Jewish Community Chronicle January/February 2022

THE VOICE OF JEWISH LONG BEACH PUBLISHED SINCE 1947

JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2022 | TEVET – SHEVAT – ADAR 5782

jewishlongbeach.org

VOL. 75 NO. 2

INSIDE TABLE

OF CONTENTS

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8 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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Miracles, Chances, and Community

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AJCC – Your Center for Life

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Miss Teen Long Beach

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The Essence of Tikkun Olan

Rosecarrie Brooks’ story begins in Holland, includes a long Atlantic crossing into New York Harbor and continues with her long-lasting commitment to our Jewish Community.

Membership specials and lots of activities to keep you healthy and engaged in your community.

linkedin.com/company/ jewish-long-beach

jewishlongbeach.org

jewishlongbeach.org

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Member

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

Edie Brodsky/Dr. Barry Zamost Zachary Benjamin

Meet Itay, Itamar, and Inbar, three Israelis and their love affair with California water.

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Families are Transferring to Jewish Day Schools

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In the Beginning, All There Was, Was God

Sharon Kenigsberg Director of Community Development

Yolanda Placencio Development Administrator

Explore the expanded programming at Hebrew Academy.

Carol A. Beckerman

Rabbi Howard Laibson explores one understanding of the Divine, and invites you to share yours.

13 The Ultimate Guide to Lamplighting

@jewishlongbeach

Chief Executive Officer

Jewish Family and Children’s Service is greeting 2022 with new leadership.

@jewishlongbeach

Co-Presidents

Meet Ruby Mayo, an alumna of childhood activities at the AJCC, makes a community proud.

10 They Came for Water Polo, They Found a Jewish Community

/jewishlongbeach

Development/Editorial Coordinator

Editorial and advertising queries, please call 562.426.7601 x1006 or write chronicle@jewishlongbeach.org.

Rabbi Shmuel Marcus urges everyone to become a spiritual lamplighter.

14 Community News 15 Tributes/In Memoriam

Ad & Copy deadline for Mar/Apr 2022 issue: February 21, 2022 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 - ©Jim Woods 2021 Page 2/12 – Big Bang/©2021 Getty Images Page 13 – Lamplighting/©Shutterstock

SHABBAT CANDLELIGHTING Jan 7 4:40 pm Jan 14 4:46 pm

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Chronicle ©2022 Jewish Long Beach All Rights Reserved.

CONVERSATIONS

COMMUNITY

The Ever Present Quest to Build Community Zachary Benjamin

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Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Long Beach

College, for me, was an era of social and intellectual growth, occasional awkwardness, trial, and frequent error. I entered Northwestern University as a “serial doer,” seeking my academic and extracurricular niches in an eclectic array of Zachary Benjamin pursuits, from serving as a sports writer for the Daily Northwestern and joining the ski team, to pledging the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and taking up a minor in Chinese language.

Ultimately, I found my primary extracurricular bliss as a member of the Associated Student Government (ASG), where I eventually ascended to the role of parliamentarian my senior year.

Throughout my time as a member of that deliberative body, the ASG Senate and Executive Board perpetually agonized over how we as a student body might achieve the ethereal concept of “community” and provide a meaningful communal experience for the university’s intellectually and culturally diverse student body. Whether approving funding proposals for student organizations or debating the merits of adding a nominal student activities fee to tuition, each of the hundreds of resolutions, requests, and deliberations in which I participated ultimately focused on how we might create a more dynamic, engaged, committed student community.

Nearly 20 years later, almost two decades into a public-sector career and seven years into my journey as a Jewish communal executive, the concept of community still sits at the heart of my work and that of our Jewish agencies, congregations,

and organizations. “Building community” remains the Melvillian white whale for our professional and volunteer sector—an ideal that we chase, the methods for achieving we consistently improve, and yet the quest for which remains perpetually, if ever more slightly, elusive.

The population Jewish agencies serve is not necessarily a diverse community of students, but rather an even more complex and challenging constituency of Jewish people and institutions.

However, the goals of Jewish communal work are, in many respects, identical to those of the student government of my past life: to identify those threads of common ground that bind us as one people with unique and varied individual identities, and to create opportunities for the broadest possible cross section of that population to find connection and comradery.

Just as ASG reviewed and approved university funding for community-building activities, so Jewish Long Beach’s Planning and Grants Committee considers and approves funding proposals from a wide variety of Jewish communal organizations with the goal of building connections between us as humans and as Jews. Just as ASG ultimately approved a student activities fee that availed students of access to all university sporting events, so the Alpert JCC occasionally must consider levying or increasing fees when it enhances opportunities to build community among us.

As Jews, we refer to ourselves rightly as a nation.

Indeed, we are a socio-cultural group that, despite deeply divergent religious practices, political perspectives, and personal backgrounds, nonetheless share inherited traits, traumas, and rituals that bind us as a people. The historian Benedict Anderson, in his

seminal book “Imagined Communities”, observes that, “The nation is always conceived as a deep, horizontal comradeship. Ultimately, it is this fraternity that makes it possible…for so many millions of people [to sacrifice and care about] such…imaginings.”

The reality is that the pursuit of community is a logarithmic scale. We approach our goals as we perfect the equation for achieving them, but by its very nature, the destination is unreachable. Human nature and habits evolve. Environmental factors cause frequent shifts in how, and with whom, we seek community.

Last month, Jewish Long Beach and the Alpert JCC hosted our first-ever “9th Night” holiday celebration, a gathering at the Long Beach Beer Lab for the “young and young at heart” that attracted hundreds of new faces and old friends who, in every regard, represented the layers of diversity that characterizes the Jewish people and the broad Long Beach-area community. Tzit tzit-adorned Chabad rabbis mingled with tattooed college students, octogenarians with 20-somethings, political conservatives with dedicated progressives. It occurred to me that I was witnessing perhaps the purest illustration of community that I had yet observed in a Jewish setting or any other.

Observant Jews believe that perfection is only achievable by G-d, and indeed, perfection does appear out of human reach. However, if we as institutions and individuals continue to seek the common ground that we as Jews, as members of the Long Beach and West Orange County communities, and as human beings share, we will achieve increasingly frequent moments of connection, community, and shared joy.

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JEWISH LONG BEACH

SPOTLIGHT

Miracles, Chances, and Community

Rosecarrie Brooks | Jewish Long Beach Board Member and past AJCC president

When I was asked to tell my “Jewish Long Beach Story,” I starting reflecting upon my decades of volunteerism and community service. My thoughts then turned immediately to my parents. I did not always realize the extent to which they were true role models for how I have lived my life. Their journey, and ultimately mine, depended on miracles, chances, and community.

My parents, Henriette (Hetty) and Herman Goslins, were both from Groningen in the north of Holland. My family had roots in Netherlands dating back to the 18th century. Our family was Jewish but were assimilated into the Dutch culture and successful in business. As it did with other Jewish communities in Europe, that all changed when the Nazis invaded Holland.

In late 1941, my mother’s younger brother Bert was arrested, imprisoned and sent to Buchenwald. He died there in March 1942. Around the same time, my father was sent to a labor camp. During his time in the camp my father was able to find a sympathetic doctor, who helped get him temporarily released from camp for an The Goslins family, left to right, standing: Bertie Levkowitz; unnecessary operation. After Hetty Goslins; and Rosecarrie Goslins Brooks. In the front getting the operation he did are Herman and Miriam H Goslins. not return to the camp and rejoined his family. Fortunately, shortly after this reunion they were able to find a Righteous Gentile widower who was willing to hide them in a small attic. However, they could not take their 4-month-old infant daughter, my older sister Bertie, with them into hiding for fear her crying would give them away. Luckily, they heard of a couple in the Dutch resistance movement who worked with unwed mothers and were willing to take Bertie in.

The world knows about Dutch Jews hiding in attics from the famous diary of Anne Frank. Five members of the Goslins family also hid in a very small attic for two and a half years. Unlike the Frank family, those five of our immediate family survived. However, at least Enjoying the 2017 Visions event are (seated) Alan and Rosecarrie 77 people from their closeBrooks with family and friends standing, left to right: Arielle knit extended family did not Sitrick, Miriam Goslins, Helene Goodman, and Laura King. survive and that has always made family that much more important to all of us. Miraculously, my parents were reunited with my sister, who was three years old at the time.

I was born in Assen, Netherlands, in July of 1946. We stayed in the Netherlands after the war creating new lives and a new successful business. But my parents became increasingly worried about reliving an invasion with the advent of the Korean War and the Iron Curtain creeping west. We almost immigrated to Canada but at the last hour our U.S. Visas were approved.

What I remember most about our Atlantic crossing is going on deck while the ship’s passengers eagerly viewed the Statue of Liberty as we entered New York harbor. We were fortunate to be sponsored by some distant relatives from Downey, California. I vividly recall our first airplane flight in 1953, crossing the United States to come to California.

A year later, we moved to Bellflower. At that time, Bellflower and the surrounding communities were mostly populated by immigrant-owned dairy farms. Being an immigrant at 7 years old (not speaking a word of English) and the daughter of Holocaust survivors has always informed who I am. My parents worked very hard establishing themselves in the retail clothing business and most of the household chores fell to my sisters and me. In those days, our parents spoke about their hiding experience, but very little about the Holocaust and certainly never about the emotions or the personal pain that they experienced during the war. It was 4 | CHRONICLE

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not until my grandmother passed away at the age of 90 in 1983, that I first heard my father express some of the emotions that went along with being a survivor.

Fortunately, my parents’ story is now preserved on tape thanks to the Shoah Foundation.

In my parents early years here, they became a part of a circle of friends that were active in building our community. Gene Lentzner was a mentor. They played cards and socialized with the Neuburgers, Zahlers and Raphael’s among others. Even when my parents moved to Newport Beach, they stayed active in this community. It was Gene Lentzner who gave the tribute speech when the Long Beach Orange County Anti-Defamation League honored Herman and Hetty in 2007. My relationship with the Jewish community was partly formed out of these friendships.

When my family moved from Bellflower to Downey, I grew up attending Temple Ner Tamid. In fact, I was a member of its first confirmation class. My sister was a founding member and president of B’nai Brith Girls (BBG) in Downey. Ultimately, all three of us in turn were elected to the chapter’s presidency and held many other BBG leadership roles.

I first became aware of the Alpert Jewish Community Center (AJCC) when my daughter Lisa was a baby and my husband Alan and I were living in Belmont Shore.

I soon became a part of the Parent Teacher Association at the AJCC pre-school and

Celebrating Rosecarrie’s birthday, left to right: Ryan Damron, Lisa Brooks, Alexis Brooks holding Dylan Fitzpatrick, Rosecarrie Brooks, Alan Brooks, Brendan Fitzpatrick holding Brooks Fitzpatrick with Callan Fitzpatrick standing in front.

was responsible for starting the “Mommy and Me” program. My daughter, Lisa, was in the first Kindergarten class in 1979. I remained active in the Campership Committee, after-school programs, the AJCC board and in the mid-1980s was chair of the Youth, Family and Camp Committee. That group started a Children’s Cultural Arts Series, neighborhood Judaic programs, “I Love Shabbat” and much more. After years and many board positions, I was elected president of the AJCC from 1997-1999, during its transition from the old building to the current campus.

As busy as my parents were in the family business, both my parents always found time to participate in local civic and philanthropic organizations and I know that involvement influenced my path in philanthropic endeavors.

As the years progressed, I went on to serve on the boards of the Jewish Community Foundation (now Jewish Long Beach), California Conference of Equality and Justice (where I also served a term as board chair) and the Anti-Defamation League. I also recently completed my term on the Jewish Long Beach Board as chair of the Investment Committee.

It is so important to our family that there be a strong Jewish community here in the Greater Long Beach area. My own children were fortunate to grow up participating in many programs at Temple Israel, the AJCC and the Bureau of Jewish Education.

Lisa had her Bat Mitzvah in Israel in 1987 and Alexis went on our first community Teen Israel trips. Alexis and her husband Brendan were part of Honeymoon Israel – a program for interfaith couples that is made possible nationally by donations through local federations. Alan and I have opened an Endowment Fund at Jewish Long Beach. We feel it is important to perpetuate Jewish life here. This community has helped me become who I am. Over the years I have grown in my understanding of its importance to a meaningful Jewish community and I want that opportunity for others going forward.

I am proud to celebrate this community becoming one with the integration of Jewish Long Beach and the Alpert JCC and look forward to us continuing to learn, grow, and embrace the larger community as well.

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ALPERT JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER YOUR

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JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2022

CENTER FOR LIFE

YOUR CENTER FOR LIFE

ALPERT JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

ForLife

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C AZAK FITNESS CHALLENGE

STRONGER TOGETHER | FEBRUARY 1 - 28, 2022

Design your own challenge by walking, running, biking or swimming your way to strength! This year, the Chazak! Fitness Challenge will include virtual and in-person opportunities to collect your miles. All finishers will be entered into a raffle to win three FREE 30-minute personal training sessions! Register today: alpertjcc.org/challenge

BECOME A BLUEFIN!

TU B'SHEVAT IS JAN 17!

Prep swim team is enrolling ages 6 - 14 year round!

Visit alpertjcc.org/swim-team to learn more and register Sponsored by the Zamost Family in honor of Isadore Zamost

Celebrate the New Year of the Trees (and honor MLK Day!) with J Family! Enjoy an interactive story-walk, crafts, and snacks. FREE! Learn more at alpertjcc.org/tubshevat

THE ZENA & PAULINE GATOV GALLERY Is proud to present Sacred Spaces by Seth Linden for the month of January. Join us for an Artist Reception on Jan 23 from 1 - 3 PM. Learn more at alpertjcc.org/seth-linden

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.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Miss Teen Long Beach is Healing the World Dr. Daniel Shere | Volunteer

As a child, Ruby Mayo was a participant in the Early Childhood Education Center and Camp Komaroff at the Alpert Jewish Community Center. Today, Ruby is the newly crowned Miss Teen Long Beach 2022.

Miss Long Beach is a pageant that was created by the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, and since 2008, has been run

by Justin Rudd’s 501(c)3 Community Action Team. The pageant awards several titles, ranging from Little Miss to Mrs. The competition emphasizes contestants’ contributions to the local community. Participants are evaluated on personal interviews, evening attire, upscale-casual wear, and a final question from the judges. Believing it is ‘better to say oops than what if,’ Ruby made the decision to participate. Though initially intimidating, she ultimately found, “It wasn’t too scary,” and had a very positive experience.

Mazel Tov to Ruby as her Miss Teen Long Beach reign commences.

Ruby’s outlook on life is inspired by the Jewish value Tikkun Olam (heal the world), and helping others – a mindset that has manifested in every phase of her life. In elementary school, she was a fifth grade peer tutor. In middle school, she was inspired by a family friend who had Angelman Syndrome, a genetic disorder, and donated 10% of her Bat Mitzvah gifts to research on the condition. Ruby continued her commitment to helping others when she entered high school. She was drawn to the Best Buddies program at Woodrow Wilson High School, a club dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ruby would join students with special needs for lunch every Monday,

and would often see them on campus and take time to say hello and make connections. In addition, the future Miss Teen was involved with the Eco Friendly Bruins Club, a member of the Associated Student Body, and a participant and supporter of the Special Olympics.

Upon transferring to Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Ruby identified feeding the hungry as an interest and need among the student body, and began Action Against Hunger, a club that now has more than 50 members of which she is president. Not one to be hampered by the limits of the pandemic, she retained club membership and volunteers via social media. They collected food and developed a program to equip volunteers with “to-go” aid kits for people in need. The kits consist of non-perishable grocery items collected by the club members, and distributed while driving and scouring the neighborhoods for those in need.

Ruby’s passion for service has extended far beyond her Long Beach community. Her recent travels via Global Leadership Adventures brought her to the Dominican Republic, along with a delegation of other teens from around the world for a two-week medical mission. The participants created a pop-up medical clinic where Ruby assisted with patient intake and the distribution of medical supplies. Despite language barriers and learning curves, the group faithfully served over 100 families during their stay.

Mazel Tov to Ruby as her Miss Teen Long Beach reign commences. We salute her for making a difference in the community and the world. Her upcoming official appearances include the Long Beach Polar splash on January 15, and later in the year there will be parades, the National Adult Spelling Bee, and many other exciting community activities.

Connect with Ruby on Instagram @missteenlongbeach2022 and her club, Action Against Hunger @actionagainsthunger_md.

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 

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 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 

Ruby working in a Dominican Republic health clinic this past summer.

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

Ruby, Miss Teen Long Beach at this year’s Long Beach Turkey Trot.

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O Orthodox  R  Reform

JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICE

COMMUNITY

The Essence of Tikkun Olam

Norma Stein | President, Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Long Beach and West Orange County

As I complete my tenure as President of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Long Beach and West Orange County (JFCS), I want to take this opportunity to report our year in review. JFCS pivoted in response to increasing and Norma Stein pressing mental health and emergency services needs resulting from COVID-19 and found new and alternative ways to deliver its services. It was an intense year with a heavy workload for our staff, nevertheless, the agency persevered by meeting the needs of our clients and communities in fulfillment of our vision “a community healed, one person, one family at a time.” On behalf of the board, I would like to express my gratitude to our JFCS team for their tireless efforts and dedication to our mission.

We continued many novel approaches including a remote workforce delivering mental telehealth services, a volunteer food delivery program, and a virtual Café Europa. Recognizing the criticality for digital delivery, we undertook virtual fundraising as witnessed through “Virtual Race With A View,” a new speaker series “Tuesday Talks,” and “Donate To Celebrate” programs. Our website was redesigned, making it easier to navigate, provide more services information, and facilitate online giving.

I am pleased to report the following goals our Board committed to in 2020 have been accomplished:

• Strengthen and leverage current programs and add innovative programs that support articulated growth goals to meet the most pressing needs of our community while maintaining relevancy and mission alignment.

• Ensure an effective structure and high performing staff and board • Continue strengthening our long-term financial sustainability • Continue to enhance our presence, visibility, and brand/identity • Examine JFCS’s infrastructure Additionally, the JFCS Board established new committees/taskforces including: • CHESED – to assist individuals and families through tangible support such as Thanksgiving meals and Adopt-a-Family • Planned Giving Task Force – to develop and implement a formal planned giving program to foster organizational sustainability • Business Operations Planning Task Force – to identify and recommend annual business plan goals that support JFCS’s strategic plan While we were sad Executive Director Kathryn Miles left JFCS, we are pleased to have our new CEO, Trip Oldfield, a Long Beach resident, and a highly experienced, and well-regarded non-profit executive with a strong background in mental health care and social services, serving diverse client populations.

Come January 2022, Mark Rapp will become JFCS’s new Board president. Mark has been an active member of the Board for over 6 years, serving on the Business and Finance, and Investment committees.

He is the Chief Marketing Officer for Schools First Federal Credit Union and his expertise in marketing, communications, finance, and strategic planning will serve JFCS well.

The past two years have been very fulfilling on so many levels. The opportunity to help guide JFCS through these tumultuous times while advancing our mission has been a privilege. As I reflect on my tenure, it is clear the spirit of “tzedakah” thrives whether through donations or the giving of one’s time or expertise, enabling JFCS to be there when people need us most. Upon becoming president, I said that JFCS is the essence of “Tikkun Olam,” working to make our community and world a better place. We have never wavered from that commitment, and it is very fulfilling to know that together we are making a profound impact on the lives of so many.

JFCS enjoys the well-deserved reputation as a dynamic and vital organization whose true strength lies in the dedication, passion, and focus of its remarkable Board, staff, and donors. Our strong volunteerism will continue to propel JFCS to achieve even more than what we could ever envision.

I want to thank our Executive Committee, Board and staff for their support and valued counsel. I also want to give special acknowledgement to my supportive and patient husband Jan, whose wisdom is immensely helpful.

SERVICE SCHEDULE

THURSDAYS AT 8:00AM ON ZOOM

FRIDAYS AT 6:00PM AND SATURDAYS AT 10:00AM IN-PERSON AND STREAMING

CLASS WITH RABBI DAVID CANTOR YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BESIDES ME WHAT IS THE STATE OF MONOTHEISM IN THE BIBLE?

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 7:00 PM (also on ZOOM)

For more informaƟon about our services and programming and for the livestream and zoom

links, please visit us at tbslb.org or call (562) 426-6413.

Mark the end of Shabbat with TBS and let us take care of the kids so you can enjoy a night out!

Childcare/programming for kids will be provided by TBS.

MOVIE NIGHT: January 29, 6:15 PM For more dates and other details, please call us!

3635 Elm Avenue—Long Beach, CA 90807

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COMMUNITY HILLEL

They Came for Water Polo, They Found a Jewish Community David Rowe | Beach Hillel Class of 2021

When Inbar Geva left Israel to study in the U.S. two years ago, maintaining her connection to Judaism wasn’t a top priority. Inbar and two other local Israeli students, Itay Batito and Itamar Kolodny, had their eyes on the prize – water polo.

They may all hail from the homeland, but their stories are quite different. Inbar kicked off her college career in Brooklyn, where her games and practices were held in a basement, safe from New York’s harsh winters.

“I really liked Brooklyn,” Inbar said. “It’s such a cool place to be, and the people were nice – but the water polo really wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be. I knew I had to come to California.”

Seeking to make the most of her time in America, Inbar transferred to CSULB, known for its stellar water polo program in the classic California sunshine.

Having settled in with a professional, competitive team filled with friends from around the world, Inbar’s bet on CSULB paid handsomely.

Coming off of a fantastic season with Golden West College, Itamar’s time here has also been well-spent.

After playing for many years in Israel, former coaches and teammates directed him to Southern California, and with only two losses and a state championship this year, that advice was invaluable.

Itay also had a great season at LBCC, competing at the highest level – Division 1. Like Inbar and Itamar, Itay couldn’t pass up the prospects of playing in the Golden State as was recommended to him by friends, teammates, and coaches alike.

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Along with their remarkable water polo experiences, our local Israeli athletes reveled in the quality of education they’ve received. Still, in the shadow of the pandemic, their classic college experiences have lacked a distinctive social scene.

“I knew the water polo program would be serious and would take a lot of hard work, Itay explained.

“But the college experience just wasn’t there. Virtual classes made it harder to get the full experience and social life that I expected.”

Itamar and Inbar echoed the same sentiment – great sports, great education, not so great social situation.

That’s where Beach Hillel comes into the picture.

“Being thousands of miles away from home is tough,” Inbar explained. But being active with Beach Hillel through celebrating our holidays, speaking Hebrew, and keeping our traditions alive with the local Jewish community helps make my time here so much more meaningful.”

At a time of accelerating antisemitism, especially on college campuses, the desire to connect and draw strength from our shared Jewish heritage is bringing a new generation of students to their local Hillels. For Beach Hillel’s Israeli cohort, there’s an extra factor driving them to get involved – a taste of home. It’s a reminder that, through the challenges of competitive sports and the weariness of social isolation, they will always have a place to fall back on.

Like a hanukkiah on the eighth night, Beach Hillel penetrates our hearts and illuminates the darkness.

Inbar, Itamar, and Itay know this better than anyone.

JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2022

Beach Hillel student Itamar Kolodny, a member of the Golden West Men’s Water Polo team, throws the ball during a game.

Beach Hillel student Inbar Geva blocks a goal while playing for the CSULB Women’s Water Polo team.

HEBREW ACADEMY ORANGE COUNTY

COMMUNITY

Families are Transferring to Jewish Day Schools, Here’s Why Karen Berger | Hebrew Academy Admissions

The past year-plus has added unforeseen twists and turns in many families’ educational journeys, especially during those long months of lock-downs and distance learning. As parents reconsidered their options during the pandemic, an interesting trend became apparent. Seeking community, support, interaction and personal attention from teachers in this time of crisis, more families transferred their students to Jewish day schools.

In fact, according to a recent Niche study, public school consideration dropped from 86% in 2020 to 70% in 2021.1 According to Prizmah, Jewish day schools across North America saw a significant increase in enrollment between September 2019 and September 2021, across denominational lines.2 In another study conducted with newly enrolled families, parents shared several reasons for choosing to switch their children to Jewish day schools, including the devoted teachers, the rigorous quality of academic programs, wholesome values and the vibrant range of Jewish experiences.3 When conducting our own internal surveys, Hebrew Academy (HA) found that our families ranked the strength of our academic programs as one of the primary First Grader, Isaiah G. is fully engaged with reasons for choosing HA. Many of his creation in the all new Hebrew Academy our wonderful instructors have MakerSpace. taught multiple generations of scholars. Our students score exceptionally high on standardized tests as well as college board exams, and have a 98% acceptance rate into institutions of higher learning.

Families also love the Jewish learning experience at The Hebrew Academy.

They are drawn to our uniquely differentiating commitment to values-based and purpose-driven education that supports our students’ academic success while engaging them in their communities.

One way we engage our students in the community is through our annual Grand SLAM (Service Learning through Active Mitzvot) projects conducted throughout each school year. Students at every grade level select a non-profit organization.

Through research, collaboration and understanding of the organization’s mission, as a class they decide how to support their organization of choice, individually and collectively.

This year our students have chosen to support many local and national organizations. To promote literacy, our Kindergarten students will be supporting Reach out and Read. Our third graders have chosen to do projects with Simchat Shabbat, including assembling care packages for hospitalized patients and families in need. Our upper school students plan to complete mitzvah projects for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), which offers educational, cultural, recreational and social services for soldiers protecting Israel and Jews worldwide. (For a complete list of class projects visit: www.HACDS.org/MitzvahDay.) “I’ve seen how the Grand SLAM projects deepen learning for our students,” says Principal Dr. Bryn Harari. “Seamlessly integrating Jewish education and Common Core academics creates meaning and purpose for students. When Dynamic and devoted teachers contribute to students apply academic skills Hebrew Academy’s high success rates. to real-life scenarios they are

motivated, which in turn inspires learning, transforming scholars into leaders.”

As Hebrew Academy fifth grade student Sara (Mission Viejo) proudly shared, “A mitzvah is a good deed. If everyone would do one Mitzvah the world would be a better place.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. If you’d like to learn more about the Hebrew Academy and our Grand SLAM mitzvot projects, call 714.898.0051 ext. 284 or email admissions: admissions@hacds.org.

Hebrew Academy Second Graders create Chanukah greeting cards for seniors for their class mitzvah project “Smiles for Seniors.”

1 Niche 2021 Survey of Parents Searching for K-8 Schools. November, 2021.

2 Prizmah Enrollment Pulse Survey Report. October 2021.

3 “Seizing the Moment: Transferring to Jewish Day School During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Prizmah. October 7, 2021.

The MakerSpace and the SLAM program are partially funded by a grant from Jewish Long Beach.

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COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

In The Beginning, All There Was, Was God Rabbi Howard Laibson | Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation Shir Chadash

Early next year, a book entitled, “A God We Can Believe In,” will be published by Wipf and Stock. It presents 27 essays that offer perspectives on God through the lens of Jewish Religious Naturalism. It is not the only understanding of God that is legitimate, but one for those who do not/cannot believe in a supernatural deity. The comments below contain some of the ideas in my essay. I present them here with the hope that other local rabbis will share their ideas as well, so as to open a conversation about Jewish views of God, a topic too frequently ignored.

In the beginning, all there was, was God. For reasons that are simply unknown, God set about to create the universe, which obviously includes our world. Jewish mystics, who frequently personalized God in anthropomorphic terms, believe that God somehow felt a need to create, but there was no “place” for God to place creation. So, in an act of what we assume was supreme love, God contracted into God’s Self – smaller and smaller, more intensely compacted into the finest point of light we mere mortals might imagine – in order to make room for creation in what would then be the vastness of space. In the process of contraction (in Hebrew, tzimtzum), God’s divine energy burst forth, sending emanations of that energy everywhere.

Kabbalists believe that the keilim, the vessels carrying the energy, were unable to encapsulate it and they shattered into sparks. Those sparks ultimately became “the stars, planets, stones, and living things of the universe” (Professor Richard Elliott Friedman, The Hidden Face of God, 1995, p. 228f). Picture an enormous explosion radiating light outward, massive amounts of energy flying in every direction.

Fascinatingly, this is very similar to how physicists and cosmologists understand the beginning of the universe. They don’t officially ascribe a divine role in this process, of course. But their perspective is that at one moment approximately 14 billion years ago, an infinitesimal area of energy became extremely compressed and dense (perhaps due to gravitational forces), until the pressure was so great that the energy burst forth in every direction.

Eventually, some of that energy cooled and became material, and in innumerable locations was drawn together into communities of matter and energy, coalescing into the universe as we know it. This initial event became known as the Big Bang. It is interesting to note that this term was originally used in a highly derogatory manner in 1950, by British astronomer Fred Hoyle (Rabbi Josh Nelson, Judaism, Physics and God, 2005, p. 4), who thought the concept lacked credibility. The label stuck, and today, the Big Bang is generally accepted by the scientific community as the beginning of everything.

As a Jewish religious naturalist, I seek to harmonize, as much as is possible, Jewish theology and values with what we know about objective 12 | CHRONICLE

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reality. I am a committed religionist, but I reject supernaturalism (including the concept of God as a non-physical, all-powerful, all-knowing conscious entity). While I embrace the results of physical science, I nonetheless believe, teach and preach the importance of spirituality in our lives. Along those lines, I insert the role of God into the process of the Big Bang (much like the mystics), but without the anthropomorphic supernatural entailments. For me, God is the Divine Purposive Energy that began creation and that drives all living creatures to live, survive, and when circumstances permit it, to thrive. I’ll have more to say about that momentarily.

For now, we should focus on the role of energy after the Big Bang.

Professor Daniel Matt (God and the Big Bang, 1996, p. 44) reminds us that, following the dramatic explosion of energy, “time and space began. But the early universe was an undifferentiated blend of energy and matter. How did matter emerge?”

In other words, the collections of energy and matter that emerged from the Big Bang are all reflections of their source, God. All of these collections, and everything that grew out of them, everything that evolved from them, remain reflections or extensions of God. From the well-worn path of evolution on this planet, we begin with single-celled bacteria and, over a great deal of time, we see the development of plants, insects, all sorts of animals, and ultimately arrive at the emergence of human beings. It would be hubris to assume that we are the final stage of that evolutionary path. But for now, we are at the top rung of the evolutionary ladder. As we observe this entire process, we can readily discern its purpose – LIFE: the drive to survive and thrive. Studies of evolution have indicated that each species (and an individual within a species) must meet three specific needs in order to maintain its existence: nutrition, security, and offspring. A species must eat, survive

Picture an enormous explosion radiating light outward, massive amounts of energy flying in every direction. ©Getty Images

“A scientist would say that the energy congealed.

Matter is frozen energy. No nucleus or atom could form until some energy cooled down sufficiently that it could be bound and bundled into stable particles of matter.

“Einstein discovered the equivalence of mass and energy. Ultimately, matter is not distinct from energy, but simply energy that has temporarily assumed a particular pattern. Matter is energy in a tangible form; both are different states of a single continuum, different names for two forms of the same thing.”

The 16th century mystic Moses Cordovero, wrote, “Do not say, ‘This is a stone and not God.’” Dr. Matt adds, and as a religionist, I assert: “Divine energy pervades all material existence” (ibid.).

Professor Friedman (ibid., p. 229) similarly states, “Some remnant of the divine light that burst in at the moment of the expansion persists. There is a residue of divine manifestation in every being.”

Those sparks of divine energy are part and parcel of everything – animate and inanimate. The timehonored phrase that, within all people, there is a spark of the divine (See Yismach Yisrael on Pesach Haggadah, Rabban Gamliel’s Three Things, 7:1, each person is enjoined to recognize his/her essence as an allusion to the divine spark found in each of us) should, in my view, be taken literally.

JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2022

and reproduce. Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger (Why Call It God?, 2020, p. 69) has written about this and the broader goal of what I call thriving. “In the context of purpose and meaning we must raise the stakes beyond survival and aspire to excellence . . .

A social species, to thrive we require cooperation and thus exemplary character – trustworthiness and decency.” Dr. Matt (ibid. p.62) summarizes this long process of evolution by saying “… we have learned not only how to survive, but how to thrive. We created art, science, philosophy, values, civilization.” Indeed, we have. We still are.

In this connection, it is important to know that the most frequently mentioned name of God in the Bible is YAHVEH, which means “the One who causes to be.” God brings everything into being, through the explosive Big Bang and the perpetual growth of evolution. The result is, eventually, the emergence of a vast array of species of living things.

Surely, this is the purpose behind God’s emanations of divine energy. Professor Daniel Matt (ibid., p.28) indicates: “If God spoke the world into being, the divine language is energy; the alphabet, elementary particles; God’s grammar, the laws of nature.”

And now I ask the reader to discuss the above with family, friends and your rabbis. Feel free to disagree with my perspective. Articulate your own.

REFLECTIONS

COMMUNITY

The Ultimate Guide to Lamplighting Rabbi Shmuel Marcus

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Director of Chabad in Los Alamitos and Co-director of Los Al Hebrew High

I say, “Hey Siri, turn on my lights” and viola, the lights go on. But lighting wasn’t always this easy.

Historically, we needed lamps, oil, wicks, and, most importantly, we had to have lamplighters.

The lamplighter was the guy who walked through the streets carrying a burning flame at the end of a long stick. The low-tech oil lamps were strategically placed on top of tall poles throughout the city. As soon as the sun began to set, the lamplighter would go from lamp to lamp to set them alight.

In the 1800’s, Rabbi Shalom DovBer of Lubavitch (1860-1920) was very familiar with the lamplighter. In fact, he urged people to become lamplighters. Spiritual lamplighters.

Why would we need lamplighters in 2022 when our social media will show us smiling and holding Italian champagne glasses? Because deep down, many of us are hurting. The spiritual forces of darkness try to extinguish our light, and for some, it’s a daily battle. I believe, that right now, the world needs lamplighters more than ever before.

Do you have friends and acquaintances that may struggle physically or spiritually? This is precisely why the Rebbes of Chabad want you to become a “lamplighter.” The lamplighter knows how to find neighbors and introduce them to the warm light and joy of the Torah.

In our fast-paced digital world, we can easily neglect our inner Jewish flames.

The lamplighter knows that to nurture a soul all you need is one Divine mitzvah.

Our holy Torah is that tangible Divinity, the usable flame, that can bring light and blessings to the streets and crossroads of our lives. So here’s the Rebbe’s ultimate guide to lamp-lighting.* 1. Honesty and Humility The late-night shoppers and evening strolling couples will think you’re terrific.

When people see you walking with that very long stick, they’ll know the parties are about to begin. Perhaps, small groups may gather around the poles waiting to shower you with raucous applause as you turn the lights on. So, the first rule is humility and honesty. As a lamplighter, you must always remember that the flame is not yours.

2. Leave Your Comfort Zone The job of bringing light to dark street corners throughout your village or community will most likely include a pole or two in a bad part of town. The lamplighter must leave the safety and security of his friendly neighborhood and find that lamp that’s on the other side of the tracks. You’ll notice that the light you bring to any dire situation allows the locals the visibility to see what’s going on. Light is a wonderful disinfectant, and sometimes you’ll need to leave your comfort zone to reach the ones who need it most.

3. Overcome Obstacles It may sound easy to walk around with a torch and light up the night, however, as you begin your lamplighting career, you’ll quickly learn that some poles are extremely hard to reach. The true lamplighter is willing to climb, jump, and swim, amongst crashing waves, to light the lamps that are drifting out at sea.

4. Find Lamps If you don’t see lamps, you’re obviously not a lamplighter yet. If you haven’t discovered your true inner flame potential, how can you see the incredible potential found in others? Quickly proceed to step #5.

5. Start with yourself Obviously, as a light provider, don’t carry around any darkness with you. If you’re negative, you will only see the negativity in others. Refine your character, and you’ll discover that refinement in others. Good lamplighters start with their own flame. Make sure you get rid of anger, jealousy, or any self-centered emotional reactions. It takes a pure flame to see the ignitable flame within others.

6. Be Persistent Remember, not all lamps are lit the same way. Some will need direct fire while others catch fire only when you hold the flame near it. The trick is to keep trying.

Surprisingly, the very act of persistence can inspire even the most stubborn lamps to ignite. The key is to be lovingly persistent and never give up hope, because you never know what will set a searching heart on fire. * Adapted from a 1907 conversation between the fifth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch, and chasid Reb Yosef Yuzik Horowitz

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COMMUNITY NEWS

EVENTS

See What’s New in 2022 Beit HaLev Welcomes 2022 Friday Ma’ariv and Saturday Shacharit services will continue on Facebook.com/galityomtov and Zoom (contact Rabbi Galit Shirah Levy-Slater duets@ icloud.com for the link). The times are: 5:30pm on Fridays and 10am on Saturdays. We hope to be offering in-person services soon, so check in with the Rabbi for further information in 2022.

Beth David Thursday, January 13, 12pm – 1pm Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Myers in person for fully vaccinated individuals. Various topics discussed in a casual environment with Rabbi. Bring your own lunch and meet in the social hall. No cost.

Sunday, January 16 & February 13, 10am – 11:30am Immersion Into Judaism with Rabbi Nancy Myers in person for fully vaccinated individuals. Intensive study and exploration of Jewish concepts and practice.

Cost: Series = $36 members/ $90 non-members.

Individual class drop in = $5 members/$10 nonmembers. RSVP required: rabbimyers@templebeth avid.org Sunday, January 30, 8:00 am Blood Drive Make an appointment at redcrossblood.org using sponsor code TBD or Contact Cathy Niederman at cathbowls@gmail.com or 714.826.4374.

Saturday, February 5, 9am – 10am Torah Study with Rabbi Myers Sunday, February, 6 – 9am Annual Brotherhood Poker Tournament, click on QR code for event details.

Saturday, February 12, 7pm – 10pm Cantor’s Concert “Celebrate Love,” see ad on page 10.

Saturday, February 19, 6pm – 10pm The Matzo Ball by Brotherhood, see ad on page 3.

Saturday, February 26, 9am – 12pm Body, Mind & Spirit Shabbat, Click on QR code for event details.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) JFCS is pleased to announce that William “Trip” Oldfield III is its new chief executive officer. He joined JFCS on November 15. Trip is a highly experienced, accomplished, and forwardlooking non-profit executive, William “Trip” Oldfield III well-equipped with a strong background in social services serving diverse populations. Most recently, he served as CEO of the Program for Torture Victims (PTV) for over 8 years, and prior to PTV he was president/CEO of AIDS Service Center. With an MBA in Organizational Development from the School of Business and Economics, Redding University, and a BS from University of Nevada Las Vegas, Trip is also a certified fundraising executive. His extensive non-profit background and mental health experience will help JFCS serve its clients today and into the future.

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Recent Leisure World Activities Congregation Sholom of Leisure World helped serve coffee and doughnuts at the Leisure World Menorah Lighting on Tuesday, November 30th at 4:30 in Veteran’s Plaza. The congregation had it’s first in person service Friday night December 3, in Club House 3 Room 9 at 6:30pm. New members were given the honor of lighting Chanukah candles. It’s annual meeting was held on December 6 at 5:00pm, where Murray Pollack was elected president.

NCJW Greater Long Beach & West Orange County Saturday Jan. 8, 8:30 am - noon Kindergarten Festival to be held at Dooley Elementary School, vaccinated volunteers needed, Required RSVP communityservice@ncjwlongbeach. org or call 657.235.2511 Thursday, January 13, 6:00 -7:30 pm HugPacks for Foster Youth at the Alpert JCC Lipeles Auditorium, vaccinated volunteers needed. Required RSVP to communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org or call 657.235.2511.

Saturday Feb. 5, 8:30 am - noon Kindergarten Festival to be held at Roosevelt Elementary School, vaccinated volunteers needed.

Required RSVP communityservice@ncjwlongbeach. org or call 657.235.2511.

Suzie Price

Herlinda Chico

Tunua Thrash-Ntuk

Tiffany Alva

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Thursday, February 17, 7:00 8:30 pm NCJW is co-sponsoring with American Association of University Women at Long Beach City College or via Zoom - Childcare and Financial Insecurity Facing Women Post Pandemic: Concerns and Solutions. RSVP to advocacy ncjwlongbeach.org.Speakers are: Suzie Price, Herlinda Chico, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk and Tiffany Alva.

For more information call 657.235.2511, email info@ ncjwlongbeach.org or go to www.ncjwlongbeach.org for updated information.

NCJW Greater Long Beach & West Orange County along with Sharon Carmel Hadassah Monday, January 24 at 11am NCJW and Sharon Carmel Hadassah Shirley Stein Book Review (Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington) will be held at The Grand.

This hybrid program cost $40 for attending the luncheon, or donation only for Zoom attendees. Register at www.ncjwlongbeach.org.

Orange County Jewish Genealogical Society Sunday, January 23, 10 am Dr. Jeffrey Mark Paull: The Jewish Surname Process in the Russian Empire The history of adopting, regulating, and using Jewish surnames in the Russian Empire is quite complex. There were many ways that Jewish surnames were created, assigned, or adopted, while tight restrictions were placed on changing or altering surnames. As a result of Russian laws and mandates, many non-related Jewish individuals acquired the same surname, while many related family members acquired different surnames. This situation has created many challenges for genealogists who try to trace the ancestry or locate descendants of a particular Jewish lineage, many of whom have different surnames. It has created similar challenges for those interpreting the results of DNA tests for Jewish descendants.

Dr. Jeffrey Mark Paull is very active in the field of genetic genealogy and has conducted numerous pioneering autosomal and Y-DNA research studies in which he and his research colleagues have identified the unique Y-DNA genetic signature of many of Eastern Europe’s Dr. Jeffery Mark Paull most renowned rabbis and tzaddiks, rabbinical lineages, and Chassidic dynasties, in addition to that of John Hart, the 13th Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and one of America’s Founding Fathers.

Sunday, February 27, 10 am Daniel Rottenberg wrote “Finding Our Fathers” in 1977, making him arguably the father of the modern Jewish Genealogical movement. This is another episode in our Pioneers of Jewish Genealogy “Series of Conversations.”

Dan Rottenberg For more information and to register in advance for the virtual meetings, go to: ocjgs.org.

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FROM JEWISH LONG BEACH BOARD, LEADERSHIP & STAFF IN MEMORY OF

David Moss Beloved Brother to Laurie Schneider

Slava Gaiz Beloved Mother to Sharon Bershtel

Elma Garcia Beloved Sister & Sister-in-law George Garcia & Jonathan Falk

Mark Hardy Beloved Son-in-law Jessie Butler

GENERAL FUND IN HONOR OF RECOGNITION AT “A FEW GOOD MEN GALA” IN HONOR OF

Jim Breslauer from Andrea & Don Kaiser

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David Ruimy from Jessie Butler the Bar Mitzvah of Jackson Marschall from Shlomit, Bryon, Danielle & Noah Jackson

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the Bar Mitzvah of Aiden Rodriquez from Shlomit, Bryon, Danielle & Noah Jackson

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the Bar Mitzvah of Rory Newman from Shlomit, Bryon, Danielle & Noah Jackson

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GENERAL DEVELOPMENT FUND IN MEMORY OF

Ralph Mindess Beloved Husband to Jane Mindess from Ronni Gates

Madge Pizer to Perri Guthri and family from Phyllis Spear Slava Gaiz Beloved Mother to Sharon Bershtel Elma Garcia Beloved Sister & Sister-in-law George Garcia & Jonathan Falk

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Renee Simon Loren Brindze & Ashley Cohen Doug, Sue, & Sam Blakey Karen Kirchner & Charles Blakey Karen & Lorry Frankel Ruth Beckman Gerda & Harold Seifer Sandy Horwitz Lee Balan & Michael LaSalata Kathy and John Eastman

Dan & Palmer Eli Frankel Michael Berlin Kyle Fincham & Alexa McInerney Shawn Fincham & Amada Cloninger April & Gary Wayland Barbara, Katie, Mags, & Sam Molly Rose & Bob Fleming Mark & Debbie Rose Marie & Paul Brindze

Marie & Paul Brindze Alene & Bruce Balan Doug Blakey & Family Charles Blakey & Karen Kirchner from Kathleen Eastman ForJFCS tributes call: 562.427.7916

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MAY THEIR MEMORY BE A BLESSING

Millie Alpert Ellie Brooks Slava Gaiz Elma Garcia Mark Hardy Dorothy Hartstein David Moss Madge Pizer Vera Rappaport Marcel Salomon Leanora Weber 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

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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

INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM Taught by Rabbi Scott Fox

WEDNESDAYS ~ 7:00 p.m.

Beginning January 12 th for 18 weeks (classes will be held in person) An engaging 18-session course for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of Jewish life. Discover what could be meaningful to YOU in liberal Judaism.

This course is designed for individuals and couples from various faith traditions and cultural backgrounds and those who have had no religious upbringing. It is perfect for interfaith couples, those raising Jewish children, spiritual seekers, individuals considering conversion, and Jews who want a meaningful adult Jewish learning experience.

TUITION: $200 plus the cost of text books (A partner / spouse may attend at no additional cost) RSVP REQUIRED: (562) 434-0996 or info@tilb.org

CHANGING FACES AND SPACES OF ANTISEMITISM IN THE 21ST CENTURY Thursdays at 7:00 pm February 3, 10 (in person only) Teacher: Zachary Benjamin, CEO Jewish Long Beach

COMING HOME: WITH CANTOR KELLY COOPER Saturday, January 29 at 7:00 pm at Temple Israel and Online

In this educational concert, we will explore songs about coming home, coming together, and ways in which we can make the world, our home, a better place. It will feature songs based on our sacred texts. Join me as we explore melodies, both old and new, together.

Please RSVP to the Temple Office

The ability to persevere against existential threats is a characteristic that has defined the Jewish people for millennia. However, the face of contemporary antisemitism is rapidly evolving. Learn about contemporary sources of anti-Semitic intimidation, where it thrives, its goals, how to identify it, and how we as engaged Jewish community members must equip ourselves and our children with the necessary tools to both stand up to and educate others against new strains of this age-old scourge.

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