THE VOICE OF JEWISH LONG BEACH PUBLISHED SINCE 1947
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2021 | HESHVAN – KISLEV – TEVET 5782
jewishlongbeach.org
VOL. 75 NO. 1
INSIDE TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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12 THE VOICE OF JEWISH LONG BEACH PUBLISHED SINCE 1947
JEWISH LONG BEACH
EMPOWERING GREATER LONG BEACH AND WEST ORANGE COUNTY SINCE 1948
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Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus One Sommer Way
3801 E. Willow Street Long Beach, CA 90815-1791 Phone: 562.426.7601 | FAX: 562.424.3915
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A Jewish Heart
Does adhering to Jewish values and identity give you a Jewish “heart?” Apparently, Bernard Natelson’s mother believed it did.
Year End Giving
Thoughtful Charitable Gift Planning for 2021
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Alpert Jewish Community Center
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L’Dor V’Dor
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Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Welcome back to the Long Beach Jewish Film Festival November 3 – 21.
What Did Five Months in Israel Teach Me?
David Rowe, a recipient of a Bob Baldwin Memorial Fund grant, shares his memorable experience in Israel.
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Kindergarten Success Starts with You and Grows with Us
jewishlongbeach.org
jewishlongbeach.org
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Member
Edie Brodsky President
Sharon Kenigsberg Director of Community Development
Yolanda Placencio Development Administrator
Carol A. Beckerman
Four things you can do to prepare your child for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Development/Editorial Coordinator
There is Nothing Minor About Chanukah
In the days of the Talmud there were four different ways of observing Chanukah.
Editorial and advertising queries, please call 562.426.7601 x1006 or write chronicle@jewishlongbeach.org.
13 Keeping the Community Safe
linkedin.com/company/ jewish-long-beach
Chief Executive Officer
With students back on campus at CSULB, Hillel activities are back!
@jewishlongbeach
Zachary Benjamin
Say “Hello” to the Chai and Legacy Societies members.
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@jewishlongbeach
Jewish Long Beach is a 501(c)3 with tax I.D. 95-1647830
10 Fall Semester is in Full Swing
/jewishlongbeach
The ADL plays an important role in fighting bigotry and keeping our community safe.
14 Community News 15 Tributes/In Memoriam
Ad & Copy deadline for Jan/Feb 2022 issue: November 30, 2021 ISSN# 1525- 6847 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 Jewish Long Beach. The publication of a paid political advertisement does not constitute endorsement of any candidate, political party or political position by Jewish Long Beach or any employee. Photo credits and copyrights Cover - ©Mika Schick/Shutterstock 2021 Page 2 – Candlelighting ©2021 Wirestock/Adobe Page 2 – ©Africa Studio/Shutterstock Page 13 – ©Zoran Orcik/Shutterstock
SHABBAT CANDLELIGHTING Nov 5 5:38 pm Nov 12 4:32 pm
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Chronicle ©2021 Jewish Long Beach All Rights Reserved.
CONVERSATIONS
COMMUNITY
Advocacy in Action Zachary Benjamin
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Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Long Beach
Earlier this year, Jewish Long Beach celebrated the decision of the Long Beach Community College District Board of Trustees to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition Zachary Benjamin of antisemitism. The Community College District was the first institution of higher education in California to adopt the IHRA definition, thus making an unprecedented statement in support of its Jewish students, faculty, and staff. The district’s decision places it firmly on the right side of history at a time when our attention is too often drawn to college and university administrations for instead providing safe harbor to those who would seek to intimidate and do harm to Jewish people. Community College District Trustee Sunny Zia, herself a graduate of Jewish Long Beach’s Alpert New Leaders Forum, envisioned and led this historic effort, enabling our local community college system to exercise leadership in setting a bold example for educational institutions across the country. Credit for this success story lies squarely with Trustee Zia and Long Beach Community College District Board President Uduak Ntuk. By any measure, the board’s decision represents significant progress in the protracted efforts of Jewish communal activists to beat back the rising tide of antisemitism. Jewish Long Beach played a quiet supporting role in the resolution’s passage, working with members of the board, at their request, to help educate them on the importance of protecting the Jewish people who work and study on their campuses and of positioning the Long Beach Community College District at the vanguard of the fight against anti-Jewish hate. The IHRA definition names as antisemitism, among other tactics, the use of Israeli geopolitics or “human rights” as frameworks for intimidation of Jews, thus stripping anti-Semites of an excuse that they have long deployed to systematically erode Jewish identity and pride on college campuses. The district’s adoption of the IHRA definition is a potential paradigm shift in how college and university administrations might address the rapidly-spreading infection of antisemitism that plagues so many such institutions. While no additional California colleges or universities have yet followed suit, the Long Beach
Community College District’s leadership is not only to be commended, but vigorously celebrated. Unfortunately, progress in the ongoing effort to stem antisemitism in our education system is incremental, resulting in far more challenges than current solutions. Just weeks after the community college district’s historic decision, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), the teachers union serving the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), made an unsettling surprise announcement that it intended to consider a resolution of support for the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel. The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles (JFGLA) – with whom Jewish Long Beach works closely when necessary to engage in Jewish communal advocacy – sprang immediately to action, leveraging its relationships in the leadership
the agency boasted an active Jewish Community Relations Council, which served as the voice of the Jewish community on issues of concern and crucial importance to our welfare. More recently, we have conducted advocacy primarily through strong partnerships with institutions such as JFGLA, the California Jewish Public Affairs Committee, ADL, and others. The ongoing integration of Jewish Long Beach and the Alpert JCC has afforded us the opportunity to think introspectively and recommit to certain central tenets of our mission. We have a foundational imperative to embody the concept of kol Yisrael averim zeh b’zeh: that the People Israel are responsible for one another’s well-being. In service to this philosophy, I am pleased to announce that the Alpert JCC and Jewish Long
“... Jewish communal advocacy is at the core of Jewish Long Beach’s founding principle ...” structures of both LAUSD and UTLA to help those leaders understand why UTLA’s dangerous potential endorsement of a viciously, even lethally anti-Jewish movement was so deeply problematic. A teacher’s union weighing in on issues of geopolitics is dubious, misguided, and unfocused. It was likely a combination of self-examination, selfcorrection, and education from the Jewish community that led to UTLA’s tabling of the resolution just days after announcing its introduction. However, the path to the union wisely backing down from, rather than doubling down on antisemitism would likely have been more treacherous without the federation’s quiet advocacy work. The processes that resulted in the Long Beach Community College District’s adoption of the IHRA definition, as well as in UTLA’s walking back its antisemitic board resolution, are case studies in how Jewish federations often assist civic leaders in making decisions that ultimately support and protect the Jewish community. Indeed, Jewish communal advocacy is at the core of Jewish Long Beach’s founding principles, as we have historically been active in ensuring that the Long Beach area remains an environment in which Jewish life and identity can sustainably thrive. At one point,
JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG
Beach have created an exploratory working group on advocacy chaired by AJCC board member Ken Schlesinger, which will become a permanent subcommittee of our Board of Directors once our integration is legally complete on January 1. The Advocacy Subcommittee will reposition our agency as the central address for Jewish communal advocacy in Long Beach and West Orange County. Through the activities of this subcommittee, we will take a leadership role in mobilizing on issues of importance to the Jewish community, establishing and maintaining relationships with civic leaders, elected officials, and other faith communities, and ensuring that the Long Beach area’s cultural and economic ties with Israel are strong and enduring. We will continue to build our partnerships with our sister organizations, and the responsibilities of the Advocacy Subcommittee will certainly be carried out collaboratively. Just as the integration of Jewish Long Beach and the Alpert JCC will help ensure that the Jewish community remains a light unto the broader community well into the future, so will the establishment of this committee allow us to fulfill our obligation to leave our corner of the Jewish world stronger and safer l’dor v’dor, for generations to come.
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JEWISH LONG BEACH
SPOTLIGHT
A Jewish Heart
Dr. Bernard Natelson | Board Member, Alpert Jewish Community Center
As I reflect on what led to my choices in life and ultimately to my involvement with our Jewish community, I keep hearing my mother’s words. She always told me that I had a Jewish heart. I believe that it is the essence of this concept of adhering to Jewish values and having my Jewish identity permeate my actions that still guides me today. My story begins in Elizabeth, New Jersey where I was born and raised. We belonged to an Orthodox shul and had a Kosher home. My father, Reuben, was the eighth child in a family of nine. His family has been in the United States since the mid-1800s. The family business, Natelson Brothers, established in 1888, was a small chain of retail men’s clothing stores in the New Jersey area. My dad met my mom, Helen, at Battin High School in Elizabeth, and both of them went on to become college graduates which was not yet the norm for that generation of Jewish young adults. Our family emphasized tradition but I At this year’s Above and Beyond event Lisa and I enjoyed attended public schools and the company of Craig and Sherri Sussman. lived a more secular lifestyle while attending the University of Pennsylvania as an undergraduate. During my freshman year at Penn, however, I frequently went to the University Hillel for Shabbos dinners on Friday evenings. Hillel served as a home away from home where I was able to meet and socialize with new friends. My education continued with a Masters of Clinical Psychology at Purdue and a Doctor of Psychology degree from Rutgers. My career as a psychologist has been a rewarding one (I am now semi-retired) insofar as I have enjoyed being able to help solve people’s problems so they can cope better with life’s more trying moments. There were times when Jewish teachings allowed me to help others deal with grief. I was able to share with them the customs and rituals Celebrating my 70th birthday and the anniversary of my Bar Mitzvah by chanting my orginal Haftorah surrounding the death of a at Temple Beth Shalom. loved one that are built into our tradition characterized by Minions, offered as a means to mourn the dead. Wanting to help others also led to my interest in mentoring. Over the years I have mentored students through the Power 4 Youth program in the Long Beach schools, and mentored graduate students in psychology at Rutgers University. When a close friend of mine suddenly died leaving his 5-year-old child with his mother, I made an effort to help her by spending a lot of time with him, whom I call my godson. I am proud say that he has grown into an accomplished young adult who is making his place in the world as an attorney. I moved out to Long Beach in 1981. Years later, I had the good fortune of meeting my wife at the Stephen S. Wise Temple in LA. After that, life changed for the good. Subsequently, we moved together to Belmont Heights and became more involved in the Jewish Community. Today, we are active members of Temple Beth Shalom in Long Beach and Lisa has been on the Temple Board for the last eight years. Lisa loves being involved in state, local and international organizations. She has been an integral part of the Greater Long Beach section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) for the past eight years, currently serving as the Co-Vice President for Programs. Lisa, who is a California native, did not have a formal Jewish upbringing and my brother-in-law 4 | CHRONICLE
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NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2021
has given me credit for getting her more involved with Jewish Life, a distinction that I truly treasure. However, it was exposure to Lisa’s work with NCJW and all the events that they held at the Alpert Jewish Community Center (AJCC) that led to me becoming more involved in AJCC activities. First, I became a regular at the fitness center and then I began to attend events, like the Jewish Film Festival, annual meetings, Jewish Studies lectures and other cultural/educational experiences. I enjoyed having conversations with the staff who were truly interested in my ideas. My volunteer work includes teaching Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes on short stories, the New York Times Crossword Puzzle and I am currently teaching Poems by W.B. Yeats and e.e. cummings. It was only a matter of time before I joined the AJCC Board. One of my dream projects is to build an interest in the broader community in films that showcase Jewish heritage. I work on ways to increase the staff training on Jewish heritage by supporting the attendance of staff at the Jewish Film Festival. I currently also serve on the Fitness Committee and Lisa and I are members of the AJCC Chai Society (enhanced giving program). As a board member, I am proud of our community and our staff and the way that we were able to rally during COVID-19 and continue to serve the community. The adaptability of Jewish communities throughout history, during stressful times, is one of the reasons we are still here.
Celebrating my 50th birthday at the Shenandoah Restaurant with family (clockwise from left): my mother, Helen Natelson; my youngest brother, Daniel; his wife, Bernice; my wife, Lisa; me (at the foot of the table); Alice, my brother Benjamin’s wife; my oldest brother Benjamin; younger brother, Andrew; and my father, Reuben.
I choose to give to the AJCC because I see firsthand where the money is going and I am personally involved with the work being done. It is with great enthusiasm that I am looking forward to the upcoming integration of the AJCC and Jewish Long Beach. I believe it is wise to combine the strengths of each agency and not be separate. After all, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I am also looking forward to working on more outreach to the Greater Long Beach community. The value of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, is something that Lisa and I are dedicated to through our philanthropy and volunteer work. In addition to our involvement with Temple Beth Shalom and the AJCC, we support Israel Bonds. I have travelled to Israel numerous times and joined on a Jewish mission to Cuba delivering wheel chairs and medical supplies to the Jewish population. I also do pro-bono mediation work for small claims cases in the Orange County Court system. There I can employ my skills as a psychologist in helping facilitate the differences the parties bring to the table to create a solution both can accept. A successful mediation circumvents a hearing where a judge has to make a decision that often can be arbitrary. On a personal note, another project that I am involved with and that I consider part of my personal legacy is my blog which covers a wide range of topics and now has over 100 readers. I write about a variety of topics, one of my next blogs will be about the meaning of Teshuva. I invite you to go to www.drbernardnatelson.com, scroll down to where it says click here if you wish to read my blogs, and send any comments you wish. If you disagree with my viewpoint, that’s fine with me as I am open to reading what others have to say about my ideas. We have an obligation as Jews to pass down our heritage and traditions to the next generations, L’Dor V’Dor. Ensuring that our Jewish Community endures through vibrant synagogues and community centers is central to that obligation. Join me in making my parents proud, get involved and create a path that comes from your Jewish heart.
2021 IMPACT GRANT
JEWISH LONG BEACH
Year End Giving – Thoughful Charitable Gift Planning for 2021 Sharon Kenigsberg | Director of Community Development, Jewish Long Beach
Fall is in the air and soon Thanksgiving and Chanukah will be here. We look forward to spending time with family and friends as the secular year of 2021 comes to a close. The end of the 2021 also provides us with an opportunity to consider financial and tax planning strategies to help the charities we care about. Giving a gift through Jewish Long Beach allows you to designate gifts for multiple charitable organizations. A few strategies appear below. Gifts of Appreciated Stocks and Securities As in previous years, giving appreciated assets (stock) remains a best practice. With the proposed retroactive increase in the capital gains tax rates, charitable donations of appreciated assets are more valuable than ever, providing not only a deduction to the donor but also the potential to avoid the higher capital gains tax.
Giving a gift through Jewish Long Beach allows you to designate gifts for multiple chartible organizations. If you are interested in gifting stocks for charitable purposes, Jewish Long Beach can help you arrange a direct transfer into our brokerage account. IRA Distribution-Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) are back The new age for being forced to take an RMD is now 72. However, the Qualified Charitable Deduction is still available from the age of 70 ½ and is an excellent way to remove IRA assets from your estate if you are charitably inclined. Many donors have used the IRA charitable rollover to transfer funds from their retirement accounts directly to qualified public charities. This option can satisfy the RMD requirement without incurring income tax, even if you don’t itemize
your deductions. Additionally, a charitable contribution made directly from a RMD will lower your Adjusted Gross Income and have the potential to reduce your Medicare premiums. Open a Donor Advised Philanthropic Fund (DAPF) Do you give to multiple charities over the course of a year? Would you be interested in having one convenient way to give to all your charities? If so, then a DAPF may be for you. By opening a DAPF at Jewish Long Beach before December 31, you will be able to receive a charitable tax-deduction this year. A DAPF allows you the flexibility of opening the fund in one year and then recommending distributions to any IRS approved nonprofit organization when it is convenient for you. Establish your personal DAPF through Jewish Long Beach with $2,000 or more, in cash or securities. Additional contributions of any amount can be made at any time and are also tax deductible. Annual Gifts & We are Here to Help If you have not yet made your annual gift for 2021, or if you want to give now for 2022, year-end is a perfect time to do so. Your annual gift allows the agencies you care about to recover from the challenges of the pandemic and provide an essential safety net of services. Whatever type of gift or whatever organization(s) you choose to support, the Jewish Long Beach professional staff is available to help you meet your charitable goals. Please call Sharon Kenigsberg at 562.426.7601 ext. 1008 or sharonk@ jewishlongbeach.org. more information. Disclaimer: Much of the information in this article comes from Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). JFNA and Jewish Long Beach do not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult with your own legal or financial professional regarding your unique tax situation.
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(562)233-9934
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5782 HESHVAN – KISLEV – TEVET | 5
ALPERT JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER YOUR
CENTER FOR LIFE
$63,000 RAISED FOR SENIOR MEAL DELIVERY
THANKS FOR COMING TO OPEN HOUSE!
Thank you to everyone who supported Long Beach Gives! Each month, we aim to provide over 650 meals. With the help of the community we will deliver 7,800 meals this upcoming year! Visit alpertjcc.org/lbgives to learn more.
We had a blast showcasing everything the AJCC has to offer! Missed out on our free day? It's never too late to get to know the J! Visit our website today to schedule a tour! alpertjcc.org/join
ALE S P I H S R E B M ME
START TODAY, AND PAY NOTHING UNTIL
2022
Become a member Friday, Nov 26 through Monday, Nov 29 and enjoy $0 registration ($150 value), AND the month of December free!* *Valid only for new members with a 6 month membership contract. Visit alpertjcc.org/join for full Terms & Conditions.
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NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2021
YOUR CENTER FOR LIFE
ALPERT JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
LONG BEACH JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
Streaming five great films over the span of three weeks from November 3rd - 21st. View the official selection and explore special events, festival passes, sponsorship opportunities and more only at alpertjcc.org/filmfestival
FITNESS & AQUATICS
Our heated outdoor pool and spacious fitness studios are open 7 days a week! Visit our website to discover group fitness classes, lap swim, swim lessons, basketball, martial arts, and more. There's something for everyone!
BABIES, TODDLERS & PARENTS
Babies and toddlers are invited to bring an adult to J Baby and Yad b'Yad! Enjoy weekly walking groups, social hours, structured playtime, classroom exploration, Shabbat celebrations and more. Learn more at alpertjcc.org/ece
STAY CONNECTED WITH THE ALPERT JCC
@ALPERT_JCC
ALPERTJCC.ORG @ALPERTJCC COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result is required for all in-person programming.
JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG
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COMMUNITY JEWISH
LONG BEACH
L’Dor V’Dor
Susan Paletz | Director of Development and Special Projects
On a beautiful Sunday evening, the first of August, Members of the Alpert Jewish Community Center (AJCC) Chai Society joined with the Jewish Long Beach Legacy Society for an outdoor “Thank You” event in the Lipeles Courtyard on the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach campus. Chai Society is an enhanced giving society for the AJCC and the Legacy Society is comprised of those community members who intend to leave a gift in their Will/Trust (or any other planned giving method), through Jewish Long Beach. It is easy to join this group of legacy-minded community members, simply contact Susan Paletz at spaletz@alpertjcc.org for more information.
Synagogue Directory Beit HaLev I
P.O. Box 2279 Seal Beach, CA 90740 Rabbi Galit Levy-Slater 562.493.2680 duets@icloud.com www.galityomtov.com R Beth David
6100 Hefley St. Westminster, CA 92683 Rabbi Nancy Myers 714.892.6623 tbdavid@templebethdavid.org www.templebethdavid.org O Chabad of Los Alamitos & Cypress
12340 Seal Beach Blvd. Suite B-219 Seal Beach, CA 90740 Rabbi Shmuel Marcus 714.828.1851 smarcus@jewishcypress.com www.chabadlosal.com
Chabad of West Orange County/ O Congregation Adat Israel 5052 Warner Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Rabbi Aron David Berkowitz 714.846.2285 info@chabadhb.com www.chabadhb.com
O Congregation Lubavitch
Shirley Ross, Carol Masters and Ettie Councilman
Lisa Raufman Natelson and Michelle Sztraicher
Sanford and Linda Simmons
3981 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807 Rabbi Yitzchok Newman 562.596.1681 yitzyg@aol.com
I Congregation Shir Chadash
6440 Del Amo Blvd. Lakewood, CA 90713 Rabbi Karen Isenberg 562.429.0715 csclakewood@dslextreme.com www.csclakewood.org
Congregation Sholom of Leisure World, Seal Beach C
Jan and Norma Stein catch up with Joyce and Mike Greenspan, with John Blumberg in the background.
AJCC Interim Executive Director Deborah Goldfarb, AJCC President Dr. Barry Zamost, Jewish Long Beach President Edie Brodsky, and CEO Jewish Long Beach Zach Benjamin.
Mail to: PO Box 2901 Seal Beach, CA 90740 1421 Northwood Road Seal Beach, CA 90740 President Carol A. Stern Levine Phone: Direct 562.505.3622 Phone: Membership 562.430.7040 congsholomlwsb@gmail.com I P’nai Or
3955 N. Studebaker Road Long Beach, CA 90808 Email: info@pnaior.org Website: www.pnaior.org
Shul By The Shore O
3801 E. Willow Street Long Beach, California 90815 Rabbi Abba Perelmuter 562.621.9828 rabbi@shulbytheshore.org www.shulbytheshore.org R Temple Beth Ohr
15721 E. Rosecrans Ave. La Mirada, CA 90638 Rabbi Dr. Mark Goldfarb Phone: 714.521.6765 office@tbolm.org www.tbolm.org
C Temple Beth Shalom
3635 Elm Avenue Long Beach, CA 90807 Rabbi David Cantor 562.426.6413 office@tbslb.org www.tbslb.org R Temple Israel
269 Loma Ave. Long Beach, CA 90803 Rabbi Scott Fox 562.434.0996 info@tilb.org www.tilb.org
Temple Ner Tamid of Downey I 10629 Lakewood Boulevard Downey, CA 90241 Rabbi Daniel Mehlman 562.861.9276 C Conservative I Independent O Orthodox R Reform
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JEWISH LONG BEACH
COMMUNITY
What Did Five Months in Israel Teach Me? David Rowe | Baldwin Grant Recipient
After returning from a five-month Masa Israel Journey in August, I was eager to recount the seemingly endless weeks of cultural immersion and all the fun, anxiety, and glory that came with it. When people ask me, “How was Israel?” I leave them with the same overused words probably uttered by all Masa alumni since the first cohort returned home – “It was amazing! I miss it already!”
Dinner with my roommates (10 of us total!)
Don’t get me wrong; my April to August internship program in Tel Aviv was truly amazing. I did my internship at a public relations agency in Ramat Gan called ReBlonde, where I was on the content team with their full-time staff. I was living in Israel as an Israeli, not just a tourist, authentically experiencing the Jewish state. I made friends for life and gained a deeper understanding of Israel, the Jewish world, and my responsibilities as a Jew. Yet I struggle to put the experience into words, making it impossible to convey the moments that will stick with me forever. Moments like May 10, 9 p.m. IST, when my last final exam as an undergraduate student at CSULB was interrupted by sirens ringing out across Tel Aviv. Running into the bunker with my laptop in hand, I found it difficult to explain why I was unable to complete the exam to my professor.
“Hi Dr. Kreiser,” I wrote in an email as my roommates and I huddled amid loud explosions, shakily reassuring our faraway parents that the Iron Dome was keeping us safe. “I have just ended the exam early as the rocket attacks have become more intense and closer. I hope I can retake it soon. I apologize for the disruption.” Like many complex issues in Israel, the physical danger and mental toll that came from the rockets were remedied by the warmth of the Israeli people. I immediately had friends from north to south checking in on me even when they faced the same threats to their lives. Amid the war, a former Israeli emissary who’d lived with my extended family in Connecticut many years ago invited me to her home in the north, where her family provided a safe haven in a peaceful, welcoming moshav for several days. Away from the sirens, my stress finally decreased and I stuffed my
It was a first-hand demonstration of that beautiful phrase from the Talmud: Kol Yisrael arevim zeh b’zeh, all of Israel are responsible for each other. Israelis embody this phrase, never failing to remind me that Israel will always welcome me home. My Masa trip was packed with breathtaking geography, history, and culture, but the people were the highlight. There’s never a dull moment in the homeland, and if there ever were, an Israeli with chutzpah would be there to fill the space. I’ve always heard the sabra, or cactus, used to describe Israelis—tough on the outside, sweet on the inside. It took five months of living among them to truly understand the analogy. My time in Israel was incredible, but my time living among Israelis will stick with me forever.
Supporting the Israeli Connection Jewish Long Beach’s direct support to David for his Israeli experience was through a grant from the Bob Baldwin Memorial Fund. The fund promotes Jewish continuity by connecting our teens to Israel through organized peer trips, community trips and study opportunities. As a member of Jewish Federations of North America, Jewish Long Beach also supports Masa Israel Journey. MASA is Hebrew for “journey.” Through a large network of programs, MASA Israel sends young Jewish Americans to Israel for a semester, or a year, to study, work, volunteer or teach. Sponsored by the Israeli Government and the Jewish Agency for Israel (an overseas partner of Jewish Long Beach) its goal is to bring more and more young adults to Israel for immersion programs so they may have a lifelong relationship with the State of Israel and a firm commitment to Jewish life.
A few of my roommates and I at the Western Wall
face with some of the best cheesecakes I’ve ever had, at their neighborhood Shavuot festival. Countless Israelis, all dressed in white for the chag, greeted me with hugs, smiles, and an endless supply of Israeli flags.
JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG
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COMMUNITY HILLEL
Fall Semester is in Full Swing!
Melanie Edwards | Director of Jewish Student Life, Beach Hillel The Fall 2021 semester is off to a great start as Beach Hillel strives to go above and beyond in engagement and programming! Despite the ambiguity of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team at Beach Hillel has provided safe, outdoor programming for our students to be able to join together in-person throughout the semester. Our students have been eager to return to our program staples, including our weekly Pizza and Parsha, as well as Shabbat dinners. The High Holy Days arrived very quickly this year, and we are grateful that we were able to celebrate them together as a community. We hosted more than 50 students at our outdoor Rosh Hashanah learning circle and dinner. In addition, our students joined us for a variety of meaningful holiday programming including a Yom Kippur learning circle and an amazing calendar of Sukkot programming featuring Shakshukah in the Sukkah, a Sukkot Shabbat Under the Stars and more. With the High Holy Days behind us, Beach Hillel has been busy launching two exciting Jewish and Israel learning opportunities: the Jewish Learning Fellowship and the Israel Book Club. This book club, facilitated by Yarin Yosef Shachagi, the Beach Hillel Israel Fellow, is a unique opportunity for students to engage in productive discourse and dialogue regarding the IsraeliPalestinian Conflict through the lens of author Yossi Klein HaLevi’s “Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor.” Fifteen students have joined Executive Director ChayaLeah Sufrin for the Jewish Learning Fellowship, an experiential seminar designed for students to deepen their understanding of Judaism on their own terms. The Beach Hillel staff are thrilled to be back on campus providing Jewish life and programming for college students in Greater Long Beach.
Beach Hillel hosted more than 30 students for their Israel Shabbat on September 3.
Beach Hillel student Coby Shuman shakes the lulav during Pizza and Parsha in the Sukkah.
Beach Hillel students and alumni enjoy one of the first in-person Shabbat dinners together since the onset of the COVID pandemic.
Executive Director ChayaLeah Sufrin greets students at CSULB Week of Welcome Tabling.
JOIN US AT TEMPLE BETH SHALOM SERVICE SCHEDULE
THURSDAYS AT 8:00AM ON ZOOM
FRIDAYS AT 6:00PM AND SATURDAYS AT 10:00AM INͲPERSON AND STREAMING For more information about our services and programming and for the livestream and zoom links, please visit us at tbslb.org
SPECIAL SERVICE
HANUKKAH SHABBAT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 WITH RABBI DAVID CANTOR, CANTOR JUDY SOFER, AND RABBI CANTOR MARCIA TILCHIN
SAVE THE DATE
CANTORS CONCERT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 5PM CELEBRATING CANTOR JUDY SOFER
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NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2021
or call (562) 426Ͳ6413.
3635 Elm Avenue—Long Beach, CA 90807
HEBREW ACADEMY ORANGE COUNTY
COMMUNITY
Kindergarten Success Starts with You and Grows with Us Dr. Bryn Harari | Hebrew Academy Principal
Dr. Bryn Harari
A parent’s role is crucial to preparing children for school. Emotional intelligence and maturity, intellectual readiness, and physical development are all important factors to consider when assessing a child’s readiness for Kindergarten. A child who is ready for kindergarten will typically separate from parents without tears, appear happy and eager to be at school, play with other children (not just alongside them), and demonstrate curiosity as they talk about what they learn.
Four things you can do to prepare your child for success in kindergarten and beyond: 1. Expose your child to a range of books and nurture language development. Read aloud to your child and talk with them about setting, characters, and events in the story. Look for opportunities to build vocabulary. High quality online programming can support language development, but does not take the place of child-centered discussion and conversation with parents. This language development will enable them to express themselves, describe their needs, and understand others in kindergarten. These skills are crucial to their success and confidence in the new setting. Moreover, these language skills promote the foundations of reading and writing.
The Hebrew Academy has adopted the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum because it supports our mission in building confident and highly effective communicators. Writing is taught using developmentally appropriate, multisensory strategies that develop coordination, understanding, strength and endurance in the writing process. Kindergarten student Daniella works confidently and diligently on letter formation.
2. Cultivate your child’s natural curiosity and inherent desire to learn. Encourage them to ask questions and explore. Ask openended questions using words like who, what, when, where, why, and how. “Wonder” out loud modeling curiosity and ask your child what they think before sharing your own thoughts. Curiosity, inquiry and exploration is the foundation of all learning and leads to great developments in all areas of science. Supporting your child’s natural curiosity helps them develop into eager and active learners and empowers them to solve the future challenges of the world.
Maximizing every educational opportunity, our Judaic program incorporates important academic skills and subjects to create meaningful and engaging lessons. At Sukkot, students learn how the Etrog tree started from a tiny seed.
Choose a school that you trust, where teachers are available to guide and engage with you in the educational process. Your child’s success will depend on you and the teacher as partners in learning! 3. Partner with your child’s teachers to understand how best to support learning at home. Learning in a kindergarten classroom is different from any other learning environment your child has been in. Your teachers will help guide you in understanding and supporting readiness and growth. Choose a school that you trust, where teachers are available to guide and engage with you in the educational process. Your child’s success will depend on you and the teacher as partners in learning!
Hebrew Academy’s small class size creates opportunities for personalized instruction, meaningful feedback and reinforcing fundamental skills.
4. Visit a kindergarten classroom, in the school you are considering. This is likely to build your confidence in choosing a school that will suit you and your child. Inquire about the daily schedule, the learning expectations and goals that teachers have for students, and the resources that the school has to support a variety of learning styles, including those who are advanced, or may need any kind of special support. Make time to “observe” in the classroom. Stand in the back of the room, focus your attention on how the children are behaving, what they are doing, how they interact with each other, and what kinds of skills they are working on. Notice their level of independence and self-sufficiency. Can you picture your child sitting in one of those chairs?
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COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
There is Nothing Minor About Chanukah Rabbi Dr. Mark Goldfarb | Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada
According to Jewish tradition, Chanukah is considered a “minor” holiday in the Jewish calendar. Chanukah is relegated to this lower holiday position because it did not originate in the Tanakh (Jewish Bible) like the holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret, Pesach, Shavuot, and the holiest of all, Shabbat. Be that as it may, my friends, there is nothing minor about the holiday of Chanukah. Let us cast some light on our festival of lights. After years of torment, persecution and forced conversion to Helenism under the Assyiran Emperor Antiochus Epiphanes, Judaism in the 2nd Century BCE was like a flickering flame - about to go out. The Temple in Jerusalem became an annex of Antiochus’ throne, with the Kohein Gadol (High Priest) appointed by the Assyrian governor. The Jews of this time tolerated numerous abhorrences to themselves, their children, their Temple, all for the sake of living like their neighbors. Most of those faithful to Judaism, fled Jerusalem and kept Judaism alive in the countryside. In one village northwest of Jerusalem, Modi’in, lived Mattathias and his sons, descendants of priests. Rather than submit to the forced conversions of Antiochus’ troops, this family attacked the soldiers and thus began a three-year revolt against Antiochus. The Rabbis of the Talmud taught when the Maccabees, as the Hasmoneans had become known, rededicated the Temple, they found one small crucible of oil, enough to burn for one day, which lasted eight days - a miracle. However, when one reads the Books of Maccabees, one is in for a big surprise. Brace yourselves for this — nowhere in
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the Book of Maccabees is there any mention of the miracle of oil. So, why the eight-day celebration? According to the Book of Maccabees, during the time the Temple lay desecrated and occupied by Antiochus and his troops, Jews were unable to observe Sukkot. Upon successfully defeating Antiochus’ troops and rededicating the Temple to Jewish worship, the Maccabees instituted a winter thanksgiving holiday in order to observe Sukkot and as gratitude to the God for helping them in their victory.
©Zeferli-iStock-Magical Menorah
In the days of the Talmud, there were four different ways of observing Chanukah. For some, it was a simple as lighting only one light on each night of Chanukah. Others lit one light for every adult member of the household on each night of Chanukah. Still others lit eight lights on the first night, seven lights on the second night, six lights on the third, and so on. Finally, others lit one light on the first night, two on the second, three on the third,
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2021
and so on (sounds familiar). The really neat thing about all this variety in observances is that there were so many different ways of observing Chanukah – and there was no fighting! The one light a night people didn’t throw stones at those who lit eight on the first night. Those that increased the candles with each night of Chanukah didn’t battle with those who lit eight and decreased by one light for each night. One gets the idea that there was great freedom and tolerance towards the various ways in which Chanukah was observed. How fitting, given that Chanukah is a holiday that celebrates religious freedom – our ancestors right to worship the Holy One according to Jewish custom and ritual! Why the shift from a winter Sukkot to a miracle about oil? Troubled by the military implications of the story of the Maccabees, and wanting to “retool” Judaism to a more peaceful religion, applying the principles and processes of commentary and midrash, the Rabbis explain that the reason for the eight day celebration is because of the miracle of the small crucible of oil lasting for 8 days. Chanukah is a holiday with major implications. Its message of freedom to worship and tolerance is all the more important today. May the lights of our Chanukiyot remind us of the miracles and sacrifices of our ancestors in order that Judaism survive. May we bring the light of Chanukah to our families and our communities, dispelling the darkness of intolerance and stubbornness that once again threatens to devour us and those we love.
REFLECTIONS
COMMUNITY
Keeping the Community Safe Rabbi Peter Levi
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Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Orange County/Long Beach Regional Office
With the recent sentencing of the Poway synagogue shooter, I was reminded of the importance of our mission to fight hate and bigotry, along with the crucial need for proactive efforts to protect our community, from security to education. This is where ADL plays a role in our Jewish community from convening the Jewish Community Security Group to working in K-12 schools with bigotry and prevention programs. ADL’s No Place for Hate® initiative provides K-12 schools with a proactive and student-centered framework to fight hate while building inclusive and safe communities in which respect and equity are the main goals. No Place for Hate inspires students and educators to increase their appreciation for differences, build communities of respect, and create sustainable, long-term positive school environments. No one is born a bigot and our education programs are the best way to create a world without hate. Even so, we cannot ignore the safety and security of our institutions. Almost since ADL’s inception, we have worked closely with law enforcement to prevent hate crimes and classify incidents as hate crimes when relevant. Each quarter, ADL Orange County/Long Beach convenes the Jewish community to hear from security experts and various branches of local and national law enforcement to assess current threats and discuss security needs. Naturally, one of these meetings focused on lessons learned from Poway, featuring the border control agent who was at the Chabad during the shooting and pursued the assailant. During the past year, we have met with the FBI to discuss cyber security and the need for a cultural shift in organizations to focus on an entire community’s role in proactive protections. We’ve also liaised with the Secure Community Network regarding our respective efforts to monitor extremism and supremacy in our county and leverage each of our organization’s experience and expertise in keeping the Jewish community safe and secure.
The community was shaken after a 2017 bomb threat, where hundreds of people were evacuated from the Alpert Jewish Community Center (AJCC), from one of several threats reported across the country on the same day. In response, ADL gathered together with Long Beach Police and AJCC leaders to the share the threat assessment and what we were all doing to keep everyone safe. It’s easy to forget the importance of proactive measures when the world gets quiet – and it isn’t until hate rears its ugly head that we are reminded of just how critical policy, data and reporting are. We know that if we want to make change, we need strong policy. The foundation of strong policy is robust data on hate and bigotry. To harness this data, we need adequate reporting, which can only be obtained by working closely with law enforcement, schools, the community, synagogues, other faith-based organizations, and you. We all have a role in keeping our communities safe and creating a world without hate: • Never be indifferent to hate and always speak up when you witness bigotry • Bring ADL to your community for a talk and/or workshop on how to respond to antisemitism • Make your school is a No Place For Hate® school (more info: orangecounty. adl.org/education) • Report incidents of antisemitism, bigotry, and bullying at adl.org/reportincident Because of thousands of people like you who have reported incidents, we have been able to help communities across the country by reporting on trends, educating lawmakers and law enforcement and advocating for stronger protections from incidents and crimes.
Learn the Skills • Feel Empowered • Become a Leader with FREE community leadership training
APPLY NOW for the 2022 Alpert New Leaders Forum Be a part of the Jewish future. Contact Sharon Kenigsberg at 562.426.7601 ext. 1008 or sharonk@jewishlongbeach.org
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COMMUNITY NEWS
EVENTS
From Religious Studies to Holiday Boutiques, Our Community is Coming Back to Life! Beit HaLev Continues to Livestream Shabbat services are livestreamed on Facebook and Zoom every Friday at 6:00 pm and Saturday at 10:30 am. We are beginning live, in-person services within Leisure World, on Friday, November 5 at 6:00 pm in Clubhouse 3, Room 4. There will be no live, inperson Shabbat service in December; but there will be livestream services on Facebook.com/galityomtov and Zoom. For the Zoom link or the gate entry to Leisure World, email duets@icloud.com or call Rabbi Galit in advance at 562.715.0888. Beth David Select Sundays 10:00 am – 11:30 am Immersion Into Judaism – Taught by Rabbi Nancy Myers, these classes involve intensive study and exploration of Jewish concepts and practice. The classes are in person for vaccinated individuals only. Cost for the series: $36 members/$90 non-members or for individual class drop in: $5 members/$10 non-members. RSVP required: rabbimyers@ templebethavid.org. Sunday, November 7. Jewish Beliefs on God, Chosen People, Commandments and Tikkun Olam. Sunday, December 5 Our People: Who is a Jew, Tribes of Israel and Conversion to Judaism. Congregation Shir Chadash Shir Chadash will host a Chanukah dinner celebration to welcome Rabbi Karen Isenberg. Call us at 562.429.0715 or visit our website for more information http://www.csclakewood.org. Temple Israel Sisterhood of Long Beach Thursday, November 11, 2021 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Admission is free at our Holiday Handmade Craft Fair! Enjoy the handmade works of our many vendors. This is a great opportunity to shop for unique, one-ofa-kind items for the holidays: Handmade stationery, jewelry, custom boxes, Hanukkah and Christmas decorations, plants, glassware and art, plus textile arts and crafts. Temple Israel is located at 269 Loma Ave, Long Beach. COVID protocols will be in place in accordance with the CDC. CSULB Jewish Studies Program The CSULB Jewish Studies Program will be hosting our Speaker Series once again in person at the Alpert JCC (3801 E. Willow St., Long Beach, CA 90815). Our talks will be held in the Lipeles Auditorium where you are required to wear a mask. All lectures will be from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. On Monday, November 29, Dr. Steven J. Ross, the director of the Casden Institute for the Study of the Jewish Role in American Life at USC will speak on, “Hitler in Los Angeles: How Jews Foiled Nazi Plots Against Hollywood and America.” Los Angeles was a prime target of the Nazis who plotted to seize local military resources and kill the city’s Jews in the event of war with the United States. Their plans were foiled by a local lawyer, Leon Lewis, who ran his own network of spies who infiltrated every Nazi 14 | CHRONICLE
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and fascist group in Los Angeles. Uncovering their plans, Lewis and his spies passed on the information that they gathered, foiling the Nazis plans. On Wednesday, December 8, Dr. Raphael Sonenshein, the executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at CSULA will present, “On to 2022: ANOTHER Epic Year in Politics.” One of our most beloved speakers, Professor Sonenshein has Dr. Raphael Sonenshein the rare ability to combine passionate political analysis with a great deal of humor. His talk will review the coming mid-term elections, as well as the gubernatorial race in California. With all the House and one third of the Senate up for grabs, he will look at the forces at play in the various races. Sharon-Carmel Hadassah Sunday, November 14, 2021, 2:00 pm “The Art of the Mentor” – The Super Power that turns Good into Great with author Susan Soffer Cohn. Susan takes us through her remarkable transformation from the boardroom to the gallery. You’ll walk with her as she steps out of her comfort zone, and with the help of her art mentors, peers and loving husband, she discovers the beauty and magic of art. Susan’s inspiring story is proof of what is possible when you are willing to take a leap of faith. Alpert JCC, 3801 E. Willow Street, Long Beach. COVID-19 proof of vaccination and signing a Hadassah waiver will be necessary upon arrival. Event: $18 Event with Book: $29 Make check payable to Hadassah and mail to: Eileen Braeman, 3017 Greenbrier Road, Long Beach, CA 90808. For further info 562.420.9980. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Jewish Family & Children’s Service
JFCS is at the halfway point in its inaugural “Tuesday Talks” speaker series. On November 16 at 7:00 pm is a hyperlocal look at hunger in our area, “Food Insecurity In Our Backyard.” Mark Lowry, director of the Orange County Food Bank, will join other regional experts and advocates will speak on the severity of hunger in our communities. Five individuals who have personally initiated programs to help the food insecure in our area - Mary Sramek, Joyce and Hank Feldman, Bill Bracken, and Rachel Sumekh - will share their experiences and the inspirations behind their unique projects. It will inspire all of us to do more! In January, Long Beach’s own Michael Stuhlbarg will join us to speak on how stories reflect our lives and times. Michael is an accomplished, versatile actor who has been nominated for Golden Glove, Tony, Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild awards. The date and title of his talk will be determined once his current filming project is complete. For more information, please visit jfcslongbeach. org/tuesday-talks. Your support of Tuesday Talks helps those in our area who are struggling with the impacts of COVID-19.
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2021
The work of JFCS does not stop for the holidays. The JFCS board and staff are planning to provide Thanksgiving meals and holiday presents for JFCS clients. Led by Joanne Ratner and the Chesed Committee, this effort will brighten the holidays for many of our clients whose lives have been impacted by COVID-19. To volunteer or donate, please send an email to jfcs@jfcslongbeach.org with your interest and it will be forwarded for follow-up.
Orange County Jewish Genealogical Society
Sunday, November 21 at 10:00 am Aaron Ginsburg: Curing the “I can’t find my shtetl” syndrome. Sometimes it’s not easy to find a shtetl. This presentation will discuss Shtetl Finder and demonstrate alternate approaches and how that may lead to more information. Aaron Ginsburg’s research into his family led to the creation of a nonprofit organization, The Friends of Jewish Dokshitsy, to help local officials in Belarus restore a Jewish cemetery. Sunday, December 19 at 10:00 am Joel Weintraub: Here comes the 1950 US census! What to expect. The U.S. 1950 census will become public on April 1, 2022. Joel will prepare us for its debut by covering what a census is, who uses it and will conclude with a discussion on his and Steve Morse’s 1950 census locational tools, online right now at the stevemorse. org website. Joel Weintraub is an emeritus Biology Professor at California State University, Fullerton. Registration is required at www.ocjgs.org. Get the link to register in advance for these virtual meetings by visiting: https://www.ocjgs.org.
National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Greater Long Beach & West Orange County
Sunday, November 7 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm Plan to join NCJW and Temple Beth David Sisterhood in person for a fun afternoon playing Bingo! This co-sponsored fundraiser is open to the community and will be held safely at Temple Beth David, 6100 Hefley St. in Westminster. Tickets are $25, good for seven games, and $12 for those 12 and under. Lots of goodies will be offered, including door prizes, snacks, and cash prizes. You don’t want to miss this special event! RSVP on the NCJW website by November 1. Sunday, November 14, time to be determined Support Domestic Violence Programs at Project WomanGood, a non-profit organization founded in 2020. Project WomanGood helps those living in a domestic violence situation get out and stay out. Come to the Alpert Jewish Community Center with vintage jewelry, hats, and clothing to donate to the Project WomanGood Center. For more information call 657.235.2511, email info@ ncjwlongbeach.org, or go to www.ncjwlongbeach.org for updated information.
IN MEMORIAM
JEWISH LONG BEACH
FROM JEWISH LONG BEACH BOARD, LEADERSHIP & STAFF IN MEMORY OF
Lisa Rubin
to James Eats
Wife
IN MEMORY OF
Willam F. Coleman
to Sharon Coleman
Husband
IN MEMORY OF
Ira Bushinsky
to Colleen Bushinsky
Husband
JEWISH LONG BEACH
IN MEMORY OF
Adele Loretta Meehan
to Jonathan & Lynne Kass from Arlene & Rick Freeman
LIGHTING THE WAY FORWARD IN MEMORY OF
David Blumberg
to John & Marcie Blumberg
Brother & Brother-in-law
IN MEMORY OF
Les Chad & Alan Chad Husband & Son
to Marilyn Chad & Family
Aaron & Rita Shankman from Susan Leven
For Jewish Long Beach tributes call: 562.426.7601 ext. 1314
JFCS
IN MEMORY OF
Mother & Mother-in-law
MARCIE BALAN BLAKEY FUND IN HONOR OF
Renee Simon
to Renee Simon from Bruce Balan
With appreciation
Adele Loretta Meehan
to Jonathan & Lynne Kass
GENERAL FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Mother & Mother-in-law
IN MEMORY OF
Ralph Mindess
to Jane Mindess
Husband
IN MEMORY OF
Gloria Austin
to Lynette Austin
Mother
IN MEMORY OF
Doug Austin Brother
to Lynette Austin
MAZEL TOV
IN HONOR OF
Ted Van Boemel
from Ilana Liauw
Birthday to Ted Van Boemel
IN HONOR OF
Marvin Zamost
from Albert Ezra
Birthday to Marvin Zamost
IN HONOR OF
Marvin Zamost
from Andrea & Don Kaiser
Birthday to Marvin Zamost
Bob & Jeannie Alban
to Robert (Robbie) Craig Alban Seislove
IN HONOR OF
On the birth of their grandson
MAZEL TOV
Sy & Reva Alban
On the birth of their great nephew
to Robert (Robbie) Craig Alban Seislove
MAZEL TOV
Jen & Tyler Seislove
to Robert (Robbie) Craig Alban Seislove
On the birth of their son
Kathryn Miles
Best Wishes to Kathryn Miles
from Abha Pandya
IN MEMORY OF
Laurie Watson
from Suzanne Slavitter
Sister to Steve Watson
IN HONOR OF
IN MEMORY OF
Ashley and Brett Hyman
Husband & Son
from Marvin Zamost
Les Chad & Alan Chad
to Marilyn Chad & Family from Linda & Sanford Simmons
IN MEMORY OF
Les Chad & Alan Chad
to Marilyn Chad & Family from Daryl & Sandy Phillips
Husband & Son
Wedding to Ashley & Brett Hyman
IN HONOR OF
Kurt Charipper
from Elaine Charipper
With Appreciation to Kurt Charipper
JFCS IN MEMORY OF
Gail Komarow Mother of Jill Cohen to Jill and Moti Cohen from Binnie and Jack Berro
IN HONOR OF
Gael and Glenn Libby Anniversary to Gael and Glenn Libby from Binnie and Jack Berro
IN MEMORY OF
David Blumberg Brother of John Blumberg to John & Marcie Blumberg from Binnie and Jack Berro
For AJCC tributes call: 562.400.7545
AJCC
SENIOR MEAL PROGRAM IN MEMORY OF
David Ruimy from Jessie Butler
IN HONOR OF
the Bar Mitzvah of Jackson Marschall from Shlomit, Bryon, Danielle & Noah Jackson
IN HONOR OF
the Bar Mitzvah of Aiden Rodriquez from Shlomit, Bryon, Danielle & Noah Jackson
IN HONOR OF
the Bar Mitzvah of Rory Newman from Shlomit, Bryon, Danielle & Noah Jackson
IN HONOR OF
the Bar Mitzvah of Sam Michaels from Shlomit, Bryon, Danielle & Noah Jackson
IN MEMORY OF
Bob Rips beloved husband of Sandy Rips to Sandy Rips from Jessie Butler
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
your father Robert “Bob” Rips to Jeffrey & Lauren Rips Famiy from Matt Davis & Mark Dressner
IN HONOR OF
Jessie Butler’s granddaughter Mayan Ruimy wedding to Jessie Butler from Adele & Ron Banner
TRIBUTES
AJCC
IN MEMORY OF
Marion Solovei beloved mother of Robyn Solovei to Robyn Solovei from Frances Cahill
COMMUNITY
MAY THEIR MEMORY BE A BLESSING
IN MEMORY OF
Susan Matalon mother of Claire Matalon Hoxie to Claire Matalon Hoxie from The Friedman Family
MICHAEL SEGAL MAIMONDES FUND IN HONOR OF
Jessie Butler’s Birthday from Bea Rosenberg, Phyllis & Jesse Metzger
ALPERT JCC GENERAL DEVELOPMENT FUND IN MEMORY OF
Alan Love beloved husband and father to Willow Love & Family from Sheldon Tashman
IN MEMORY OF
Alan Love beloved husband and father to Willow Love & Family from The Chun Family
IN MEMORY OF
Alan Love beloved husband and father to Willow Love & Family from Kimberly Dwinell
IN MEMORY OF
Alan Love beloved husband and father to Willow Love & Family from Argyro Hadey
IN MEMORY OF
Paul Hillinger from Laurie & Brian Garabedian
IN MEMORY OF
Adele Meehan Mother of Jonathan Kass to Jonathan & Lynne Kass and family from Karen & Tim Strelitz
Rabbi Arthur Abrams Gloria Austin Yakob Basner Ira Bushinsky Alan Chad Leslie Chad William F. Coleman Marty Karasick Frances Leviton Rochelle Matalon Adele Loretta Meehan Ralph Mindess Selma Margolis Plotkin Hilario Ramos Angela Rowe Lisa Rubin Irwin Wolzinger We extend our condolences to the families and friends of those who have recently lost a loved one. If you know of someone who has recently passed and would like them recognized in our publication, please send your request to: chronicle@ jewishlongbeach.org
Zichrono Livrakha
IN MEMORY OF
Adele Meehan Mother of Jonathan Kass from AJCC Board & Staff
For AJCC tributes call: 562.400.7545
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The Jewish Community Chronicle
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus 3801 E. Willow Street, Long Beach, CA 90815
PAID Permit No. 129 Long Beach, CA
Postperson please deliver by 11/1/21
Change Service Requested
T E M P L E I S R A E L LO N G B E AC H
“We strive for Temple Israel to be like Abraham’s tent, open on all sides, welcoming to all. In keeping with that philosophy, everyone who wishes to be a supporting member of our community is welcome, regardless of the amount they are able to contribute.” Temple Israel Board of Directors
COME LEARN WITH US! Temple Israel’s extensive adult education program - our Joys of Jewish Learning is a proud past recipient of The Union for Reform Judaism’s Congregations of Learning Award. The entire community is invited to join us for any and all classes, most of them at NO COST!
This year’s theme is
Download our full catalog and be part of our learning community!
HOMECOMING
THIS YEAR’S CLASSES INCLUDE:
y Hebrew Language y Guest Scholars
a year of learning together 2021/2022
y Cooking Classes y Field Trips
y Film Screenings & Discussion y Music & Theater
AN D MU C H MORE!
TASTE OF JUDAISM
TALMUD STUDY
SINATRA’S TAILOR
with Rabbi Fox Wednesdays at 7:00 pm November 3, 10, 17
Making Ourselves at Home with Rabbi Fox Wenesdays at 7:00 pm December 8, 15, 22
A Converstaion with Author Mark Thompson Thursday, December 16 at 7:00 pm
at Temple Israel and Zoom
Join us for a memorable evening with Mark Thompson, active member of the congregation and learn more about how he came to write this wonderful book and how he built a connection with Umberto Autore - the man who would ultimately become... Frank Sinatra’s Tailor.
at Temple Israel and Zoom This class is especially designed for unaffiliated Jews, intermarried couples, those seeking an initial orientation into an adult approach to the study of Judaism, and all those searching for an entry into Jewish life.
Join Rabbi Fox as we look the concept of discovering, returning, and creating home through the lens of the rabbis in the Talmud. We will learn and study Jewish stories and tell our own.
at Temple Israel and Live Streamed
WE ARE A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE REFORM CONGREGATION INSPIRING JEWISH LIFE IN LONG BEACH FOR OVER 97 YEARS!
2 6 9 LO M A AV E N U E • LO N G B E AC H , C A 90 80 3 • 56 2. 43 4. 0 9 9 6 • W W W. T I L B. O R G 16 | CHRONICLE
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NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2021