before you [at the Seder]."

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The simple Jew, it seems, was not very learned. Instead of saying, "I have commanded you only when matzah and maror lie (munachim) before you," he said, "I have commanded you only when matzah and maror are mechutanim (i.e. relatives through marriage) before you." It was all his disciples could do not to break out laughing. Yet to their surprise, R' Yissachar Dov took his blunder quite seriously. After pondering the simple Jew's words for a moment, he remarked, "Indeed, matzah and maror are mechutanim!" Seeing his disciples' amazement, he related the following story.

shidduch, with a date for the wedding to be arranged later. So excited was R' Zelig by his chassan that he began to become paranoid lest someone else "discover" him and steal from him his catch. He sent an urgent telegram to the young chassan. "Come right away," it said, "the wedding must take place immediately! Do not worry about clothing or wedding expenses, I will take care of everything."

Reb Zelig was a rich and important Jew who's daughter's time had come to marry. Her father searched far and wide for a young man worthy to take his daughter's hand in marriage, yet it seemed that every boy he met just didn't suit the bill.

Alarmed, the chassan promptly gathered his meagre possessions, and travelled to the city of the kallah. When he arrived, he was whisked off to the tailor to have a new suit made for the chassunah. The tailor was instructed save the chassan's old torn suit for the father of the kallah, who was footing the bill. Then, not even taking the time to prepare a lavish wedding banquet, as would normally befit a man such as R' Zelig, a hasty chassunah took place.

One day, while travelling on business, he came across a young man sitting and learning in beis ha-midrash. At first, R' Zelig was put off by the boy's shoddy clothes and impoverished appearance. The more they spoke, however, the more impressed he became. "This young man is a diamond in the rough," he thought to himself. R' Zelig wasted no time, and immediately arranged a

In later years, when R' Zelig's son-inlaw disagreed with him, or refused to take his advice, R' Zelig would go to his closet and remove the old, tattered clothing his son-in-law had worn before marrying his daughter. "You forget," he would say, "that I'm the one who made you what you are today. Look at your regal clothing - this is what you used to wear!"

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Not to be outdone, R' Zelig's son-inlaw had his own trick up his sleeve. He had put aside a stale piece of bread from the hastily prepared leftovers which had been served at his chassunah meal, saving it for just such an occasion. Taking it out, he would say, "Ah, but you too forget just how anxious you were to have me as your son-in-law. Why, you didn't even take the time to prepare a normal meal - you just couldn't wait!" "So, you see," said the Belzer Rebbe, "they were mechutanim worthy of one another." "The same discussion," concluded the Rebbe, "takes place between the Jewish nation and Hashem on the Seder night. Hashem, so to speak, takes out the maror, showing it to us. 'You see,' He tells us, 'this is how bitter your lives were before I took you out of Mitzrayim. Without Me, you would still be there!' But, not to be had, we too have what to say. We take out the unleavened matzos before Hashem, as if to say to him, 'Ah, but remember the rush You were in to have us as your nation. Why, you couldn't even wait until our bread had time to bake!' Indeed, matzah and maror are the finest of mechutanim."

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Shari Rosenman

A Jewish Homeschoolers began about 4 years ago with about 5-7 homeschool families. This year we have over 60 families and, based on the inquiries to date, we expect to have several more families joining us next year. We are families on the entire spectrum of Judaism, from unaffiliated to Orthodox. We are lawyers, actors, artists, musicians, computer geeks, scientists, Hebrew teachers, dentists, writers, rabbis, doctors, and just plain loving parents. We homeschool for a variety of reasons. Some of us homeschool because the Jewish day schools are just too expensive, or are too expensive for what they offer. Some of us homeschool because the Jewish day schools aren't well-equipped to handle the diversity of Jewish children -- special needs, gifted, out of the box, kids with dysgraphia, kids with anxiety, creative kids, kids who don't want to be overly immersed in popular culture, etc. Some of us homeschool because the long hours of day school prevent our children from experiencing a full childhood. Some of us homeschool because we don't like the bullying that occurs in so many schools today. Some of us homeschool because the public schools don't teach Judaic subjects and/or don't have enough other Jewish students with whom to socialize. Some of us homeschool because we know our children better than anyone else and can help them find exactly what they need to maximize their potential. And the list goes on.

classics and writing more creatively. People tell me they could never homeschool their own children because they don't have the patience or the skills. That's probably not accurate. I have the patience of a flea (as my family likes to remind me) and it works. And the only skill you need to homeschool your children is the desire to help them identify what they need to succeed and how they can get it. Some people are afraid to homeschool because they think their children won't be able to get back into the school system if they change their minds. That's not been my experience. My daughter homeschooled for 3 years and then decided to check out high school in 10th grade. So this year she is attending Shalhevet High School, doing well academically and socially, and enjoying the experience. Some people also worry that they won't be able to get their children into good colleges if they homeschool. That's just not true either. In our small group, we have former homeschoolers attending UCLA and Columbia University.

Jewish Homeschooling in LA

I personally decided to homeschool my family for a combination of reasons. It's been a tremendous journey for my whole family. One of my favorite benefits of homeschooling is that my family decides what our schedule will be, not the schools. I love traveling when the opportunity arises. Indeed, as I write this, I'm in Tampa, Florida with my son, having just spent the afternoon at the Tampa History Center. And tomorrow we're flying to New York for some more visits with family and exploration of NY's culture and history. Some of the many benefits that my children have received from homeschooling are gaining more confidence, developing better communications skills, developing better social skills, knowing who they truly are deep down inside, improving on weaker academic areas, improving our family dynamics, spending more time playing music and forming bands, working with mentors in areas of passion, and reading more

Have you ever wondered whether homeschooling might be right for your family? Are you curious about this growing phenomenon in the Jewish community? If so, come to a homeschool information night, learn a little more, meet some of us and bring your questions. For information contact me at sharirosenman@gmail.com. For information about the homeschool information night being held in the Valley on April 24, contact Beth Braunstein at braungreen@sbcglobal.net. The meetings are a free service to our community. I hope to see some of you there. •

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A Health Care Bill Passed – A Spiritual Connection Bill Needed On Friday-Shabbos night, Jewish people worldwide will join together in celebrating the holiday of Passover. A highlight of the celebration is a festive meal called a Seder. The holiday commemorates the Exodus of Jews from slavery in the land of Egypt over 3300 years ago. On this evening families gather together and observe the holiday by reciting the story of Jewish enslavement and redemption, from a book called, The Hagaddah. The meal is replete with many symbols. The wine represents wealth and happiness. The bitter herbs, called marror, represent the bitterness of slavery and the unleavened bread, matzah, represents unleavened bread baked hurriedly by Jews before their departure from Egypt. After the Exodus the Jewish nation wandered forty years in the desert culminating with the arrival in the land of Canaan, currently called Israel. In the Haggadah, “The Bible speaks of four sons, the wise, the wicked, the simple, and the one unable to ask a proper question. The late Lubavitcher Rebbe, world Chassidic leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994) instructed Jews to

Rabbi Eli Hecht

have everyone at the Seder. He stated that there is a fifth son and that is the lost one, a child estranged from his noble roots, who needs to be addressed. That child, too, must be encouraged, brought to the Pesach Seder and made to feel connected.. I have made the following observation. We live in the most technologically connected generation with mobile phones, wi-fi, lap tops, I-phones, and podcasts. Internet connections are reaching almost anywhere in the world. Yet remarkably, there are times we do not connect with our family members who live in our own homes or communities. So many live in a world of total disconnect.

What is needed, I believe, is a time to reconnect to our families, friends, and religion. We need to connect to friendliness and show unconditional love. We also need the time for spiritual connection. Our great country has been debating passage of a health bill. The President feels strongly that everybody needs to be covered by health insurance. On that note I think we need to pass a “connection bill,” making sure that everybody is connected. After all, friends and families that spend time together are healthier when connected. They extend friendship and care for one another. It’s like health benefits, insuring a healthier people. So let’s all take a lesson from Passover, by making sure that we all have a place at the table. No one should be shunned or forgotten. Then we will have a transparent and healthy nation. A happy Passover to all.• Rabbi Eli Hecht is vice–president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America and past–president of the Rabbinical Council of California. He is the director of Chabad of South Bay in Lomita, CA which houses a synagogue, day school, nursery school and chaplaincy programs.

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Special Alterations Pants Hem exp. 4/30/12 pre paid - cash only Valid with coupon

PESACH BLOWOUT SALE!!! 35%-55% Off* *Regular Department Store Price

WE NOW CARRY! Calvin Klein • Ralph Lauren • Michael Kors • Joseph Abboud • DKNY 100% Wool Sports Jackets 100% Wool Suits - Made in Italy 100% Wool Pants 100% Cotton Shirts 100% Silk Designer Ties Leather Belts & more...

First Quality Men’s Clothes at Half the Price of Department Stores Boys Suits at Discounted Prices from size 8-20 Regular & Husky 100% Wool Super 100

General & Cosmetic Dentistry Crowns • Bridges • Implants • Veneers • Bleaching •Free Consultation for Lumineers

818-981-0394

16055 Ventura Blvd. Suite 1001 Encino, CA 91436-2621 Ask now for your complimentary

Digital Smile Makeover.

We’ll have it ready before you leave! April 6, 2012 • 323-965-1544 • info@communitylinks.info

Get your

perfect smile...

...today.

LUMI SMILE BY LUMINEERS

`téxÄ gÉä4 Send us your mazel tovs to info@communitylinks.info

Engagements

Yosef Shlomo Goldberg To Dassie Cohen Avigayil Spigelman to David Salomon Chava Feigen to Binyomin Braun Shira Davidi to Yosef Shaliyehsabou Ruchi Dear to Ephraim Sternberg Sarala Leventhal to Moshe Zev Rottenberg Gitty Benjamin to Yisroel Guy Rachel Adison to Samuel Schwartz Baila Klein to Nachman Hiller Ariela Batya Tzion to Avigdor Omri Kessler Aliza Vishniavsky to Yitzy Greenbaum Noi Hershkovich to Dovie Meshchaninov Bracha Illulian to Mendel Tevel Breindy Schor to Avrohom Yankelewitz Yael Caklor to Doniel Kahn Chani Halpern to Shmuli Braun Kate Berman to Mendy Raskin Chava Bekhor to Moshe Minsky Adina Klein to Tuvia Korobkin Zisi Reznick to Ariel Hausman Sara Frend to Daneal Scheer Chana Frankel to Dovid Lederman

Marraige Rivi Potash to Shimon New

Baby Boy Ilanit & Mordy Gluckowsky Bent Tzion Yachzel and Rivka Yachzel Munish and Rikki Weiss Mendel and Sara Gottlieb

Baby Girl Tali & Seth Merewitz Danielle & Dr. Ryan Spivak Seth & Tali (Rosenthal) Merewitz Jacob and Shoshana Polevoy Danielle & Dr. Ryan Spivak Alyssa and Donny Wiesel Editor’s Note: We would like to wish Mazel Tov to Menachem and Golde Goldberg on the engagement of their son Yosef Shlomo Goldberg To Dassie Cohen. Last week’s announcment was a missprint. Sponsored by

Pesach Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients • 2 cups sugar • 2 eggs • 1 cup oil • 2 packets, about 2 T. vanilla sugar • 3¼ cups / 400 grams very finely ground almonds (almost flour consistency)

• 1 cup potato starch • 1¼ cups / 10 oz. chocolate chips

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F 2. Cream together the sugar, eggs, and oil. Add in the vanilla, almonds, potato starch, and chocolate chips and mix well. 3. Freeze the batter for 10 minutes to make it easier to form the cookies. It will be oily, but this is normal. 4. Make small balls out of the batter using your hands or a mini ice cream scooper. Place them on a parchment-baking paper- lined tray. DO NOT flatten the cookies at all. They spread a lot in the baking process. The size cookie you see featured here was done with a mini-ice cream scooper and look how big they got. 5. Bake them for 12 minutes, until they are lightly browned and crinkled. Let them cool a bit on the paper and then remove them. These do freeze well! Yields: Approximately 45 cookies

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012 First night of pesach Light Candles at: 7:00 pm ••• SHABBOS, APRIL 7, 2012 Second night of Pesach Light Candles after: 7:57 pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012 Eve of Seventh Day of Pesach Light Candles at: 7:05 pm ••• FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012 Eve of Eighth Day of Pesach Light Candles at: 7:06 pm

April 6, 2012 • 323-965-1544 • info@communitylinks.info

W CALL NO T EX N R U O FOR R! U O T T N PARE

April 6, 2012 • 323-965-1544 • info@communitylinks.info

STORE OWNERS • SUPERMARKETS HOTELS • M AIL/PHONE ORDERS GROCERIES • INTERNET MERCHANTS WHOLESALE/RETAIL BUSINESS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

E XISTNG B USINESSES LET US SAVE YOU MONEY ON YOUR CURRENT FEES. • No Setup Charges • No Reprograming Fees • No Application Fees • Upgrades • Trade-ins Available

CREDITwCe cannot reduce y our ARD PR OCESS

we will p I ay you NG FEES

$200

April 6, 2012 • 323-965-1544 • info@communitylinks.info

1. World image is missing from the logo on the banner. 2. the words SIYUM and MIDWEST were switched. 3. The poster in the back. 4. Bottle missing from the table. 5. Extra bottle on the table. 6. Boy missing in the back. 7. The color of the tie in the from chaged from black to purple. 8. Wording missing from podium logo. 9. One of the boys are missing a tie. 10. Pipe missing in the back.

qqqq qqqq qq CHANGES KEEP SCORE

Please email us your event pictures to Info@communitylinks.info

OVER 500 BOYS FROM 13 CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA ENJOYING A WONDERFUL RUACH FILLED WEEKEND AT THE PIRCHEI MIDWEST SIYUM HAMISHNAYOS IN CHICAGO AT TELSHE YESHIVA

Can you spot the differences in these two pictures?

DoubleTake

Realtor Realtor | D DRE#01489848 RE#01489848

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April 6, 2012 • 323-965-1544 • info@communitylinks.info

NEXT ISSUE: April 20 Deadline: April 16

8JTIJOH ZPV B )BQQZ BOE ,PTIFS 1FTBDI

ʧʮʹʥ ʸʹʫ ʢʧ

COMMUNITY LINKS 40

April 6, 2012 • 323-965-1544 • info@communitylinks.info

CLASSIFIEDS GIFTS

DRESS MAKER

TRAVELING NOTARY

A Perfect Setting Great gifts for all occasions- invited out for a Shabbos meal? Baby gifts...Bas Mitzvah g i f t s . . . We d d i n g gifts...House warming gifts...Don't put it off. Come in today and go out relieved. Call for a special appointment

323-938-8222 or 323-620-3618

Yosef Y. Shagalov:

Traveling Notary Public & Home Signing Agent.

Wedding dresses Forsale & For Rent. Custom Designs, & Alterations, Sewing Classes Also Available. Please Call 323-933-5960 or 323-348-8786 -298-

ask for Rochel -692-

BRIS - ,hrc Traditional Ritual Circumcision Rabbi Nachman B. Kreiman Certified Mohel vjnun kvun

Home: 323.934.9329 Cell: 323.896.5098 www.expertmohel.com #1751

NOTARY

BANDS

Cell:(323)934-7095 email: yys770@aol.com

Abi Notaries Public Your place/ Our place No appointment need it!! (Eng. Spanish-French-Italian-Yiddish-Portuguese-Hebrew) . 24/6 524 N. La Brea Ave Los Angeles, CA 90036 323-9300444 (office) 323-646-2356 (Cell x after hours) #209

WORKSHOPS/CLASSES

Parenting With Wisdom

MUSIC BY MENDEL SIMONS

What do I do when my child (fill in your least acceptable behavior)? Take the best parenting class in town to learn how to deal with misbehavior, discouragement and poor school performance. In addition, acquire all the skills necessary to raise confident, independent, and responsible children. Appropriate for ages 0-5, 6-11, and teens. Individual or group sessions. Affordable. Call Irine Schweitzer, LCSW for more information, www.parentingbyirine.com

310-595-5490

@ 818 754-4501. -1548-

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DISCOUNT REALTY

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Music by Ariel Louk One man band to a full orchestra Contact now for availability & rates

323-997-2647 loukmusic@sbcglobal.net -1438-

BEAUTY

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1% Listing broker Commission I pay buyer's closing cost no fee loans Orna@orna.com Ruben # 01098186 888-360-3337

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Robin Schultz Ackerman

CAREER TRAINING Career Training Please see our ad on page 29 Los Angeles ORT Technical Institute. 800-998- 2678

LIVE@ MUSICBYMENDEL.COM

will help you eliminate unwanted hair! Doctor referred over 10 years in the community. Reasonable rates, Flexible hours open Sundays by appt. Call anytime for an appt.

SOUTHERN & CENTRAL CALIFORNIA JEWISH Tehachapi Torah Center/Kern Kehilla. Suited for Families, Individuals, and existing Torah Organizations. Healthy, Serene, Affordable, Child Friendly.'Twice the Home for Half the Money'. Priced from: $75,000 for a 3 bed 2 bath starter home. 125k-475k for very nice, larger, & high end homes. Lease: House $900, Shares $450. Apartments $650. 'Learn More' http://pearmancta.com/kerncountykehilla.htm or contact: Roger M. at rmp@pearlmancta.com Phone: 310-948-5137

April 6, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 323-965-1544 â&#x20AC;˘ info@communitylinks.info

#1737

LOWEST MORTGAGE RATES

LOANS www.adiscountMortgage.com

No up front fees Orna@orna.com 30 years Fixed no fees 3.75% APR 15 years Fixed no fees 3.25% APR

Ruben nmls314133 888-360-3337

Recession-Proof Careers Are you unemployed and collecting unemployment benefits? In just 8 months we will train you in a recession-proof career, and help you find an exciting job in: Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Management, Accounting, Administrative Assistant, Business Management, Computer Graphics, Computer Aided Design. LA ORT is Non-Profit organization. Financial Aid, Scholarship and Transportation assistance are available. Call 323-966-5444 and ask for Flora. www.LAORT.edu

800.998.2678

WORKSHOPS/CLASSES

A Time for Dance A TIME FOR DANCt! Offering acting, singing, classical ballet, tap, gymnastics, jazz, hip hop, mommy and me and more! Ages 2- adult. Convenient Pico/Robertson, Labrea and North Hollywood locations. Join the fun!!

(323) 404-0827 www.atime4dance.com BABY NURSE

Baby nurse (newborn care specialist)Postpartum,Doul a,and Night Nanny. Great experience, awesome fees starting @$20. Certification, insurance ,trust line, TB. Please call 310-985-4151 or email gigimybabynurse @gmail.com. or visit website www.babee.com. Shalom GIGI.Roni Babysitting available for babies up to 1 yr old by experienced baby nurse, night nurses also available for newborns. Please call (323) 851-9207 worked for many years with families in the community references available upon request BABYSITTER AVAILABLE

Babysitting available for babies up to 1 yr old by experienced baby nurse . Night nurses also available for newborns please call (323) 851-9207. Worked for many years with families in the community. References available upon request.

Orthodox woman available to watch your children full time or part-time hours, at your location. Excellent references. 323-651-9389 #1750

April 6, 2012 • 323-965-1544 • info@communitylinks.info

Spend Your Summer at Touro College Los Angeles Now Accep ng Applica on for the 2012 Summer & Fall Semesters

Summer Session I: June 18th – July 19th Summer Session II: July 23rd - August 22nd • Physics • Economics • History • Speech • Anatomy & Physiology • Precalculus • College Math • Leadership • English • Finance (classes subject to enrollment)

For more information Please call:

323‐822‐9700 x 85155 or email: tourola.admissions@touro.edu

1317 N. Crescent Heights Blvd. West Hollywood, CA www.touro.edu/losangeles • email: tourola.admissions@touro.edu Touro College Los Angeles is accredited by the Accredi ng Commission for Senior Colleges and Universi es of the Western Associa on of Schools and Colleges: 985 Atlan c Ave. #100, CA 94501; Tel. 510-748-9001. Touro College Los Angeles is an Equal Opportunity Ins tu on.”