Chronicle May/June 2026

ASenseofBelonging

ErikLudwig,PhD|JewishLongBeach

AllofIsraelareresponsibleforoneanother Talmud

This edition of the Chronicle arrives during Jewish American Heritage Month and Pride Month, reminding us that Jewish life in the United States is not experienced through a single lens We are shaped by overlapping identities, religious, cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity. To be Jewish and American today often means moving between spaces, holding particularism and pluralism, tradition and change.

In my experience, Jewish identity is shaped by both belonging and exclusion We carry memory We also carry responsibility That responsibility does not feel narrow to me. It expands.

That is why I see LGBTQ+ rights as an expression of Jewish values. Every person is created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God

Pride Month, at its heart, is a celebration of dignity It is about people claiming the right to live openly, safely, and fully as themselves. It is also a recommitment to the unfinished work of equality.

Here in Long Beach, this is not abstract. It is who we are. According to the Long Beach Jewish Community Study, more than 50 percent of households in our Jewish community are interfaith 16 percent of our community identifies as ethnically and racially diverse.

11 percent identifies as LGBTQ+ Each person brings their full self into Jewish life These are not separate data points. They are overlapping stories. Many in our community live at these crossroads, LGBTQ+ and interfaith, Jews of color and queer, multiheritage families raising Jewish children.

At the Alpert JCC, our role is to turn these realities into belonging We welcome families into preschool, camp, and Jewish cultural programs with the intention that every person feels seen and valued. Belonging is a daily practice expressed in how we design programs, how we train staff, and how we show up for one another.

Jewish belonging calls us to build a community that is responsive and attentive to lived experience It also calls us to lift up organizations doing essential work and to see them as partners in shaping allyship in action.

That spirit is alive in Jewish organizations that center LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Keshet advances equality for LGBTQ+ Jews and helps institutions become affirming spaces

JQ International builds community and provides education and support to LGBTQ+ Jews and their families

SVARA reimagines Torah learning through a queer lens

A Wider Bridge connects LGBTQ+ communities in the US and Israel 18Doors supports interfaith couples and families, many of whom are part of the LGBTQ+ community

Together, these organizations help all of us become better allies, offering tools and pathways to act with intention and care.

Allyship also requires us to listen to lived experiences, to learn from voices too often ignored, and to acknowledge where our communities still have work to do. Many Jewish spaces have become more inclusive over time, embracing LGBTQ+ clergy, families, and leadership. Yet inclusion is not finished. It is an ongoing practice that demands reflection and growth

Pride Month is also a time of joy Celebration itself can be an act of resistance in a world that has tried to diminish or erase identities. For Jewish communities, this joy reflects resilience, a refusal to let oppression define the future.

The call of Pride Month aligns closely with the call of Jewish ethics: “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof ” We are commanded to pursue justice, to love our neighbors, and to protect the vulnerable Allyship is how we translate those values into practice. It is how we ensure that dignity is not reserved for some but extended to all.

As we reflect during this month, the question is not only how we celebrate, but how we act The answer, rooted in both Jewish history and moral vision, is clear We stand together We speak out And we build a world where everyone can live with dignity and a deep sense of belonging.

Shalom,

CHRONICLE

AdamPollack,18Doors

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Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus One Sommer Way

3801 E. Willow Street Long Beach, CA 90815-1791 562.426.7601 | jewishlongbeach.org Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Member

Jewish Long Beach is a 501(c)3 with tax I.D. 95-1647830

OntheCover Jewish Long Beach is proud to celebrate our diverse community. We hope to see you at this year’s Long Beach Pride Parade on May 17, 2026.

Editorial and advertising queries, please call 562.426.7601 x1314 or write chronicle@jewishlongbeach.org. Ad & Copy deadline for July/August 2026 issue: June 3, 2026 Chronicle ©2026 Jewish Long Beach. All Rights Reserved.

Kathryn McDermott

President, Board of Directors

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Amanda Morell Chiu Marketing Coordinator & Co-editor

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ReflectionsonLoveandJudaism

For a long time, I thought being gay and being Jewish were mutually exclusive I grew up in the 1980s, when the message I absorbed was that Jews did not accept gay people. You could be Jewish, or you could be gay, but you could not be both. So I did what many people with marginalized identities do when they cannot imagine themselves in the room: I left it.

What brought me back was not certainty It was the opposite

On a Birthright Israel trip, I encountered a Judaism that felt less like a test I could fail and more like a conversation I could enter. I realized that Judaism was not about answers, but about questions. It was a tradition spacious enough to hold argument, ambiguity, wrestling, and return That changed me I began to understand Jewish identity and community as a living and layered inheritance with many authentic ways to belong.

That insight has mattered deeply in my adult life. Like most gay Jews, I married someone from another background. My life sits now at the intersection of identities that many Jewish communities still struggle to hold with generosity: gay and multiheritage Each identity has, at times, made me wonder whether I was too much of an exception to count.

And yet, I know I am not an exception. I am an important part of the American Jewish story.

The Pew Research Center found that among non-Orthodox Jews who married since 2010, 72% have a non-Jewish spouse Among the 9% of U.S. Jews who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, we are twice as likely to marry someone from another background. Those numbers do not describe the margins of Jewish life. They describe 1

Jewish life as it is actually being lived

Still, data also tells a harder truth Many multi-heritage couples may be welcomed in principle, but 73% do not feel a sense of belonging to the Jewish community, compared to 18% of those in endogamous relationships . I know that gap personally and professionally. 2

I used to think I had to choose between being gay and being Jewish I no longer do I know now that the richest Jewish communities are not the ones that demand a single story; they are the ones brave enough to hold complexity with love and foster belonging It requires both individuals to seek belonging and community leaders to work hard and consistently to build an ethos of belonging for them

I realized that Judaism was not about answers, but about questions

For four years, I have served as Chief Program Officer at 18Doors, the only national Jewish nonprofit exclusively dedicated to empowering multi-heritage individuals, couples, and families, and to inspiring and equipping Jewish leaders and organizations to create communities of belonging for them I regularly meet people who are not asking for the Jewish community to lower the bar or water anything down. They are asking a far more sacred question: Is there a place here for my whole self? Can I bring my family, my story, my love, my questions, and not be treated as a problem to solve? I am working every day to make sure the answer is “yes.”

Belonging did not come to me all at once. It came question by question, experience by experience, and relationship by relationship. It came with heartache, wrestling, curiosity, and discovery

And that, perhaps, is the most Jewish thing about it

Happy Pride!

18Doors empowers and enables multiheritage individuals, couples and families to connect with Jewish communities and the joy of Jewish living, while inspiring and equipping leaders and organizations to infuse an ethos of belonging into the culture of the Jewish community. 18doors.org

JewishAmericansin2020,PewResearchCenter,May11,2021 https://wwwpewresearchorg/religion/2021/05/11/jewishamericans-in-2020/

JewishAmericansin2020,PewResearchCenter,May11,2021 https://wwwpewresearchorg/religion/2021/05/11/jewishamericans-in-2020/

ShabbatStaroftheWeek

At our school, one way Jewish life is woven into the rhythm of our week is through our Shabbat Star tradition. Each child has a special week where they are celebrated as the Shabbat Star, creating a meaningful connection between home, school, and community.

With their family, each child creates a poster all about themselves, brings in a favorite book to share, and helps choose a special Shabbat treat. At the end of the week, they take on an important role by joining Dana in leading our Shabbat blessings.

This ritual is more than a moment of celebration—it reflects the Jewish value of kavod (honor and respect), ensuring that every child is seen, valued, and lifted up by their community. It also strengthens our sense of kehilla (community), as classmates learn about one another and celebrate each child’s uniqueness.

Through the Shabbat Star experience, children are not only introduced to the traditions of Shabbat—the candles, blessings, and shared joy—but also to the deeper meaning behind them: taking time to pause, to connect, and to recognize the importance of each individual within our community.

In this way, Shabbat is not just something we observe—it’s something we live together, week after week.

OurSchoolGarden

Our school garden is another space where learning, wonder, and Jewish values come to life in meaningful and hands-on ways. Through outdoor exploration, children are invited to connect with the natural world— observing seasonal changes, nurturing growth, and developing a sense of curiosity about the world around them.

Each class participates in caring for our garden, giving students the opportunity to take responsibility, work together, and experience the cycles of planting, tending, and harvesting. This work reflects the Jewish value of being caretakers of the earth and helps children build an early understanding of respect and responsibility for our environment.

This year, we have been especially excited to focus on creating a Havdalah garden, designed to bring children closer to the sensory traditions of Havdalah. As they engage with herbs and plants used for fragrance, students experience Judaism through sight, smell, and touch— connecting to the ritual in a way that is both tangible and meaningful.

Through the garden, children are not only learning about nature, but also about cycles, renewal, and care—ideas deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. These moments of discovery help cultivate a sense of wonder, responsibility, and connection that extends far beyond the classroom.

After15yearsofdedicated service,artspecialistMs.Lisa Lockettwillberetiringfrom theAlpertJCCEarly ChildhoodEducationCenter

Jewish Long Beach recognizes a bittersweet milestone in our Early Childhood Education program and honors an extraordinary teacher whose creativity, patience, and passion have shaped our community for fifteen years. Ms. Lockett forged the ECE Art Pavilion through her belief in playbased learning and “process over product,” encouraging open-ended projects that stimulate imagination and problem-solving. Through clever upcycling and found materials, her students learned to appreciate sustainability and tikkun olam. Through her care and expertise, the Art Pavilion has become a cornerstone of the ECE.

Upon reflecting on her career, Ms. Lockett shared, “I hope children leave the Art Pavilion with a sense of joy in exploring art materials and an understanding that experimentation is a valid and meaningful way to create art.”

We are grateful to have Ms. Lockett as our Art Specialist for ECE and Camp Komaroff, and wish her a vibrant next chapter! Mazel tov!

SCHEDULES + SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Jewish Long Beach is thrilled to fund 16 grants this year, totaling $218,000, to be distributed to 13 organizations and their collaborators.

This year’s Gordon Lentzner Community Impact Grants Request for Proposals (RFP) was crafted based on Jewish Long Beach’s strategic plan and, in particular, on the strategic aspiration: Jewish Long Beach will unite and activate participation across our entire community. Specifically in 2026, we are seeking to support programs that create opportunities for engagement and build connections for school-age children, teens, and young adults.

In addition, we focused on supporting programming that could help Jewish Long Beach expand its impact throughout our service area by leveraging the skills, talents, connections, and resources of other community agencies

The table below describes each element of the strategic aspiration and lists programs granted funding in this year’s grant cycle where they align with each piece of this aspiration.

A heartfelt thank you to all of the organizations that applied for grants Your ongoing commitment to strengthening Jewish life in Long Beach is the backbone of our mission and purpose We look forward to uplifting the impact of all of the meaningful programs listed in the following chart.

ARLENE SOLOMON VISIONS

OComposing ur Future

JewishLongBeachWomen’sPhilanthropy

AnnualCampaignDinner:May28,2026

Since 1996, the Arlene Solomon Visions annual campaign dinner has served as an important element in bringing women together with a shared goal of helping others, both here in Long Beach and around the world The Arlene Solomon Visions Dinner is always an inspiring and uplifting time to gather with of women in our community who are committed to the shared values of tzedakah (charitable giving) and tikkun olam (repair the earth).

Visions2026

This year, we are proud to honor Barbara Shoag as the 2026 Woman of Vision and Anna Salusky as the first-ever Woman of Impact. Both honorees have made a lasting difference through their dedication to Jewish Long Beach and their instrumental role in building our thriving Women’s Philanthropy program Beyond our community, Barbara and Anna are also passionate supporters of the Long Beach Symphony.

In tribute to their love of music, guests will enjoy live performances by the Symphony throughout the evening

We are also honored to welcome Julie Platt as our keynote speaker Ms Platt, former Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America, was awarded the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor in 2025 by President Isaac Herzog for her extraordinary contributions to Israel and the Jewish people She is also known as the wife of producer Marc Platt and mother of actors Ben Platt and Jonah Platt

All women in our community are invited to take part in this exceptional evening full of good food, friendships, and support for our community

EventDetails

Thursday, May 28 at the Alpert JCC 5:30 PM: Wine & Appetizer Reception

6 PM: Kosher Dinner & Program

Couvert: $95

You will have an opportunity to make your pledge to the Jewish Long Beach Annual Community Campaign

For more information about Visions, please contact Susan Paletz at spaletz@jewishlongbeach.org

your tickets and send tributes

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HappeningWeekly

Drop-inMahJongg:Mondays,6PM

Wednesdays,1PM

BarbaraAlpertSingingCircle:Wednesdays 10:30AM|Free

Drop-inCanasta:Wednesdays|11:30AM,1PM|Free Kabbalah:Wednesdays|12PM|Free

HappeningMonthly

JessieButlerSeniorLuncheon

Wednesday|May6,20,Jun3,17|12PM

AlpertClassicFilmSociety

Wednesday|7PM|Virtual May13:ManwithaMovieCamera(1929) Jun10:Playtime(1967)

Happiness&HumorGroup

Friday|May1,Jun5|11AM|Free

SeniorShabbat&LuncheonwithTempleIsrael

Saturday|May23|11AM|Free

JewishAmericanHeritageMonthCelebration withLongBeachCityCollege

Monday|May4|12PM|Free|LongBeachCityCollege

BeejhyBarhanyisanEthiopianJewishAmericanchef.Sheisthe founderofTsionCafeinHarlemandauthorofseveralcookbooks.

LagB’OmerShabbatDinner withPJLibrary

Friday|May1|5PM

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BeginnerRetreat:Saturday|May16|10AM

StrategyWorkshop:Sunday|Jun7|1PM

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LongBeachPrideParade

Sunday|May17|10AM|Free

SeeyouattheLongBeachPrideParade!

CSULBOLLIPresentsCPR&AEDAwareness

Tuesday|May26|4PM|Free

Learnabouttheimportanceoflife-savingtoolsCPRandAED.

ArleneSolomonVisions withJewishLongBeachWomen’sPhilanthropy

Thursday|May28|5:30PM

HonoringcommunitymembersBarbaraShoagandAnna Salusky.Readmoreonpg9.

AFamily,Maybe:AuthorTalkw/LaneIgoudin,PhD

Tuesday|Jun9|6:30PM

HearLaneIgoudin,PhD,discusshisexperiencewithinan interfaithLGBTQfamily.Readmoreonpg17.

ZenaandPaulineGatovGallery

May:Resilience&HopebyAvimaYaffe&JamieWatson

June:EvvaValeCommunityArtExhibition&Competition

SubmissionDeadline:May15,5

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Getinthewater!Improvejointstability,coordination, hearthealth,andstrengthintheheatedMaryAlpertPool!

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StartingMonday,Jun1|1:30PM

Improveyourbalanceandlivelifewithoutfearoffallingin this4-weeksession.Registeratjewishlongbeach.org

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NewAJCCMembers:Enjoya1-hrfitnessassessmentand three30-minutePersonalTrainingsessions,allfor$120!

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ECEPre-KCelebration

Friday|June19

Congratstoour2026Grads!Wanttomakeagiftin honorofyourgraduate?ContactKevinGiserat kgiser@jewishlongbeach.orgformoredetails.

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Tuesdaysand/orThursdays|9:30AM|Freew/FamilyMembership

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Fridays|9:30AM|Free&OpentoAll

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Makom:CreatingHolySpace

Jewish Long Beach is proud to present the 2026 Evva Vale Endowed Art Exhibition & Competition. This competition returns after several years of absence to connect artists to the Long Beach community and offers an opportunity to be featured in the Gatov Gallery at the Alpert Jewish Community Center

Established in the late 1990s by Evva’s daughters (Emily Schwab and Susan Plichta z”l) to honor their mother who was, herself, a respected art teacher and active member of the Art Committee at the Alpert JCC, the art show was originally created to showcase artists from local colleges Over time, it has evolved into a broader community show,

welcoming a diverse range of participants.

The 2026 competition is open to ages 18+ in the Long Beach/West Orange County area. Entries should explore the ways physical, emotional, and spiritual places become infused with meaning All mediums are welcome

All artwork must be submitted digitally for review by May 15 at 5 PM. If selected, artwork must be dropped off at the Alpert JCC by May 26.

Awards will be given to 1 , 2 , and 3 places in the amounts of $500, $250, and $100, respectively Winners will be

Theme:

awarded at the artist reception on July 12 at the Alpert JCC, where members of the Vale family will be in attendance.

The Evva Vale Annual Endowed Art Exhibition and Competition is made possible by an endowment created in memory of Evva S Vale The exhibition is juried, and awards are generously provided by the Evva Vale Fund

See full contest details and submit your artwork at jewishlongbeach.org/evvavale26

HEBREWACA WhereLess

Each year, the Hebrew Academy’s Mitzvah Living Museum offers a window into what the Hebrew Academy students are learning As you walk through the displays created by our K–5 students, you’ll notice something that catches you by surprise These children aren't just showing you a finished poster; they are showing you what a value-based education looks like in action.

MathwithaMission

In the third-grade room, a group of students is busy explaining how they tracked every penny raised for Simchat Shabbat This local organization provides care packages for families in need. They don’t start by talking about decimals or addition.

They explain that their calculations had to be perfect, not because they wanted an "A," but because every dollar accounted for was another family who would celebrate Shabbat with joy because of their efforts When a child understands that their math helps feed a neighbor, the work feels different. It’s no longer a worksheet; it’s a responsibility.

ReadingasanActofKindness

Down the hall, a second grader talks about her experience reading to seniors through the “Smiles for Seniors” project She doesn't focus on her reading level or her fluency Instead, she talks about how she learned to slow down and pause, making sure the person listening could follow along.

She shares how a teacher helped her navigate a slightly nervous visit to Bubby and

g p y, s as she points to a letter she wrote to a child at Miller Children’s Hospital Her spelling and sentences are all there, but it’s her motivation that stays with you: “I wanted it to feel good when they read it,” she says. She isn't just learning how to form letters; she is learning that her words have the power to lift someone’s spirits.

Further along, fourth graders discuss their visit to the Second Harvest Food Bank They aren't just repeating facts they heard on a field trip; they are pointing out needs they noticed, recognizing gaps, and brainstorming real ways to help. They are learning that they don’t have to wait until they are " grown up " to have an idea that changes things

MoreThanJustaSchoolProject

The Mitzvah Living Museum reflects what happens in our classrooms every day. You can hear it in the way our students speak, not with memoriz genuine confid they carry with

ensures that our students are not just mastering facts through rote learning, but they are becoming reflective, selfconfident learners who are equipped with the skills necessary for meaningful contribution.”

At the Hebrew Academy, we believe that when a child realizes their learning has a purpose, everything changes They don't just grow in what they know; they grow in who they are, with the foundation of what they will become.

Experience it for yourself. The Museum is one special moment in our year, but this spirit is alive at the Hebrew Academy every single day We invite you to visit, walk our halls, and see this kind of learning in action Visit us at HACDS org/Discover

WelcometoourPuzzleCorner!

th

Thiseditionisallaboutlemonade!TheAlpertJCCis proudtobepartneringwithAlex’sLemonadeStandfor our12 yeartoraisefundsforchildren’scancer research.Sinceourfirstyear,theAlpertJCChasraised nearly$15,000tosupportthecause.

Alex’sLemonadeStandreturnstotheAlpertJCC June1-5,from9:30AM-4PM,aspartoftheir nationwidefundraiser,LemonadeDays Comeinperson forsomerefreshinglemonadeordonateonline!Helpus makeadifferenceallweeklong!

WhatisAlex’sLemonadeStand

Alex’sLemonadeStandwassetupin2000by AlexandraScott,a4-year-olddiagnosedwithchildhood cancer,toraisemoneytohelpfindacureforchildhood cancers.Sinceherpassingin2004,Alex’sparentshave continuedherwork

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Bourekas For Shavuot

Shavuot(May22-23,2026)

Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai thousands of years ago One tradition embraced by many families in the Jewish diaspora is to enjoy sweet, dairy-based treats, like cheesecake and ice cream, as part of the day One theory suggests that eating dairy is connected to the idea that reading the Torah is nourishing; another says that it’s a nod to Israel as “the land of milk and honey.” If your family’s palette leans a little bit more savory than sweet, try making bourekas for Shavuot

Bourekas

Bourekas or burekas are delicious, savory, pastry pockets. They’re a popular street food in Israel and a snap to make at home (especially if you use store-bought puff pastry or filo dough). A boureka is usually filled with cheese, but potatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and onions are also popular fillings

Bourekas as a side dish evolved from the Turkish börek (Fun fact, boureka is a Ladino

adaptation of this word). Over time, as populations migrated, and culinary techniques evolved, bourekas developed distinct regional variations In Jewish cuisine, particularly in Sephardic and Mizrahi communities, bourekas became a staple dish, often filled with ingredients such as cheese, spinach, potatoes, or meat. These pastries were traditionally served during holidays, celebrations, and family gatherings.

Ingredients

One package of puff pastry dough

Your favorite cheese or cheese blends, shredded or crumbled

One egg, beaten for egg wash (or margarine for a nondairy version)

Preparation

Preheat your oven per the instructions on the dough package

Lay out the dough sheets, cutting them into rectangles (about the length of your hand)

Add one tablespoon of cheese to half the rectangles

Top each filled rectangle with another dough rectangle

Use a fork to seal the pockets

Lightly brush with egg wash

Bake per the instructions on the package

TIP: For a dairy-free version, use dairy-free butter or olive oil.

PJ Library is a free service that delivers Jewish children’s books directly to families every month, as well as providing an online hub of Jewish resources for families, including recipes, activities, and more. See more recipes like this one and other resources from PJ Library at pjlibrary.org

MayisJewishAmericanHeritageMonth

We invite you to a celebration of Jewish American Heritage on Monday, May 4 with two special presentations featuring Ethiopian-Jewish American chef Beejhy Barhany.

First, join us at Long Beach City College (12 PM) for a presentation on Jewish American food, history, and Barhany's personal journey from Ethiopia to Israel and the US Plus, listen to Jewish American music from Cantor Kelly Cooper of Temple Israel Deli sandwich lunch and drinks will be provided

Take the celebration back to the Alpert JCC (6:30 PM) for an encore presentation with Barhany and a special Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

ChefBeehjyBarhany

Barhany was born in the Tigray region of

Ethiopia, she fled the country as a child, made aliyah to Israel in 1983 and then moved to New York in 2000 Through her cooking and storytelling, Barhany acts as a "cultural ambassador" She is the author of several cookbooks and founded Tsion Cafe in Harlem in 2014.

JuneisLGBTQ+PrideMonth

We invite you to the Alpert JCC on Tuesday, June 9, at 6:30 PM for an opportunity to hear from author Lane Igoudin, PhD, on his and his family's experience as an interfaith LGBTQ family

Lane Igoudin, PhD is a Los Angeles-based author, speaker, and proud Dad of two amazing kids, who writes about adoptive parenting, fatherhood, LGBTQ+ families, as well as faith and Jewish spiritual growth. Professor Igoudin is a graduate of CSU Long Beach and Stanford University

AFamily,Maybe

In his candid and emotional memoir, Lane Igoudin shows the human side of public adoption as he and his partner, Jonathan, seek to adopt their foster daughters from the Los Angeles County child welfare system

Desperately wanting to be fathers, they enter into a complicated legal process that soon becomes a tangle of drama-filled birth parent visits and children’s court hearings Lane and Jon spend years not knowing if the county will reunite the sisters with their birth mother, a teenager in the state’s custody herself, or allow to adopt them.

Heartwarming moments with the kids and relatable first-time-parent woes become bittersweet as Lane realizes how much he and Jon have built and how much they could lose.

Publisher’s Summary by Ooligan Press, PSU RSVPatjewishlongbeach.org

BeejhyBarhany

Ethiopian-JewishAmericanChef

Monday,May4

12PMatLongBeachCommunity College,LACCampus 6:30PMatAlpertJCC

REFLECTIONS

LaneIgoudin,PhD Author,Professor

In a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, it's tempting to let machines write these articles, but I didn't.

Teachers now, perhaps rightly, suspect ChatGPT has written every assignment paper. So, to be clear, a human wrote this. Of course, AI can quickly gather online data on Passover and deliver a perfectly written Passover message The new AI technology is so advanced that it can generate symphonies, mimic great artists, and even write stories in the style of literary greats. Nonetheless, I spent hours writing, deleting, and rewriting this. Why?

The truth is, there's value to human

imperfection, and that's why we tell the most extraordinary story of liberation over a broken matzah. This brokenness is intentional because our human flaws and mistakes, things AI is programmed to avoid, are what open the gates to true freedom. Today's artificial intelligence can analyze patterns in emotional expression but can't taste a bitter herb or cry You need to be human to feel the pain of failure, and according to the Rebbe, our mistakes and flaws are so valuable that G-d put them there by design.

Perfection is overrated.

Machines would never have allowed for

Alexander Fleming's accidental discovery of Penicillin or the organic imperfections of Miles Davis's unrehearsed Kind of Blue album that shaped his legendary sound. Similarly, our inevitable mistakes and setbacks in our relationship with G-d allow us to turn " errors " into remedies and " wrong " notes into genius

At the Passover Seder, we start our journey to freedom, and the broken matzah takes center stage. So the next time you think AI can do it better, remember what the late Leonard Cohen wrote: the cracks let the light in, and on Passover, the cracks in the matzah make us truly whole.

COMMUNITY

What’sHappeninginYourCommunity

BethDavid

Saturday, May 9, 9 am

TorahStudyw/RabbinicInternRobinHarrison

Thursday, May 14, 12 pm

Lunch&Learnw/RabbinicInternRobinHarrison

Sunday, May 17, 8 am - 1:30 pm

Blood Drive Donors can sign up online at RedCrossBlood org, sponsor code: tbd or can contact directly at cathbowls@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 21, 7 pm

Erev Shavuot Service

Saturday, May 30, 7 pm

Casino Night. Food, Prizes, Entertainment, Admission:$60 / $70 after May 14. Includes $500 Play Money RSVP by May 22, at tbdavid@templebethdavid org online, or call the office 714 892 6623

Saturday, June 6, 9 am

TorahStudyw/RabbinicInternRobinHarrison

Thursday, June 11, 12 pm

Lunch&Learnw/RabbinicInternRobinHarrison

Saturday, June 13, 9 am

Body, Mind, and Spirit Shabbat

Huntington Beach Central Park for a walk with 7 stops for meditative readings

TempleBethShalom

Saturday, May 9, 10:30 am

Ruach Shabbat & Graduate Shabbat Lively, family-friendly musical Shabbat experience. Graduates’ recognition.

Tributes&InMemoriam

JewishLongBeach

FromJewishLongBeachBoard, Leadership,&Staff

IN MEMORY OF

Jonathan Harrison

Beloved brother & brother-in-law

To Robin & Mulu Harrison

GeneralFund IN MEMORY OF Bob Rose

Beloved husband

To Lori Rose

From Susan & Mark Paletz

Rick Eckelman

Beloved father

To Erin Eckelman Ray

From Pearl & Jack Dietz

Larisa Verkh

Beloved mother

From Renata Rogachevsky

Everyone is welcome.

Thursday, May 21

7 pm: Service

8 pm: Study Session Leil Shavuot

Torah in the Age of AI: What Does ‘Revelation’ Mean When Machines Can Generate Meaningful Texts?

Friday, May 22, 6 pm Service

Following Serivces Sisterhood Erev Shabbat Meal and Ice Cream Sundae Social. Please register by May 15.

Shavuot Services at 10 am

Shavuot I – Friday, May 22

Shavuot II – Saturday, May 23

Friday, May 29, 6 pm

Family Shabbat

Family-friendly musical Shabbat experience Everyone is welcome

For all special events, please register at least three days prior - contact us atoffice@TBSLB.orgor 562.426.6413 or visit TBSLB.org. Events and services are open to the community For adult learning classes and other events, please see our website and calendar

TempleIsrael

For May - June 2026 events, please see ad on back page.

NCJW-GreaterLongBeach&West OrangeCounty

Wednesday, May 13

Lobby Day in Sacramento

Join NCJW members across California as we visit state representatives' offices to advocate for supportive bills, then fly home in the late afternoon/evening Want to join us? Please email our VP of Advocacy Chana Ham-Rosebrock at advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org

Watch our big June announcement on our website: ncjwlongbeach.org

OrangeCountyJewishGenealogicalSociety

Sunday, May 17, 10 am on Zoom

Phil Goldfarb

Living Jewish in the Pale of Settlement: How our ancestors lived and what they had to go through Sunday, June 28, 10 am on Zoom

Alexander Avram

Romanian Jewish Surnames

Register for both events at www ocjgs org Free for members, $5 for non-members

ShulbytheShore

Sunday, June 7

Annual Gala

May1:7:18pm

May8:7:24pm

May15:7:29pm May22:7:33pm

LynneKassMemorialFund

IN MEMORY OF Lynne Kass

From Julie Kinsbursky

From Wendy Ferguson

MaccabiGamesFund

IN HONOR OF Ryan Cherson

Mazel Tov on your Bar Mitzvah

From Jay Alhadeff

Senior&AdultPrograms

IN HONOR OF Barbara Perler

From Andrew Perler

Women’sPhilanthropy

IN MEMORY OF Larry Slutsky

Beloved father

To Joanne Lopez

From Sharon Kenigsberg

For Jewish Long Beach tributes call: 562 426 7601 ext 1314

May29:7:39pm Jun5:7:43pm

Jun12:7:46 Jun19:7:48

GeneralFund IN MEMORYOF Amy Foster

From Klara Wein

Laurie Samuels

From Joanne & Jerry Levy

Paul Lewis

From Barbra & Steven Sperling

IN HONOR OF Binnie & Jack Berro's 71stAnniversary From Michele Berro, Denise Berro, & Family

Sandy Carr From Elizabeth Fiskin