Jewish Community Chronicle - Weddings, B'nai Mitzvot, Simchahs Issue by Jewish Long Beach

T H E

V O I C E

O F

T H E

J E W I S H

C O M M U N I T Y

PUBLISHED SINCE 1947 BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER LONG BEACH AND WEST ORANGE COUNTY

Weddings

Love, Jewish Community Style PAGE 2

www.jewishlongbeach.org | 562.426.7601

INSIDE

B'nai Mitzvot

Alpert JCC Around the J

JANUARY 2015 | 5775 | TEVET-SHEVAT | VOL.67-NO.5

FEATURE STORY

Love, Jewish Community Style

e inspire tens of thousands of weddings. The Jewish Community Partnership agencies, local synagogues, and community organizations not only help our community with the services we provide, but we also connect people in our community. Countless friends and couples have met through our programs and fundraising events, inspiring many weddings and lifelong friendships. We not only help our community survive by providing funding for the aged, counseling for families in crisis, and support for preschools, day schools, summer camps, college students and synagogues; we also help it thrive by building relationships that will last a lifetime. For this wedding issue, we asked our readers who met through one of our local Jewish community programs to send us their stories. Like the popular television show from the 1970’s Love, American Style, we will now share stories from Love, Jewish Community Style. You will meet two couples who met at the JCC in the 1960’s, a couple who met while working at our day camp in the 1980’s, and a couple who met more recently through the GesherCity program. Below are their stories:

Love and the Singles Group – Doreen & Irv Shuldiner I met my husband in 1967 through the 21-35 singles group that was active during those years. I grew up in Long Beach and would go to their functions occasionally. My husband had been living and working in the Valley when he changed jobs and moved to Torrance. His good friend was president of the “Center Singles” at the time and suggested he come to their next social. Bingo! We met and married in 1968. We also made a lot of friends through that group that we are still friendly with to this day. There were 4 or 5 other couples who met and married at that time also. Unfortunately they have moved out of the area and we have lost contact with them. – Doreen Shuldiner Cupid Comes to Camp Kadimah – Lauren & Jeffrey Rips I still remember my initial interview with Sharon Kenigsberg (who was the camp director at the

Jeffrey & Lauren Rips

Doreen & Irv Shuldiner

time). I interviewed to be a summer camp counselor for Camp Kadimah for the summer of 1988, and I was happy to be offered the job. I also remember my first day of orientation. I didn’t know any of the staff. I remember Jeffrey leading different activities, and I was impressed with his enthusiasm and smile. We dated all through the summer without anyone knowing. Fast-forward 26 years and we’ve been married for 21 years and have three beautiful children, one of whom is employed at the J. – Lauren Rips Love at the Pool – Linda & Sanford Simmons Sanford and I met the summer of 1966 at the Jewish Community Center. I was just a 17-year-old high school kid hanging out with a girlfriend at the pool. We spotted a Navy guy in uniform and went to chat with him. A few minutes later, my future husband joined us. The next day, I was back at the pool and saw Sanford again. This time he invited me to go to a Beach Party sponsored by the JCC for college-age kids. The rest is history. We got married a year later, three weeks after I

Vicky & Charles Brodsky (center)

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graduated from high school. We’ve been married now for 47 years and have three children and seven grandchildren. Two of our kids live locally and their children attended the JCC for preschool and summer programs! – Linda Simmons Romance at GesherCity – Vicky & Charles Brodsky Charles and I met briefly at several GesherCity events and there was definite interest. Soon after we met, a mutual friend nudged us to start “talking” to each other on Facebook and we began dating. We continued to go to GesherCity events and were engaged within a year and married within two years of meeting. We now have a three-year-old son who attends AJCC preschool (like his father did over 30 years ago) and a seven-week-old son. I continued to make new friends in the community when my older son and I participated in the “From the Beginning” class (for parents and babies) at the AJCC. I know that our family will continue to be involved and we look forward to being a part of this vibrant community. – Vicky Brodsky (GesherCity is a current program designed to provide Jewish programming and resources as a bridge to involvement in the Jewish Community for young adults 21-35.) Melissa Selmanson, professional event planner and a young adult now active in our community, sums it up for us, “Think about it, the agencies we belong to and the programs we are involved in may give us the opportunity to find everlasting love. The bonds and relationships formed keep us connected throughout the years and encourage us to stay involved and give back to our community.” All of the couples in this story who met in our community have been, and continue to be, involved in making our Jewish Community a better place. If you are looking to be inspired, meet that special someone, or meet lifelong friends, take the example from our couples and get involved in the many organizations and programs that our Jewish Community has to offer. Visit www.jewishlongbeach.org and click on “Get Involved” for a listing of all our programs and upcoming community events.

Sanford & Linda Simmons

Published since 1947 by the Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Long Beach & West Orange County

Contents 1a-4a

Around the J

Passing the Torch

January Events at the Alpert Jewish Community Center

Hank Feldman JEWISH FEDERATION PRESIDENT

Lea Gerber JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

Deborah Goldfarb CEO

Danny Levy

Honoring Men Who Have Gone Above & Beyond

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Khatera Zubin MARKETING & CHRONICLE COORDINATOR CHRONICLE ADVERTISING

By Danny Levy, Director of Development

NCJW Charter Day Event to Honor Barbara Alpert

Erin Bellinghausen GRAPHIC ARTIST

Jewish Federation Jewish Community Foundation 3801 E. Willow Street Long Beach, CA 90815-1791 562-426-7601 FAX 562-424-3915 www.jewishlongbeach.org

Jewish Community Partnership Corporate Partners

PUBLICATION & ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT 562-426-7601 EXT 1006 chronicle@jewishlongbeach.org ADVERTISING & COPY DEADLINE First Wednesday of the month: March 2015 deadline: Feb. 4th ISSN# 1525- 6847

_____________________ Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Member

_____________________

Shabbat

Donald J. Kaiser

Investment Management

A Registered Investment Advisor

Candlelighting

January 2

4:38 pm

January 9

4:44 pm

January 16

4:50 pm

January 23

4:57 pm

January 30

5:04 pm

Cover Image A wedding & bat mitzvah in our community Photos Courtesy of Scott Smeltzer

The Shadden Group at Morgan Stanley Wealth Managment

Craig Kain, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist (Psy 14664)

Become a Corporate Partner Today Contact The Jewish Community Partnership at 562-426-7601. For more information about our Corporate Partners, visit www.jewishlongbeach.org/sponsors

The appearance of product or establishment advertising in the Jewish Community Chronicle does not constitute an endorsement of kashruth. Opinions printed in the Jewish Community Chronicle do not necessarily reflect those of the Jewish Federation. The publication of a paid political advertisement does not constitute endorsement of any candidate, political party or political position by the Jewish Federation or any employee.

www.jewishlongbeach.org | JANUARY 2015 | 3

INSIDE THE CHRONICLE

The Jewish Community

THE POWER OF TWO

We Inspire Tens of Thousands of Weddings

They meet on a hike at a Federation-funded summer camp. Sitting across the bus from each other on a Birthright trip. Wherever there’s an opportunity for young Jews to connect to the Jewish community and each other. It begins with Federation. And sometimes it even leads to a wedding! Marriages aren’t the only connections Federation inspires. Federation connects young Jews to their community. Their culture. They discover a love of Judaism. And a desire to pass it on to their children. So the cycle can begin again. Your gift enables us to accomplish all this and more. You’re an integral part of all we do. Give to the Federation’s Annual Community Campaign for today. Give to the Fund for our Future for tomorrow.

critical & vital



Annual Community Campaign

ways to give



the Fund for our Future

We Connect Those Who Can HELP To Those Who NEED It Most Visit jewishlongbeach.org or call 562.426.7601 for more information

Jewish Federation Jewish Community Foundation OF GREATER LONG BEACH & WEST ORANGE COUNTY

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critical & vital

ways to give



Annual Community Campaign 

T H E P OW E R O F T WO

Passing the Torch

Gene Lentzner

The Lentzner Family Major Gifts brunch was held on Sunday, December 7th with 50 families in attendance. IDF spokesperson Miri Eisen was the guest speaker. Gene Lentzner presented the case for giving to the Federation’s Annual Community Campaign. The following is an excerpt from his speech: If you want to have an idea of how important this event is, consider this: we have 1,244 families or individuals who now give to our annual campaign; 67 families or individuals qualify for the major gifts division; when you count the dollars, this means that 5.4% of our funders give 70% of all the money we receive; at one time, our group gave more than 80% of the entire campaign. So, what we do matters. Therefore, in an effort to understand what has

changed, and whether we could do better, we called a meeting with some of the community leaders. We wanted to know whether our cause, our reason for being, had diminished. Does Israel have less or different needs now? Has anti-Semitism diminished? Are we safer? Are we as a people worth preserving? And consider this: 60% of our major givers have left an endowment or legacy to perpetuate everything they had wanted to accomplish in their lifetimes. Certainly, this should be a conversation. And finally, a key question, are we concerned that our major givers are aging as a group and that we have not cultivated a new group to continue our mission? On Tuesday, Oct 28, a group of us met at Old Ranch Country Club. A younger family that is aspiring to join this group, but can’t afford to give $10,000 at this time, was invited. One donor there stated that he prefers meetings where there is a meaningful purpose, where he is educated to the importance and needs of the organization and others concurred. Another donor said that he doesn’t believe that enough people know what the Federation really does,

The Fund for our Future

how Federation is the coordinating arm of the Jewish Community and its agencies, or that Federation is a major fund raiser for Jewish life, here and abroad, and how in cases of emergencies, Federation is our key resource. There was also universal agreement that the cause of Jewish survival was important; that Israel was important and still challenged; that anti-Semitism had erupted once again; and that some of us had even strayed to other, newer, what appeared to be more exiting, causes. For example, Ronald McDonald House, Fisher House for Vets, and Cal State University. Others were concerned that our group was aging, and we needed to actively involve and recruit our younger givers. They are the future, and we need an active program to do this. Our younger couple even suggested that they would be interested in a step-up plan, which would allow them to become active, start at a certain level, say $5,000 and then move up to the $10,000 level in a given number of years. As a result, we decided to involve our new, younger major gift members to help us recruit new members; they know who is capable in their

group. Some of them want to play a more active role in this work, and we are going to invite their participation. And we will explore the step-up plan of giving so we can expand our circle even more. In addition, the Federation has decided to begin an educational program explaining what they are doing to secure the Jewish Community, now and in the future. This will be a series of meetings with key people to enhance their understanding of why our work is important. And today we are going to ask all of you to pledge your gift for the 2015 campaign, the amount due by December of next year, that’s a purpose of this meeting. However, I am going ask all of you who have given the same for many years (like myself) to consider raising your gift by 10%. We are the real leaders in this cause. We set the pace of giving. We can move this campaign, and our October meeting indicated what we should be doing to really accomplish what some of us believe is our core mission, and that is to preserve Jewish life for ourselves and our children. Thank you for listening, and especially, for giving.

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPER SUNDAY VOLUNTEER CALLERS!

Where We Are as of 12/19/14

2015 Annual Community Campaign $1,540,000 to date $501,886

goal of

Fund for our Future Capital Refurbishment Fund goal of $3,000,000 to date $818,750 Program Innovation Fund goal of $3,000,000 to date $923,403 Current & Future Endowment Funds NEW GOAL $15,000,000 to date $8,786,000

NOT ALL VOLUNTEERS ARE PICTURED

www.jewishlongbeach.org | JANUARY 2015 | 5

Honoring Men Who Have Gone Above & Beyond By Danny Levy, Director of Development

YOUR

FEDERATION

IMPACT

(December/January)

Lentzner Major Gifts Brunch had 50 donor attendees at a private home in Park Estates. The Major Gifts division for the Federation’s Annual Community Campaign has raised $458,600 to date. This is an increase of 10% from last year’s campaign. Super Sunday Annual Phone-a-Thon had 30 volunteer community members call over 1000 donors for the Federation’s Annual Community Campaign Opening Gifts division; they helped raise $27,000. Community Chanukah Info Table provided information about all Federation programing and fundraising. We were able to connect to community members.

On Thursday, February 26 the Jewish Federation Men’s Philanthropy division will host the second Above & Beyond event benefiting the Federation’s 2015/5775 Annual Community Campaign. The evening will honor men from local Jewish organizations for their outstanding contributions while bringing together men from across the community. This year, we will hear an inspiring speaker while perusing a private sports memorabilia collection. Above & Beyond will be held in the Lentzner Family Promenade and the Amy & Richard Lipeles Family Auditorium on the Weinberg Jewish Federation Campus. There will be local draft beer as well as Israeli craft beer. The Men’s Philanthropy division provides a way for men from all areas of our community to join together to support the goals of the Jewish Federation locally, in Israel, and around the world.

All are welcome to join. World-renowned sports agent Leigh Steinberg will highlight the event. One of the most influential figures in sports, Steinberg has pioneered the industry on his way to becoming the preeminent sports agent. With an unrivaled history of record-setting contracts, Leigh has secured over $3 billion for his 300+ pro athlete clients, and directed more than $750 million to various charities around the world. He has represented many of the most successful athletes and coaches in football, basketball, baseball, hockey, boxing, golf, etc., including the number one overall pick in the NFL draft for an unprecedented eight times, in conjunction with over 60 first round picks. Leigh was the first to transcend sports agentry into the business world, seeing the ability that sports has to penetrate every aspect of the marketplace. “The Federation’s work

SAVE THE DATE

in the Annual Community Campaign is incredibly important and this night will give many the opportunity to support the work of the Jewish Community Partnership agencies,” states Daryl Phillips, Men’s Philanthropy Chair for the Federation. “Last year’s inaugural Above & Beyond event was very successful. I’m very excited that men are participating to ensure the future of our Jewish community.” The Men’s Philanthropy division is also about social action in response to needs in our community. As part of the evening, all attendees are asked to bring new sports equipment which will then be donated to local communities where it is needed most. From last year’s event, we collected over 50 items that were donated to Mary Betheune Transitional Center through Bryce Martinez of Temple Israel and his B’nai Mitzvah project. The evening is open to all

men and benefits the Jewish Community Partnership Agencies including Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Foundation, Alpert Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family and Children’s Service, Hebrew Academy and Long Beach Hillel. Attendees are asked to make a minimum gift to the 2015/5775 Annual Community Campaign of $180. Your pledge can be paid in installments throughout the year, by check, credit card or EFT. If you have already made your 2015/5775 gift, you will only have to pay your entrance to the event. Invitations will be mailed mid-January with all the details. For more information, or if you would like to be on our mailing list, please call Megan Donaldson at 562426-7601 x1014.

SAVE THE DATE

V BIG Mitzvah Day

The Arlene Solomon

ISIONS

Dinner

Thursday, April 30, 2015

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

at 5:30 pm

Gail Levy & Sherri Selmanson VISIONS Co-Chairs

Get Involved! Contact Sharon at 562-426-7601 x1008 sharonk@jewishlongbeach.org 6 | JEWISH COMMUNITY CHRONICLE | TEVET-SHEVAT | 5775

Women’s Philanthropy

A Sound Investment

The Jewish Community Foundation funds are professionally managed by Russell Investments and monitored by an Investment Committee comprised of board members and professionals. Greg Coffey, Client Executive from Russell has written the following article explaining their investment strategy. We are focused on you, so that you can focus on your community. At Russell Investments, these are words that we live by in creating investment solutions for our clients. In part, due to this philosophy, the Jewish Community Foundation in June of 2014 made the decision to hire Russell Investments to manage the Foundation’s investment programs. They went through an exhaustive search for an investment provider and it was determined that Russell would be the best choice to manage their assets. The decision was made not only because of our genuine client focus, but also because in today’s complex and evolving world of global financial markets, the Foundation felt that

Russell had the necessary in charge of the firm’s future. experience, deep market in- Over the next 10 years, sights, and constant vigilance George turned Russell from to navigate the ever-chang- a small mutual fund compaing investment landscape. ny to a pioneer in the institutional investment space. The Who is Russell Investments? firm has grown to the size it We’re intentionally not a is today with business in more Wall Street firm. Russell has than 35 countries, with apalways been headquartered proximately $275 billion in in the Pacific Northwest, assets under management as but Russell is truly a global of September 30, 2014. company. We have nearly Russell has over 35 1,900 associates in 20 of- years of non-profit investing fices around the world, most experience focused on founof our associates are located dations and their investment in Seattle; however, we do programs. At Russell, we have a significant presence in believe that in order for the London, New York, Toronto, Foundation to obtain its’ various return objectives within Tokyo, and Sydney. Frank Russell founded our a risk managed framework, company as a small broker- a holistic approach where age firm in 1936, following a Russell’s team is involved career as a broker on Wall in all aspects of your investStreet. Initially, Frank investment program will work best. ed for himself and his family, We have been working but word of his impeccable with Foundation Staff, the integrity spread and the num- Investment Committee, and ber of investors grew to in- the Board of Trustees on an clude a wide circle of friends investment program that inand acquaintances. Frank’s tegrates strategic planning, grandson, George Russell, investment implementation, joined the company in 1958. and administration into a cusJust a few months later, Frank tomized solution that fits the Russell died, leaving George Foundation’s needs. We be-

lieve our expertise and depth of resources in manager research, portfolio management, and investment consulting enables us to deliver strong risk-adjusted returns across our multi-asset portfolios. How Russell Invests By now, you may be wondering how does Russell build investment portfolios for the Foundation. At Russell, one of our distinguishing characteristics is our open architecture investment philosophy. We believe no single firm has a monopoly on investment skill. Therefore, we employ Russell researched “best-of-breed” investment managers and devote significant resources, time, and expertise to identifying what we believe are the most powerful strategies, the best managers, and the most efficient modes of implementation. Our use of multiple specialist strategies via an open-architecture approach is designed to increase the probability of success. These investment managers are then combined into different

investment accounts covering a wide range of asset classes (e.g. U.S. equities, non-U.S. equities, fixed income, etc). The Foundation’s assets are in turn invested into these accounts to create a very diversified mix of investments. By investing in a well-diversified mix of assets, we can improve the probability in helping to meet the financial needs of the Foundation and the wider community that is served by it. In closing, at Russell, we believe strongly that our mission is to help you fund yours. These are not words or a belief that we take lightly. We are very grateful for the partnership with the Foundation and we are looking forward to serving you and your needs over the years to come. The Jewish Community Foundation is your partner in helping you meet your philanthropic goals. For more information on the many funds and endowment options available, please call (562) 426-7601 x1008.

Gifts of Life Insurance Life insurance is a wonderful way to make a large gift in the future, using a small amount of current funds. By making the Jewish Community Foundation the owner and beneficiary of your policy, the annual premium is fully tax-deductible. You may gift an existing policy or purchase a policy as an endowment to benefit the Jewish Community in the future. You can designate which organization will benefit from your deferred gift. If the policy has a cash value, you can take a deduction approximately equal to the cash value at the time of the gift. In addition, if annual premiums are still to be made and you continue to pay them, those premiums will become tax-deductible each year.

Ensure Our Future

Contact the Jewish Community Foundation to help you make it happen. Sharon Kenigsberg | (562) 426-7601 x1008 | sharonk@jewishlongbeach.org

www.jewishlongbeach.org | JANUARY 2015 | 7

CONGREGATIONS

R A B B I N I C

R E F L E C T I O N S

A Bat Mitzvah Girl Wants to Wear High Heels, Oy Vey! By Rabbi Nancy Rita Myers

“No, you can’t wear 3-inch strappy heels for your Bat Mitzvah service!” I exploded. “But Mom, it is my choice!” pleaded my 12 year old daughter. “No it’s not! You will not carry our sacred Torah in those shoes!” I screamed back. Sigh, I didn’t mean to raise my voice. My emotions were running a bit high as we counted off the weeks before my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. There is so much pressure leading up to this Jewish rite of passage. As parents, we want our children to do us proud and read from the Torah. We worry about how they will do as we struggle with the countless details of planning a party. We are stressed over whether to invite distant friends, difficult relatives, and how to feed them all. And then, there is dealing with our budding adolescent who wants to make choices for herself. Sigh, what’s a good Jewish parent to do? Despite all the anxiety, we know that a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is important. It con-

nects us with tradition, Torah, and God. Our grandparents had one, our parents had one, and now it’s the next generation’s turn. We want our children to maintain this Jewish ritual because it connects them to those who have lived before us. We are linked to a long lineage of Jews going all the way back thousands of years to Abraham and Sarah. There is something so powerful about connecting with the generations and knowing that we are a part of Jewish history, living in the present, and planting seeds for the future. A Bar/Bat Mitzvah service is also about responsibility. Our children are now considered to be Jewish adults who are responsible for following all the commandments of the Torah such as kashrut (Jewish dietary laws), holidays, Shabbat, charity, and learning. In other words, God holds them liable for the choices they make. There is even a prayer a father says in a traditional shul at his son’s Bar Mitzvah. It is translated

as: “Blessed are you Adonai, our God sovereign of the universe, who has freed me from the punishment due this boy.” In other words, the father is thanking God for not holding him responsible for the things his son does or says. I think we would all like to be relieved of the choices our children make but they are not so easy to dismiss. We recognize as parents that our children and teenagers still need to be guided to make good decisions. We want them to grow up to be responsible adults, self sufficient, good men and women, and proud Jews. And so we continue to push them to study, do well in school, care about the unfortunate, attend religious school, and ponder the consequences of their actions. Even as they attain Jewish adulthood, we still care about them and love them. So, how am I to guide my daughter on whether to wear high heels at her Bat Mitzvah service? Yes, on the one hand, she is coming of an

age where she can, and should, make choices both Jewishly Rabbi Nancy and personally. Rita Myers On the other hand, there are consequences for her and others. Well, after I calmed down, we talked. I spoke about how hard it is to stand for hours in heels. Furthermore, walking with the Torah throughout a congregation is difficult even when wearing comfortable shoes. After some dialogue, we compromised. She wore sparkling, outrageous heels at other events, but for her Bat Mitzvah, she wore shoes that withstood the hours. Phew, one argument resolved. It is my hope that we will be able, with the wisdom of our Torah, to help guide our daughter to make good decisions for years to come. Rabbi Nancy Myers is Rabbi at Temple Beth David, Westminster.

Area Synagogue Upcoming Events

Please contact the synagogue directly with any questions using the directory and see our Community Calendar at www.jewishlongbeach.org for more community event listings.

Congregation Shir Chadash Saturday, 1/24 @9:45am: Torat Nashim – A Torah Circle for Women, by Women. This ever-growing inclusive & affirming group is open to all women in the Greater Jewish Community and is coordinated by Ellen Goldsmith and Linda Waltzman. P’nai Or Saturday, 1/31 @5:30pm: Havdalah, Holiday Dinner and Tu b’Shevat Seder. Come to Havdalah and enjoy a multi-course vegetarian dinner (suggested donation $18/person). At 7pm, a creative Tu b’Shevat Seder will follow with lots of singing! If

you cannot come for dinner, come to the Seder (a $5 donation to cover costs is appreciated). Held at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 3955 N. Studebaker Rd, Long Beach, 90808. RSVP to wendyf@pnaior.org or contact the temple directly. Temple Beth Shalom Wednesday, 1/14 @10am: Sisterhood Pan Tournament & Luncheon. Registration & continental breakfast begins at 10am; games start at 10:30 am. Regulation size tables & comfortable padded chairs. Prizes: 1st Place $100; 2nd Place $75; 3rd Place $50; 4th & 5th Places $25 each. please contact Ann Millman For more info and to register, at 562-439-8010 or annmill-

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Synagogue Directory Chabad of Los Alamitos (O) 12340 Seal Beach Blvd. Suite B-219 Seal Beach, CA 90740 Contact: Rabbi Shmuel Marcus Phone: 714-828-1851 Email: smarcus@jewishcypress.com Website: www.chabadlosal.com

Chabad of West Orange County/ Congregation Adat Israel (O) 5052 Warner Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Contact: Rabbi Aron David Berkowitz Phone: 714-846-2285 Email: info@chabadhb.com Website: www.chabadhb.com Congregation Lubavitch (O) 3981 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807 Contact: Rabbi Newman Phone: 562-426-5480 Email: yitzyg@aol.com Congregation Shir Chadash (I) 6440 Del Amo Blvd. Lakewood, CA 90713 Contact Rabbi Howard Laibson Phone: 562-429-0715 Email:csclakewood@dslextreme.com Website: www.CongregationShirChadash.org Congregation Sholom Leisure World, Seal Beach (C) P. O. Box 2901 Seal Beach, CA 90740 Contact: Rabbi Galit Levy-Slater 562-493-2680 Email: duets@icloud.com Website: www.galityomtov.com P’nai Or (I) Long Beach, CA Contact: Cantor Steven Puzarne Email: cantor@pnaior.org Website: www.PnaiOr.org Phone 562-364-5154 Shul By The Shore (O) Seaport Marina Hotel 6400 Pacific Coast Highway Long Beach, California 90803 Contact: Rabbi Abba Perelmuter Phone: 562-621-9828 Email: rabbi@shulbytheshore.org Website: www.shulbytheshore.org Surf City Synagogue (C) Services held at the HB Central Library 7111 Talbert Ave. Huntington Beach Phone: 714-596-2220 E-Mail: info@surfcitysynagogue.org Temple Beth David (R) 6100 Hefley St. Westminster, CA 92683 Contact: Rabbi Nancy Myers Phone: 714-892-6623 Email: tbdavid@templebethdavid.org Website: www.templebethdavid.org Temple Beth Ohr (R) 15721 E. Rosecrans Ave. La Mirada, CA 90638 Contact: Rabbi Mark Goldfarb Phone: 714-521-6765 Email:tmplbthohr@aol.com Website: www.templebethohr.com Temple Beth Shalom (C) 3635 Elm Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807 Contact: Rabbi David Cantor Phone: 562-726-4116 Email: rabbi@tbslb.org Website: www.tbslb.org Temple Israel (R) 269 Loma Ave. Long Beach, CA 90803 Contact: Rabbi Steven Moskowitz Phone: 562-434-0996 Email: info@tilb.org Website: www.tilb.org Temple Ner Tamid of Downey (R) 10629 Lakewood Boulevard Downey, CA 90241 Contact: Rabbi Daniel Mehlman Phone: 562-861-9276 Email: templenertamid1@dslextreme.com Website: www.downeytemplenertamid.org (R)=Reform (O)=Orthodox

man@yahoo.com. RSVP by Friday, January 9.

(C)=Conservative (I)=Independent

3801 E. WILLOW STREET LONG BEACH, CA 90815 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Phone: (562) 426-7601 www.alpertjcc.org

inside

Around the J

AJCC Poker Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2a 92Y - Alan Alda, Jane Pauley . . . . . . . . . 2a 31st Annual Gottlieb Youth Art Show . . 3a

Holocaust Survivor Workshop . . . . . . . . 3a Senior Adult New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bash . . . . . . . . 3a Martial Arts Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3a

Teen Shabbaton at the J . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4a MLK Jr Day Camp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4a Teen Snowboarding/Ski Trip . . . . . . . . . 4a

Tevet-Shevat 5775

JANUARY 2015

Around the J

Whatever Your Goals, We're Here For You. At the Alpert JCC, we are very fortunate to celebrate two New Years— the Jewish New Year in the fall, Rosh Hashanah, and the secular New Year, January 1. Traditionally, many people take the time around Rosh Hashanah to make new resolutions and set out goals for the year. I think we are very fortunate to have this second opportunity to take a step back and reevaluate the goals we set at Rosh Hashanah. We can choose to renew those goals, whether or not we were successful, or choose new goals if that’s where our heart leads us. Whatever your New Year’s resolutions might be, we offer many ways for the Alpert JCC be a part of your success. If your goal is to improve your health and wellness, we are Your Center for Fitness. We have brand new cardio equipment in our Fitness Center, new Spin bikes in our fitness studio, energizing new fitness classes, and exceptional personal trainers and fitness instructors to help you achieve your goals. We even have a Health and Fitness Fair coming on January 11 to help you kick off the new year and check out the new equipment! If your goal is to find a great place for your kids, we are Your Center for Youth. Readers of the Long Beach Post just named us the Best Preschool in Long Beach (and be sure to read this month’s Stories around the J), over 100 kids participate in our Kids’ University afterschool program, we have terrific camp programs for Summer and Vacation Days, and BBYO and Maccabi are wonderful teen programs— and it’s all here at the Alpert JCC. If your goal is personal growth, we are Your Center for Jewish Life and Culture. We have adult classes, film festivals, author talks, 92nd Street Y, lectures, field trips, Lunch and Learn, and so much more! If your goal is to make new friends, we are Your Center for Socializing. With our weekly Senior lunches, monthly Young Adult Shabbat dinners, family programs, and social events, you are bound to meet people who have similar interests all while having a lot of fun. If your goal is to give back, we are your Center for Volunteering, offering many opportunities to volunteer through our Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). As you can see, the Alpert Jewish Community Center is here for this year’s goals and for your continuing goals in the future. I wish you all a very happy New Year and hope you find your success in 2015 at the Alpert JCC, Your Center For Life.

L’Shalom

Jeffrey Rips AJCC Executive Director

ADULTS AJCC Poker Club Tuesday, January 20, 6:30-10:30pm Join our friendly Texas Hold’em Poker Club. Poker will be played, snacks and beverages will be served, and cash prizes will be won. $25; $20/MVP (Cash Only)

Bring a new player and your buy-in is on us!! New player will receive half-price buy-in. Limit one new player bonus per game. Katie Clowdus, kclowdus@alpertjcc.org, (562) 426-7601, ext. 1024.

GESHERCITY YOUNG ADULTS Sponsored by the Alpert JCC and Jewish Federation of Greater Long Beach

Susanne Katz, skatz@alpertjcc.org • (562) 426-7601, ext. 1625

GesherCity Shabbat Friday, January 9, 7:30pm

Experience Shabbat with great music, food and friends. If you’ve never been to a GesherCity event before, now is the perfect time! Our events are fun and casual. So don’t be shy… give us a try.

MVP: The MVP price is the "Member Value Price" that gives our members an automatic discount to the fee we charge for our programs and events. If you’re not a member of the AJCC, speak with one of our Membership Services specialists and learn how you can start benefiting from MVP pricing today.

Tevet-Shevat 5775

JANUARY 2015

Zena & Pauline Gatov Gallery presents

SENIORS Dr. Susan Mathieu, smathieu@alpertjcc.org • (562) 426-7601, ext. 1721

31st Annual Norman Gottlieb Youth Art Exhibition and Awards Reception January 1-30 Awards Reception: Thursday, January 22 The Norman Gottlieb Annual Youth Art Show and Competition is an annual showcase that celebrates and rewards the talent and vision of the student artists and educators of the Long Beach Unified School District.

Happiness & Humor Group Friday, February 6, 11am • No Happy Group in January This FREE ongoing monthly group, led by Dr. Susan Mathieu, will help you find the positive side of life. You’ll learn how to deal with difficult people and situations, steps to increase happiness in your own life, and the secret to a happy life. All senior adults are invited, so bring your friends and be ready to laugh. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. RSVP to Dr. Susan Mathieu.

For 31 years, the Zena and Pauline Gatov Gallery, in conjunction with the Long Beach Unified School District, has brought together a sampling of the best artwork that Long Beach middle and high schools have to offer. This annual show provides a unique opportunity for students to participate in a juried art show, sponsored by the Alpert Jewish Community Center through a special fund established 31 years ago by its Past President Norman Gottlieb, and currently subsidized by Nicole and Dr. Daniel Honigman. The Gottlieb Youth Art Show would also not be possible without the efforts of Christine Whipp, Visual Arts and Curriculum Leader for the LBUSD. Christine shares that, “The AJCC Gottlieb Youth Art Show is the capstone of our school districts’ artwork, representing the best work from our students.”

Ongoing Alpert JCC Senior Activities Knit Wits: Mon, 1-3pm • Senior Lunch: Wed, 12-2pm Bridge Lessons: Wed, 1:30pm • Mah Jongg: Thurs, 11:30-3pm

Around the J

JEWISH LIFE & CULTURE

Change your Breakfast, Change your Life! Thursday, January 15, 6pm Led by Janel Cruz. Learn healthy meal options. Call for price. RSVP to Shlomit Jackson, sjackson@alpertjcc.org, (562) 426-7601, ext. 1067.

Holocaust Survivor Workshop Monday, January 19, 1-3pm At the Alpert Jewish Community Center The Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance is working together with The Human Element Project to develop an art exhibition for Yom Ha’Shoah 2015. Participants are invited to a hands-on workshop where they will create a collage documenting their memories and stories from WWII. Only 118 survivor stories will become part of the art exhibition that will be displayed at the Museum of Tolerance. RSVP to Ronnie Levine, rlevine@alpertjcc.org, (562) 426-7601 ext 1521.

Rosh Chodesh Holiday Table Wednesday, January 21, 9am & 1pm Join us in the AJCC Promenade for a healthy treat celebrating the new Hebrew month of Shevat.

AQUATICS

Kabbalah Class

PE Courtesy Desk (562) 426-7601, ext. 1051

Wednesdays, 12pm Rabbi Abba Perelmuter teaches this ongoing class where you'll add a new dimension to your life, renew your spirituality, and learn something new. FREE

Weekly Shabbat Candle Lighting Fridays, 3:30pm Join Shlomit Jackson, AJCC Jewish Educator, and the AJCC community for Shabbat candle lighting, Kiddush and HaMotzi. Grape juice & challah provided.

SPORTS & RECREATION PE Courtesy Desk (562) 426-7601, ext. 1051

Year-Round Youth Swim Team with Rafe Montes Ages 6-14

Monday-Thursday, 5-6:30pm • Friday, 4:30-5:30pm This is a competitive swim team, so all participants must try out and be able to swim 25 yards with all four swim strokes.

Prep Swim Team with Rafe Montes Ages 5-12

Tuesday & Thursday, 4:30-5:15pm The goal of this program is to get kids ready for a swim team, water polo, or Junior Lifeguard program.

Masters Swim with Coach Rafe Montes Monday & Wednesday, 6:30-7:30pm • Saturday, 9-10am Ages 14+

Private Swim Lessons One-on-one instruction for all ages with a Swim University instructor. Spots fill quickly, so call today! Visit website for more info.

The Barbara & Ray Alpert Jewish Community Center

www.alpertjcc.org

Around the J

Stories From Around the J

ECE Part One: Mina Roades

YOUTH & TEENS Natalie Chernik, nchernik@alpertjcc.org • (562) 426-7601, ext. 1205

By Erika Hillinger

Mina Roades knew that the Alpert JCC Early Childhood Education (ECE) program was perfect for her son the moment she saw the nurturing environment and wonderful playground: “When we were searching for a preschool, we saw tons, narrowed it down to three, and as soon as we took the ECE tour, we knew that nothing compares to the JCC.” Although neither Mina or her husband are Jewish, she had friends who were at the Merage JCC, and so she Googled JCC in Long Beach. “When this is the first time you’re putting your kids in school,” she explains, “safety is huge, and the JCC facility is a standout. On the tour, we could see that everything about the J was quality. The classrooms were the best I had seen. Really open, with lots of room for the kids to play. As an architect, I’m sensitive to space, but anyone could see how much better this is.” “It is also a wonderfully nurturing environment, and that’s exactly what I wanted from a preschool. Learning and interaction are important, of course, but a loving environment is equally important to me, especially when they are this young,” explains Mina. This is Mina’s third year as an ECE mom. Her older son, Dariush, started at three and is now in Kindergarten. Her second son, Navid, just turned three and started preschool this year. Mina has been an active parent since her first year at the J, when she was Room Mom and did cookie baking, but it wasn’t until ECE Director Linda Keiles asked her to be on the ECE Committee that she got very involved. “The ECE Committee is great for new people to get involved and meet people and actively participate. There are lots of subcommittees and lots of volunteer opportunities,” Mina explains. Mina was particularly involved in rebuilding the playground and the garden. Being a landscape architect, these were two areas she felt she could particularly help. “It was great,” she says, “Building the planters, then adding all the plants was a true group community project. We all got together, and so many parents helped out. ECE Teacher Mrs. Grayson does all the work with me, and it was all super fun. This is definitely my pet project. Now we’re trying to get trees and irrigation. Everything is volunteer-based, and that’s what is so awesome here.” “The staff and teachers are amazing. Linda and Alayna [Cosores, Assistant ECE Director] make it such a wonderful place. They really make all the difference. It’s a fantastic volunteer environment, and it’s just so much fun. I love the Shabbat singing and all those traditions. One of the things I didn’t know about but love, love, love, is the Judaism.” Mina didn’t grow up Jewish, but she adds, “I love what the ECE teaches the kids here. It really shows you that all religions are the same. Be good to others. Be kind to a friend. It’s beautiful. Especially at this age. The kids are learning all the stories, which are the same as if I were taking them to Sunday school. It’s so nice. It’s just beautiful, really.”

Kids’ Night Out: Game Night Saturday, January 10, 5-10pm Grades K-8 We will be playing all of the classics: Monopoly, Sorry, Checkers, Chess, Uno, Heads Up & more. The kids will also have a chance to create their own board games. Price includes dinner, movie, games and snacks. Drop-ins will not be admitted. You must register by Wednesday, January 7. First Child: $35; $30/MVP • Second Child: $30; $25/MVP Third Child: $25; $20/MVP For more info, visit our website or contact Natalie Chernik (562) 426-7601, ext. 1205 or nchernik@alpertjcc.org.

Teen Shabbaton Friday, January 16, 7pm - Saturday, January 17, 1pm Grades 6 -12 The AJCC & BBYO are partnering up for a mini Shabbaton! Join us for an event filled with fun programming, old and new friends, and a great way to involve yourself with the Jewish community. This event is open to any member of the Pacific Western Region (BBYO) or any Jewish, non-BBYO member. Invite your friends, your siblings, your friends' siblings... anyone who is Jewish and in grades 6-12 is welcome. $18/AJCC Members & Greater Long Beach area teens (L.B. & West O.C.) $35: Visiting Teens (outside of the Greater L.B. area) For more info, visit our website or contact Natalie Chernik (562) 426-7601, ext. 1205 or nchernik@alpertjcc.org.

MLK Jr Day Camp Monday, January 19 Grades K-8 We will be honoring Dr. King’s memory by working on a project to benefit our community and learning about his heroism and leadership. 9am-4pm: $45/MVP; $55/Public 7am-6pm: $55/MVP; $65/Public For more info, visit our website or contact Eric Feldman at (562) 426-7601, ext. 1023 or efeldman@alpertjcc.org.

Teen Snowboarding/Ski Trip to Mt High Monday February 9, 2015 6th Grade & Up Hit the slopes with the J Crew! It doesn’t matter if you’re a skier, a snowboarder, or a hot chocolate sipper, we know you’ll have a blast! Different packages available for all levels and abilities. Space is extremely limited. For more info, visit our website or contact Natalie Chernik (562) 426-7601, ext. 1205 or nchernik@alpertjcc.org.

“Discover CATCH [the AJCC’s child wellness program] is also great. My kids are coming home and saying, ‘I can’t eat more than one of those cookies.’ It’s so cute—they have this inner turmoil about eating another marshmallow. Other schools probably have gardens, but it’s really wonderful that they plant and grow, and then eat their own food here and then learn about that. “It’s a great community center, and it’s wonderful to see people of all ages together in one place— all the kids together with the seniors. I hope to find ways of staying involved when the kids are out of preschool.” Linda Keiles has nothing but praise for Mina: “We have an incredible group of ECE parents here, and Mina is such a big part of that. She’s got a warm, almost tangible energy that makes everything she does so positive and so fun. She can mobilize other parents to jump on the bandwagon with her, whether it’s to build garden boxes, bake Chanukah cookies, or plan future programs. I’ve worked with volunteers at the AJCC for over 16 years, and Mina is definitely one of the most committed… I can’t wait to see what she does next!”

Visit www.alpertjcc.org/preschool

to learn more and schedule a tour of our facilities.

Tevet-Shevat 5775

JANUARY 2015

JFCS

Call Today! We’re Here to Help! 3801 E. WILLOW STREET LONG BEACH, CA 90815 WEB: www.jfcslongbeach.org EMAIL: jfcs@jfcslongbeach.org PHONE: 562-427-7916

Race With A View 2015 Taking Shape with New Message, New Feature Last June, just a month after Race With A View 2014, event chair Deb Feldman was already at work with committee members and JFCS staff to begin plans for Race With A View 2015. A fresh message and an opportunity to involve children were at the top of the list for the coming year. “Race With A View 2014 was the most successful ever, raising more than $80,000 for JFCS. These funds provide many in our community with the opportunity to access affordable, professional counseling and support services that they would not otherwise have,” noted Feldman. “This year, we hope to raise more money but we also want to call attention to the importance

that mental health plays in overall wellness, so we are adding the tagline ‘Move for Mental Health Awareness’ to the event name.” “To be sure, 2014 was a year where mental health issues were at the forefront of the media. With the death of Robin Williams and the exposure of many domestic violence cases in professional sports, the underpinnings of these events speak directly to the mission of JFCS. We feel that the addition of this new tagline will remind the community that JFCS provides vital mental health services and support to everyone in the greater Long Beach area,” noted Kathryn Miles, JFCS Executive Director. A Kids’ Fun Run will be an additional feature of this

From Our President: Board Members Make a Difference

year’s event. Children of all ages can participate in a 1K walk or run that will begin at the 5K/10K starting line at Ocean and Granada, and head east, turning around at the Bayshore parking lot. Kids who register in advance will receive a colorful kidsized T-shirt to commemorate their participation. Race With A View will be held on Sunday, April 26 at 8 am on the bike path along the Long Beach Shoreline. The starting point will be at Ocean Boulevard and Granada Street, and participants will choose between a 5K and a 10K walk or run. For more information, visit our website at www.racewithaview.com or call Pattie Davidson.

Food Drive Helps Hundreds in Long Beach non-perishable food items for distribution just in time for Thanksgiving to 14 qualified non-profit organizations in the Long Beach area. This monumental undertaking is the work of Joyce and Hank Feldman, owners of Performance Plus Tire and Automotive Superstore, who for the past 17 years have purchased numerous pallets of nonperishable food items, hustled donations from a variety of sources, and recruited volunteers from among their employees, the devotees of Joyce & Hank Feldman, owners of Performance Plus Tire and their car show events, and Automotive Superstore, stand near the over 1800 boxes of nonother service organizations perishable food items for their annual food drive to help with packaging and In the early morning hours Plus and Automotive Superstore organizing. of November 23, volunteers to assemble, pack, seal, and The event itself has a were gathering at Performance crate over 1800 boxes of party atmosphere, with an

Rob Feldman JFCS President

Like most nonprofit organizations, Jewish Family & Children’s Service relies heavily on the commitment, passion, knowledge, skills, and drive of our Board members. They wear many different hats throughout the year – they are asked to be fundraisers, event planners, ambassadors, teachers, marketers and donors. The success of any nonprofit is dependent upon Board members who show up, work well with the staff and each other to ultimately fulfill the mission of the organization. No leader can achieve this on their own. It is truly a team effort. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work with so many talented people during my tenure on the JFCS Board, especially during this last year as President. This month we welcome nine new members to the Board who bring with them a wide array adjudicated display of classic cars, the sale of opportunity drawing chances, and live music provided this year by the Jazz Angels. These elements lighten the load of the enormous task, and with many hands helping, the boxes are ready to go in less than four hours. “JFCS is so very lucky to have been selected as the recipient of 70 food boxes for 35 families, and the proceeds from the sale of opportunity drawing chanc-

of experiences, new energy and fresh perspectives. They are Melissa Selmanson, Judith Hardaker, Fernando Calderon, Gael Libby, Henry Matson, Mark Dressner, Mark Rapp, Martine Korach and Carol Leitner. I’m excited about working with this group in the coming year as we continue to grow and strengthen JFCS. We also say farewell to three Board members this month. They are Devorah Allen, Lauren Reiser, and Christal Dunn. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with each of them and JFCS is a better place because of the time and effort they devoted to the organization. As I begin my second year as President of the Board of JFCS, I look forward to working with our new and returning board members as we fulfill our newly revised mission: to empower people to make positive changes through professional, affordable counseling and support services. es made it possible for us to also receive $1,000 in gift cards from Ralphs,” noted JFCS Executive Director Kathryn Miles. “The boxes and gift cards will help us provide food for some of our clients who, for a variety of reasons, find themselves unable to put food on the table for their families. We are so grateful to Joyce and Hank and all of the volunteers who gave their time and talent to make it all happen.”

OUR MISSION: Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Long Beach/West Orange County is a nonprofit agency that provides a wide range of professional counseling and support services to assist all individuals regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation in facing life’s challenges.

www.jewishlongbeach.org | JANUARY 2015 | 9

HILLEL AT CSULB

FOR MORE INFORMATION: WEB: www.beachhillel.org EMAIL: info@beachhillel.org PHONE: 562-426-7601 ext 1424

What is Beach Hillel’s Simchah?? The January 2015 academic semester will mark the first full semester that Beach Hillel will be functioning with its newly renovated Hillel House. Beach Hillel has expanded in size over the past few years, resulting in the need to revamp our space to better accommodate the growing number of students that seek out our services. Deanna and Allen Alevy graciously donated the renovations on the Hillel House. As a result of the renovations, Beach Hillel was able to host a wide array of programs with ever increasing

Students enjoying another fun night at the newly renovated Hillel House

participation on behalf of students. Soon after renovations were completed, Beach Hillel successfully hosted its first Greek Shabbat Dinner, sponsored in part by the historic

Jewish Fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau. Over 120 students were accommodated at the Hillel House, enriching their spiritual growth with Jewish content and increasing aware-

ness of Beach Hillel’s mission on campus. The enduring support that Beach Hillel enjoys from our generous Jewish community will further allow us to host a wide array of programs that have the potential to reach out to diverse niches of students found on campus today. Such programs that Beach Hillel will plan to host include Taco Tuesday social outreach programs, which will allow students to claim the space that is meant for them as their own, and monthly movie nights to increase Jewish students’ social interactions.

We are also excited to expand our partner programs with on-campus organizations, demonstrating Beach Hillel as a viable campus organization that can add to campus diversity and help create quality student experiences. Hosting additional partner programs in the Hillel house, as we have done through Rainbow Shabbat and Greek Shabbat, will further increase Hillel’s exposure to the students on campus, allowing us to deliver more Jewish experiences to more Jewish students.

Jerusalem Post, including correspondents Gil Hoffman and Khaled Abu Toameh. Both Jenna and Tali are excited to come back to California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) to share their unique experiences in the city under fire of Sderot and at Rachel’s Tomb in Hebron with the campus; thereby helping students at CSULB become more aware of the Jewish contextual ties to the land of Israel. We encourage all students who have a passion for advocating for Israel on campus to seek out the Hasbara Fellowship by speaking with a Hillel professional on cam-

pus and to take advantage of these unique opportunities. It is important for Beach Hillel to sponsor students to attend these trips so that they may help create a positive Israel atmosphere on campus. Through student leadership, we can begin to help educate the campus about the challenges that Israel faces, the importance for the state of Israel and self-determination of the Jewish people. In addition to funding from Hillel, these trips were made possible in part through a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation’s Israel Experience Endowment and a private donor.

Hasbara Fellowships and Beach Hillel

(L-R) Tali Shaddaie and Jenna Jacoby will be joining other young student leaders from around the world on a Hasbara Fellowship trip to Israel

This winter two Beach Hillel students will have the amazing opportunity to travel to Israel with Hasbara Fellowships, a pro-Israel advocacy organization that helps students find their voice when addressing Israel on campus. Hasbara Fellowships puts together an amazing trip to

Israel for students who have a working knowledge of the country, so they may gain firsthand experience and knowledge into the dilemmas facing the country and how they can use their student leadership skills to help educate the campus on Israel. Our students, Tali Shaddaie

and Jenna Jacoby, will be joining other young student leaders from around the country to share this experience together. They flew to Israel on an El Al flight, the foregoing Israel airline, into Ben Gurion airport. The trip is comprised of strategic touring of the country, meeting with Israel experts, and receiving training in tactical advocacy skills that include speaking, debate practice, phrasing/messaging, and social media. The trip further includes the rare opportunity to meet with Israeli parliament members (members of the Knesset), and journalists from The

FEDERATION TOWER APARTMENTS

FREE Alpert JCC Membership Seniors 62+ pay only 30% of your income for rent!

(562) 426-8404 3799 E. Willow Street, Long Beach. Next to the Weinberg Jewish Federation Campus

10 | JEWISH COMMUNITY CHRONICLE | TEVET-SHEVAT | 5775

HEBREW ACADEMY

Award Winning Academics in a Genuine Jewish Environment 14401 WILLOW LANE HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92647 WEB: www.hebrewacademyhb.com PHONE: 714-898-0051 CAMP SILVER GAN ISRAEL: www.campsgi.com

Preschool Director Perelmuter Exceeds Expectations

Here at the Hebrew Academy, we are continually striving to improve our preschool, a partner of the Orange County Department of Education in the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) program. Our award-winning director, Chanie Perelmuter, has been teaching at the Hebrew Academy preschool for the past 25 years and has been Director for over a decade. Chanie is always taking classes and learning new techniques to better herself in this fastpaced, changing world.

Immediately after Chanie accepted the position of Director, the accolades were higher and better than ever. In 2007, she was the recipient of the Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children (OCAEYC) Outstanding Early Childhood Education Director award. Parents felt, and still feel, that Chanie exceeds all expectations of a preschool Director. She ensures that each child has a safe, loving environment and treats them as if they were her own. She also helps students reach their full potential by creating a stimulating and enriching educational environment for each and every child. During Chanukah, Chanie was able to share her talents with the community by telling the story of Chanukah in her special way to young children.

She hosted a Chanukah story time at the Huntington Beach Central Library as well as two at the local Barnes & Nobles in Long Beach. There, she read Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat: A Chanukah Story to the children, who were engrossed by the humorous tale of generosity and greed. For this reason, Chanie Perelmuter and our teachers are an unusually dedicated group of professionals whose level of commitment to each child does not stop at the classroom door, and whose commitment to early childhood education is truly a calling. They bring to their jobs a unique and special blend of professional skills and personal experience. The children and their parents couldn’t be happier as a result!

Pretend City Showcases Hebrew Academy Family

We were so thrilled when we heard that Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine showcased one of our own families, The Dimants, for their fall 2014 interactive exhibit. The “Our Home” exhibit is where the Dimant Family shared their family values, traditions and activities which are deeply rooted in their very strong passion for the

Auction Royale – Benefiting the New Outdoor Library Plaza This year’s Auction Royale was a huge success! More than 250 people gathered on Sunday, December 7th at the beautifully decorated Sycamore Plaza. The guests mingled while enjoying a wonderful array of delicious hors d’oeuvres catered by L’Chaim Kosher Caterers. There was a silent auction showcasing Judaic jewelry and accessories, toys, his/her bicycles, iPads, laptops, and more. After the silent auction, everyone was welcomed into the social hall where they enjoyed their salads. During this time, Rabbi Newman welcomed everyone and thanked our generous sponsors. Our third grade choir, directed by Revi Elbez who we are thankful to have, per-

formed and did a great job, as always. There was a video presentation showcasing our students and all of the wonderful things currently happening at the award-winning Hebrew Academy. We then had a live auction which was lots of fun. Some of the items won were tickets to Magic Castle, Dodgers games, a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Disneyland and a Sam Smith concert. The evening ended with delicious desserts while the guests enjoyed comedienne Sundra Croonquist. We thank all of you who were able to join us and support us. We will be putting the money raised towards our new outside library plaza.

WE ARE THE HEBREW ACADEMY

“We wanted to give our son the strongest and most passionate Jewish foundation in Southern California. We believe that would be the Hebrew Academy.” - Lisa & Ash Dimant Jewish religion. Today more than ever, children interact with people of different ethnicities, religions and cultures. Teaching tolerance and appreciation for differences begins in the home. During this Jewish Home exhibit, they taught and explained why they do Shabbat dinner every Friday, how to

make homemade challah, and provided visitors with a take home recipe card. The Dimant’s strong family tie to their heritage and maintenance of Jewish traditions will inspire families to begin traditions of their own. We are honored that the Dimant family has chosen to be part of our Hebrew Academy

Community. Pretend City Children’s Museum features a small, interconnected city designed to “build better brains” through purposeful play, hands-on learning experiences, role playing, and educational programming. Through 17 interactive exhibits and

activities guided by a highly trained professional staff, children learn foundational math, reading and science skills, while fostering curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, organization, teamwork, self-confidence and socialization.

www.jewishlongbeach.org | JANUARY 2015 | 11

COMMUNITY

Nothing Held Back: Why Hasidism Is Both Loved and Feared

The CSULB Jewish Studies Program is pleased to again host a talk by Orange County’s One Month Community Dr. Hartley Scholar on Wed., Lachter January 7 at 7:30 pm. For over a decade, the One Month Community Scholars program has brought dynamic and exciting speakers to

Southern California. This is one you don’t want to miss. This year’s scholar, Dr. Hartley Lachter, is a professor of Jewish Studies and director of the Jewish Studies center at Lehigh University. His work explores the development of medieval Jewish mysticism, kabbalah, at its role in constructing Jewish identities in complex histori-

cal environments. In his talk, “Nothing Held Back: Why Hasidism Is Both Loved and Feared,” he will look at the rise of Hasidism. While Hasidic life today is certainly very conservative, the first generation of Hasidic leaders were anything but conventional. Their radical ideas about God, preference for mystical story

telling as a way of teaching Jewish ideas, and exuberant forms of worship were reviled by many of the rabbinic authorities of their day. Over time, Hasidism has been both loved and feared in the Jewish world. This talk will explore how the ambivalent attitude towards Hasidism is a reflection of Hasidism’s own extremely conservative and

radically innovative spirit. The event will take place at the Weinberg Jewish Federation Campus, 3801 E. Willow Street, Long Beach; it is free and open to the public, there is no need to reserve space. For more information on this talk or spring semester events, please contact Dr. Jeffrey Blutinger, Jeffrey. Blutinger@csulb.edu.

CCEJ’s 24th Annual “Under One Sky” Interfaith/Intercultural Breakfast

Keynote speaker Kevin Hines

A crowd of over 800 is expected to welcome keynote speaker Kevin Hines, mental health advocate, international speaker and author, at the 24th Interfaith Intercultural Breakfast on Thursday, February 19 at 7:30 am at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. The event is generously underwritten by Gene

and Ann Lentzner ever since its inception, and is being chaired by City of Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Mental Health Advocate Nancy Foster. Kevin Hines is a global speaker, author and mental health advocate who reaches audiences with his story of an unlikely survival and his strong will to live. Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (at 19 years of age), he attempted to take his own life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. He is one of only thirty-four (less than 1%) to survive the fall and he is the only Golden

NCJW & Hadassah Shirley Stein Book Review Luncheon

The annual Shirley Stein Book Review, to be held at The Grand on January 20 at 10:30 am, will be jointly sponsored by National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) and Hadassah. This year, we have the honor and pleasure of having as our

book reviewer the inimitable Eugene Lentzner. Eugene will be reprising the reviewer role he performed at this event for over 20 years amid much popular acclaim. The book to be reviewed is Dara Horn’s A Guide for the Perplexed: A Novel, one of Booklist’s Best Books of 2014, now out in paperback as well as hardcover and Kindle. Please mail a $28 check payable to NCJW by Jan. 14, to Judith Leff, 3011 Hillrose Dr, Rossmoor, CA 90720. As part of our Tikkun Olam/Mitzvot activities, please bring a can or two of food for the less fortunate if you are able. For more information, contact Linda C. Fox at 562-342-6164.

Gate Bridge jump survivor who is actively spreading the message of living mentally healthy around the globe. The fall would break his body, but not his spirit. Kevin’s story is a remarkable testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder for us to love the life we have. His story also reminds us that living mentally takes time, endurance, hard work and support. With these disciplines in place, even those living with very difficult diagnoses can achieve better lives for themselves and those who help to support and care for them. In 2012, he was award-

ed a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding work as a suicide prevention advocate and speaker by the National Council of Behavioral Health. He has also been recognized by SAMSHA as a Voice Awards Fellow and Award Winner, an Achievement Winner by the US Veterans Affairs, and he has received a Three Star Marine General’s Medal Award in addition to his numerous accolades. Kevin’s will to live and stay mentally well has inspired people worldwide. Ticket prices are $40 per person; registration will

The Jewish Federation has been supporting, sustaining and revitalizing Jewish life for nearly a century. Today our work is far from finished. And we need your support. Your contribution helps to care for our entire Jewish community. Enabling us to use your gift wherever it’s needed most, at home, in Israel and around the world. If you haven’t done so already, please give generously to the Federation’s 2015/5775 Annual Community Campaign today. Visit us at JewishLongBeach.org or call (562) 426-7601

12 | JEWISH COMMUNITY CHRONICLE | TEVET-SHEVAT | 5775

begin at 6:45 am with breakfast to follow at 7:30 am. To RSVP, please mail reservations to CCEJ, 444 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 940, Long Beach, CA 90802, call 562-435-8184, or email Kmcilquham@caccej.org. Seating is limited and reservations must be made by February 09. The California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ) is a human relations organization dedicated to eliminating bias, bigotry and racism through education, conflict resolution and advocacy.

NCJW will honor Barbara Alpert with the Hannah G. Solomon Award at their Charter Day Event on Sunday, February 22

National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Long Beach Section will hold its annual Charter Day event on Sunday, February 22 at 3 pm at the Weinberg Jewish Federation Campus, featuring a performance by the Mostly Kosher band, a high-energy, Jewish group of young professional musicians who love to interact with their audience while offering a bundle of comedic fun. “Charter Day is always the biggest fundraiser in NCJW’s calendar year,”

remarked NCJW President Ann Millman. “Each year we always honor a special person in our community, and this year during our concert, we are proud and pleased to honor Barbara Alpert with our prestigious Hannah G. Solomon Award.” Barbara, who has been deeply involved in Jewish community affairs for decades, has served with honor on many committees and boards, including the Hillel board, the Jewish Studies Advisory Board and the Jewish Federation. Barbara and her husband Ray, who recently passed away, were the donors who named our own Jewish Community Center. Their philanthropy is legion, with their “good fortune,” as Barbara says, spread into various humanitarian Jewish agencies throughout our city and into Jewish organizations around the world. The couple endowed the Chair in Jewish Studies at California

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NCJW Charter Day Event to Honor Barbara Alpert

Mostly Kosher band members

State University, Long Beach. Moving to Long Beach was “the best thing we ever did,” says Barbara. The Mostly Kosher band will feature a performance of memorable Yiddish and other Jewish tunes that make for an exciting and happy afternoon. The band has been praised in the media wherever they play, sing and

dance, and as one critic reviewed, “the performance was designed to make the viewer think they were listening to a Lower Eastside of New York….radio show.” The comedy group, led by Leeav Sofer, performed earlier this year at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, among many other wellknown venues.

The Mostly Kosher concert for all ages is open to the entire community and is being co-sponsored by NCJW and Long Beach Jewish Life online magazine. Adults, $36, $40 at the door; $18 for 12 and under, $20 at the door. For more information, call Tila Carrol at 562433-7109, or Ann Millman at 562-439-8010.

A Joint Alpert JCC | Jewish Federation/Jewish Community Foundation Trip

SPAIN ISRAEL 2015 

October 21 - November 5, 2015 INTERESTED? Join us for an informational meeting

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 6:30 pm RSVP 562.426.7601 | Sharon x1008 | Susan x1012

Women’s Philanthropy Jewish Federation Women’s Philanthropy division promotes women’s leadership, empowerment, and philanthropy through the practice of tikkum olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (justice), rachamlm (compassion), and chesed (loving kindness). We are dedicated to providing opportunities for women to learn new skills and help women translate their values into actions. We invite all women to join us for unique educational workshops and to join us for ongoing community service projects.

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY! Contact Sharon at (562) 426-7601 x1008 or sharonk@jewishlongbeach.org

Women’s Philanthropy

www.jewishlongbeach.org | JANUARY 2015 | 13

TRIBUTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

P ROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY ARCHITECTS

Cherson Weiss Architects Erin Cherson, Architect & Ava Weiss, CEO Specializing in Residential and Commercial Projects

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PEDIATRICS

Business Law, Insurance Law, Trusts and Estates 5242 Katella Ave., Suite 104 Los Alamitos, CA 90720

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C.P.A.’S Shari D. Nemirow, C.P.A.

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(562) 430-8231

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YOUR AD HERE Reach over 40,000 community members by listing your business in the Jewish Community Chronicle.

Add your listing to our Professional Directory Call Khatera 562-426-7601 EXT 1006 for more information

Lee & Barbara Shoag

GENERAL FUND •To Fern English, wishes for a speedy recovery, from Linda & Sanford Simmons

Jewish Community Foundation

GERDA SEIFER YOM HASHOAH FUND •To Eva Schlesinger, wishes for a speedy recovery, from Gerda & Harold Seifer •To Arlene Solomon, in memory of your beloved granddaughter Katy Felsenthal, from Gerda & Harold Siefer •To Debi & Dan Felsenthal, in memory of your beloved daughter Katy, from Gerda & Harold Seifer

Jewish Federation and Jewish MICHAEL SEGAL Community Foundation tributes: MAIMONIDES FUND 562-426-7601 EXT 1314 •To the MacKay Family, in memory of Nancy MacKay, AJCC from Jessie Butler GENERAL FUND •To the Polacheck Family, •To the Oster Family, in in memory of Art Polacheck, memory of Samuel Oster, from Jessie Butler from Barbara Alpert •To the Hillinger Family, in •To the Felsenthal & memory of Paul Hillinger, Solomon Family, in memory of Kathryn Ruth Felsenthal, from Barbara Alpert from Jessie Butler •To the Mednick Family, in memory of Judy Mednick, •To Susan Mathieu, in honor of your Social Security from Barbara Alpert Birthday, from Jessie Butler •To the Strelitz Family, in memory of Curtis Blanc, from PAULA BLUM SENIOR Barbara Alpert •To Andrea & Don Kaiser, ADULT FUND in honor of your anniversary •To Susan Mathieu, in hon& becoming grandparents, or of your Social Security Birthday, from: from Barbara Alpert o Barbara Alpert •To Shirley & Eugene Ross, o Susan Bernstein in honor of receiving the o Linda Brayton Robert Baldwin Community o Sheila Cabot Service Award, from Barbara

•Mazel Tov to Helen Barrad, on the birth of your great •Mazel Tov to Becky & grandson David Braxton de Daniel Siskin, on the birth of Souza your son Brady Flaster Siskin •Mazel Tov to Paddy Kaller, •Mazel Tov to Jackie & on the birth of your great Philip Fritz, on the birth of your granddaughter Clara Beth grandson Corey Michael Jennings White •Mazel Tov to Gail & Tom From the Jewish Federation Board, Leadership & Staff

Over 1,400 Happy Buyers & Sellers since 1981 www.ShoagRealEstate.com

Jewish Federation

Alpert •To Matt Simmons, in honor of receiving the Fred Neuberger Young Leadership Award, from Barbara Alpert •To Eugene Lentzner, in honor of your modeling at the Ronald McDonald House Charity Event, from Barbara Alpert •To Brent & Erika Hess, in honor of being some of the nicest people and having the best Animal Inn, from Barbara Alpert •To the Felsenthal & Solomon Family, in memory of Kathryn Ruth Felsenthal, from Barbara Alpert •To Barbara Alpert, in memory of Ray Alpert, from George & Gail Rothman

Honors & Simchahs

Residential & Income

(562) 400-8124

Tributes

Send a special gift to honor, memorialize, or congratulate friends & family for all occasions. We will send a card on your behalf.

Rated ‘Highest’ in quality service by our customers.

14 | JEWISH COMMUNITY CHRONICLE | TEVET-SHEVAT | 5775

o Paula Cross o Herlina Fraher o Mary Freshman o Ellen Geffner o Sylvia Goldstein o Lourdes Grayson-Padgett o Ilja Haverkorn-Brejtfus o Arline Hillinger o Shlomit Jackson o Iris Katz o Ronald & Patricia Knights o Danny Levy o Tom Long o Miriam Malasky o Daniel & Joseph Mathieu o Katie Miller o Artero Montes De Oca o Charlotte & Lou Moskowitz o Larry Rubin & Christian Nelson o Pearl Parker o Judith Ross o Katie Shovers o Sanford & Linda Simmons o Bonnie Walters o Elaine & Larry Winner

AJCC tributes: 562-426-7601 EXT 1414

JFCS

GENERAL FUND •From Margo Hoffer, in honor of the 70th anniversary of Myrtle & Jim Pinsky •From Margo Hoffer, in honor of the birth of the 8th great-grandchild of Charlotte Pinsky SEYMOUR PIZER FUND •From Binnie & Jack Berro & family, in honor of Madge Pizer’s birthday •From Phyllis Spear, in honor of Madge Pizer’s birthday

JFCS tributes: 562-426-7601 EXT 235 or 562-427-7916

Levy, on the birth of your granddaughter Mabel Lilyan Sauro •Mazel Tov Andrea & Don Kaiser, on the birth of your grandson Chase Russell Kaiser

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Dr. Nan Mackay Please contact us at chronicle@jewishlongbeach.org if you know of someone who has passed and would like them to be recognized.

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Alpert JCC Board Member

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Join Us for oUr shabbat services

Friday Evening Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Moskowitz and organist, David York Saturday Morning Torah Study and Services conducted by Rabbi Moskowitz

Friday, January 2 7:00 p.m. Family Shabbat Service Saturday, January 3 8:45 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Sabbath Fellowship

Rabbi Rami Shapiro Weekend Lapid-Shapiro Scholar-in-Residence

Friday, January 9 6:00 p.m. Ruach Shabbat Saturday, January 10 8:45 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service

Friday, January 16 6:00 p.m. Tot Shabbat 7:00 p.m. Got Shabbat! Saturday, January 17 8:45 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service

Friday, January 30 7:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service Saturday, January 31 8:45 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service

Friday, January 23 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service Saturday, January 24 8:45 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service

Temple Israel • 269 Loma Avenue • Long Beach, CA 90803 • 562.434.0996 • www.tilb.org

www.jewishlongbeach.org | JANUARY 2015 | 15

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We Mourn The Loss Of...

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