Jewish Community Chronicle March/April 2022

THE VOICE OF JEWISH LONG BEACH PUBLISHED SINCE 1947

MARCH – APRIL 2022 | ADAR – NISAN 5782

jewishlongbeach.org

VOL. 75 NO. 3

INSIDE TABLE

OF CONTENTS

4

The Personal Story Behind the BlueFin Swim Team Sponsorship

5

Yom HaShoah/Yom Ha’atzmaut Community Events

6

Alpert JCC – Your Center for Life

8

Reflections

9

Strengthening Connections to Israel

12

Community Holiday Greetings

14 15

Community News

Alpert JCC BlueFin Team honors Isadore Zamost.

THE VOICE OF JEWISH LONG BEACH PUBLISHED SINCE 1947

Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israel’s 74th Independence Day.

Rock the Megillah Concert and Spring into Summer at the Alpert JCC. Celebrating and Living During Challenging Times.

Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus One Sommer Way

Kaiser Family Endowment Fund Scholarships.

3801 E. Willow Street Long Beach, CA 90815-1791

Chag Pesach Sameach.

Phone: 562.426.7601 | FAX: 562.424.3915

Tributes/In Memoriam

/jewishlongbeach

@jewishlongbeach

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 Co-Presidents, Board of Directors

Zachary Benjamin Chief Executive Officer

Kevin Giser Chief Operating and Development Officer

Susan Paletz Director of Fund & Community Development

Rachel Roberts Manager of Marketing & Leadership Engagement

Yolanda Placencio Development Administrator

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

Ad & Copy deadline for May/June 2022 issue: April 1, 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 - ©Jewish Long Beach/Alpert JCC and Benjamin Family Chronicle ©2022 Jewish Long Beach All Rights Reserved.

SHABBAT CANDLELIGHTING Mar 4 5:33 pm Mar 11 5:39 pm

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CONVERSATIONS

COMMUNITY

A Time to Speak Out; A time to Hold Back Zachary Benjamin

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Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Long Beach

Like all of us, I sat glued to my electronic devices throughout January 15 as an assailant took four hostages – including a congregational rabbi – during Shabbat services at a Dallas-area synagogue.

The perpetrator’s demands Zachary Benjamin included the release of a convicted terrorist from a nearby federal prison.

While all four hostages ultimately escaped physical harm, this was, by any measure, a bold and violent act of antisemitism. It underscored the reality that any sense of security that we as Jews may feel, even in our sacred spaces, is tenuous at best, and at times false.

As if to place an exclamation point on the events of that weekend, just days later, I experienced my own brush with anti-Jewish bias in an Uber ride from my home to the Long Beach Airport. Shortly after pickup, the driver launched into a philosophical dissertation on COVID and what he viewed as the various nefarious forces behind ongoing masking and vaccine guidelines. He noted emphatically that “The Jews are behind [enforcement of COVID protocols],” and that “the people who killed Christ are responsible for the world [being out of sorts].”

His profanity-laced screed, which continued for the duration of the 10-minute journey, was no less than a greatest hits list of hateful tropes, myths, and accusations against the Jewish people.

I texted my wife a play-by-play of the encounter, in response to which she suggested that I report the incident to Uber. Despite the fact that it is deeply important that we name and draw attention to the scourge of antisemitism, I chose in this case not to pursue punitive action against the driver. He had picked me up from my home, and thus possessed a record of where my family and I live. It was ultimately more important to me to preserve the safety and security of my wife and daughter than it was to make an example of a cartoonish bigot, even in the current tinderbox of a discursive and rhetorical environment, where Jewish lives like those of the four Texas hostages are too often endangered.

This experience caused me to reflect on the concept of situational nuance, with which many who have

dedicated themselves to combating antisemitism likely struggle. I have dedicated my career and, in many respects, my life to helping create the most favorable possible conditions for Jewish identity and peoplehood to continue for generations to come. I subscribe wholeheartedly to the philosophy that we have a responsibility to treat antisemitism with the same urgency and abhorrence with which we treat so many other forms of vicious and potentially lethal bias. However, it is also important that we understand when to exercise strategic or tactical restraint in protesting bias and ignorance against us.

Last year, Jewish comedienne Sarah Silverman spoke on her podcast against the concept of nonJewish actors portraying Jewish characters. “There’s this long tradition of non-Jews playing Jews, and not just playing people who happen to be Jewish, but people whose Jewishness is their whole being,” she said. “One could argue, for instance, that a Gentile playing Joan Rivers correctly would be doing what is actually called ‘Jewface.’” Ms. Silverman was, of course, using an adaptation of the phrase “blackface,” which refers to white actors portraying Black characters, in many cases adorned in grotesque makeup designed to portray the characters in the most inhuman, marginalized possible manner.

While I admire her efforts to appropriately elevate the intensity of the national conversation on antisemitism to the level of that reserved for other forms of bias, in this case, Ms. Silverman doth protest too much.

Indeed, hundreds of examples exist of non-Jewish actors portraying with great respect, nuance, and sensitivity characters whose Jewishness is central to their story arcs. We as Jews are, by all means, an ethno-religious group whose shared characteristics run far deeper than simply religious affiliation.

However, no equivalency exists between an actor of a different skin color or cultural background mockingly, maliciously and with profound disrespect portraying a character of Black, Asian, Latino, or other ethnic descent and a non-Jewish actor sensitively, respectfully portraying a Jew. Tony Shalhoub, the Lebanese-Christian actor who expertly and with significant skill portrays Jewish professor Abe Weissman in Amazon’s The Marvelous

Mrs. Maisel, pushed back on the notion that nonJews should not portray Jewish characters.

“I was trained to…not play myself, to play characters, and so it’s troubling to me that they’re limiting actors,” he noted in an October 2021 interview in Page Six. “If we start to go down that road, I don’t know where it ends.”

Mr. Shalhoub is correct. Furthermore, to automatically link antisemitism with the instance of a non-Jew portraying a Jewish character on stage or screen is to potentially dilute the perceived gravity of true antisemitism when it all too often emerges, as it did in Texas and, to a much lesser degree, in my Uber ride in Long Beach. When we are too quick to cry bias, we run the risk of eroding our credibility by demonstrating a lack of discretion.

Sarah Silverman is to be commended for speaking out against what she feels is a Hollywood double standard. Why, she asks, are blackface or, for example, the portrayal of Asian characters by nonAsian actors so roundly and rightly rejected, while non-Jewish actors often portray Jewish characters and are applauded for doing so in ways that one might sometimes perceive as advancing stereotypes?

It is certainly important that any performance portraying a Jewish character, regardless of the actor’s ethnic or cultural background, be carried out with respect and fidelity to the character’s nature as intended by the screenwriter or playwright.

However, we must also be careful not to rush to the conclusion that certain practices are anti-Semitic, just as we must also be selective at times in when we push for those who engage in bias to pay a public punitive price for their bigotry. The ongoing fight against anti-Jewish hate is a long game. It is one in which we as activists for Jewish continuity and selfdetermination will only advance if we are armed with credibility and the ability to practice nuanced discourse in support of our activism. These tools will, in turn, earn us the necessary social capital to fully leverage alliances, both within the Jewish community and outside of it, in service to a Jewish future in which we are able to successfully isolate and mitigate existential threats against us.

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ALPERT JCC

SPOTLIGHT

The Personal Story Behind the BlueFin Swim Team Sponsorship Barry Zamost | Co-president, Jewish Long Beach and AJCC Board of Directors

Rita and Dr. Barry Zamost are long time members of the Alpert JCC (AJCC). Having raised their family in the Long Beach area, the AJCC was their second home. Pre-school, camp and summer stock, there was always a Zamost child participating. They are the proud parents of 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Rita is a past president of the AJCC and Barry is the current co-president of Jewish Long Beach and the AJCC. True supporters of Jewish Long Beach & the AJCC, the Zamost’s are not just major donors, but truly give from their heart to support all the programs and services of the AJCC and Jewish Long Beach. By Susan Paletz, Director of Fund & Community Development While we manage our way through the largest pandemic in 100 years, we often say how lucky we are that this COVID virus predominantly spares children. But that isn’t what happens during a polio epidemic, and in 1915, my father Isadore Zamost, at age 2, was infected and hospitalized with polio. Due to the consequences of this viral infection, he suffered with residual and permanent leg weakness throughout his life. He was luckier than other children, as complete paralysis and death were not uncommon.

While he wore leg braces for a few years, he functioned reasonably with his limitations.

But for this story, the change came in the 1960s.

Barry’s parents, Regina & Isadore Zamost.

A new JCC had been built in Highland Park, New Jersey, that included an indoor pool. My father started swimming regularly, several times per week, for over 30 years, well into his 80s, in New Jersey and then in Long Beach. Every time, 44 laps, 1/2 mile, but due to his leg weakness, only the backstroke was possible. With his minimal leg kicking, my father always appeared to the lifeguards as someone on the edge of drowning. The family is convinced that this regular form of exercise allowed him to maintain good health into his 90s.

Isadore, and my mother Regina, were actively involved in their local Jewish Community, holding various leadership positions, and continued their lifelong philanthropy even after moving to Long Beach in the 1980s.

It is with this tradition, that Rita and I, and the extended family, are pleased to honor Isadore Zamost with our initial donation and sponsorship of the AJCC BlueFin Swim Team. His life not only highlights one individual’s challenge to overcome a disability and the importance of regular exercise and wellness, but also the continuation of a family tradition of giving back to the community. We hope that this story inspires others to do the same.

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Barry & Rita with 4 of their grandchildren.

And yes, every time I swim a lap (freestyle) in our beautiful AJCC pool, I think of my father...especially now that I require a swim cap to protect my scalp from the sun’s rays. Oh yes, Dad, thanks for passing that on to me as well.

Barry and Rita Zamost If anyone is interested in helping to support the AJCC BlueFin Swim Team, or any of the other aquatics programs, please contact Susan Paletz, Director of Fund & Community Development at ext. 1012

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ALPERT JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER YOUR

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CENTER FOR LIFE

YOUR CENTER FOR LIFE

ALPERT JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG

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COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Celebrating and Living During Challenging Times Rabbi Nancy Rita Myers | Beth David

We’ve been through a lot. It’s been over two years of Covid 19 and all the subsequent variants such as Delta and Omicron. We’ve sheltered in place, put various masks on our faces, gotten vaccinated and then boosterized, and we’ve made adjustments to our work, school, and social lives.

So many of us have dealt with fear and anxiety. We’ve been worried about our health and that of our loved ones. We have mourned the loss of events and social gatherings. We have agonized over sending our children to school and how to work and balance all the challenges that have come with the pandemic. And then, we also became even more worried about our security as we come to synagogue, Jewish community centers, and more.

It can feel as though there’s no end to the worry and insecurity at times but Judaism has lessons and insights for us all. These months, we will be celebrating Purim and Passover. These holidays emphasize resilience, faith, and a willingness to live and take charge of our destinies. Purim features the book of Esther where an evil advisor, Haman (lots of noise), wants to eradicate the Jews of Persia. Mordecai urges his cousin Esther to advocate for her people and reveal her secret Jewish identity.

Through wisdom, Esther devises a way to speak to the king and in doing so, wins him over. The Jews are given the means to defend themselves, the evil villain is disposed of, and the Jews celebrate with merry making.

The following month, Passover reminds us of the suffering of our people in Egypt and the rising up of an initially tentative leader, Moses. Overcoming his fear of speaking, Moses and his

brother Aaron stand before Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites. After ten punishing plagues from God, our people risk everything to leave Egypt for the promise of a better future.

And so, we have Passover seders and recall our exodus out of Egypt.

Both Purim and Passover, showcase our people’s struggle to survive in adverse situations. Thankfully, today, we don’t live under a tyrannical government and there it is no orchestrated attempt to destroy us. Yes, we face growing anti-Semitism as hateful acts are increasing against many other marginalized

It can feel as though there’s no end to the worry or insecurity at times but Judaism has lessons and insights for us all. groups. Yes, we are still facing health and life challenges from the ever changing Covid 19 virus. However, we are blessed to be able to live with a freedom our ancestors would’ve relished. We are much more secure and stable that the generations who lived in Egypt, Persia but also in Europe during the many times of our tumultuous history.

Here in the U.S., we have friend and allies. We are also able to vote, advocate, and influence policies. We are not helpless. We are ingenious, hardworking, caring, and committed people. And our tradition teaches that there is life not just in good times but also in hard ones as well. Our commandments continue to keep us grounded in Torah, God, and peoplehood. Our customs and traditions, remind us of the sacredness of time. And we know that there is meaning and purpose right here, right now.

So at this time, we need to celebrate with gusto, observe with intent, as we remember and recount our incredible history.

What a blessing it is to be alive. How lucky are we to be Jews living in the U.S. and may we continue to embrace our amazing heritage, L’dor va’dor, from generation to generation.

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

SPECIAL SUNDAY EDITION

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MARCH – APRIL 2022

presents in person Long Beach’s own

Michael Stuhlbarg Versatile, accomplished actor on stage, in films (The Shape of Water, Call Me By Your Name, The Post) and currently in Hulu’s Dopesick Sunday, March 13 Alpert JCC Lipeles Auditorium 2:00 p.m.

For tickets visit jfcslongbeach.org Or call (562) 427-7916

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 

JEWISH LONG BEACH

COMMUNITY

Strengthening Connections to Israel: Kaiser Family Endowment Fund Scholarships Sharon Kenigsberg

Creating your own Jewish legacy ensures that you will be remembered and that your work and your values will continue when you are no longer here. It also serves as an example to your loved ones that you believe it is important to support the Jewish Community. Don and Andrea Kaiser believe in wanting to perpetuate the importance of strong ties to Israel and have established the Kaiser Family Endowment through Jewish Long Beach. One component of this Endowment is the establishment of two scholarships for student trips to Israel.

The Kaiser Family Endowment will provide an annual grant of $1,000 per year each to a graduate of Hebrew Academy of Orange County and to a Hillel student to help with personal expenses on an authorized organizational trip to Israel. The 2021 recipient of this scholarship from the Hebrew Academy was Audriel Winder.

She states, “I would like to say thank you again for helping me make this year of a reality. I absolutely love it here. I’m loving my classes and I love how my seminary uses Israel as our classroom. It is so fascinating that I learn about the biblical history in Israel while actually being here in Israel. I have made many friends in my program who I instantly bonded with, and I genuinely think these friendships will last forever.“ To learn more about creating your own legacy or to receive an application for the Kaiser scholarship, please contact Kevin Giser, Chief Operating & Development Officer, kgiser@jewishlongbeach.org

Audriel Winder (middle) with her bicycle group.

THURSDAYS AT 8:00AM ON ZOOM

FRIDAYS AT 6:00PM/SATURDAYS AT 10:00AM INͲPERSON & STREAMING

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.

CARNIVAL NIGHT: MARCH 12, 6:45 PM For more details and dates, please call us!

For more information about our services and programming and for the livestream and zoom links, please visit us at tbslb.org or call (562) 426Ͳ6413.

3635 Elm Avenue—Long Beach, CA 90807

Visit tbslb.org for more information and the zoom link.

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COMMUNITY HILLEL

Spring Semester is in Full Swing at Beach Hillel!

Students enjoy playing the endless Beach Hillel game The Beach Hillel Student Delegation attended the Israel-American Council in Miami, Florida in December 2021. of “Who’s Taller?”

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Beach Hillel students enjoy Zen Yoga in the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at CSULB before finals week.

HEBREW ACADEMY ORANGE COUNTY

COMMUNITY

A Win For One Is A Win For All

Rabbi Yitzhak Newman | Hebrew Academy of Orange County The most impactful teachers rise to any moment with creativity, compassion, and endless enthusiasm. No place is more important than the Kindergarten classroom. Over the past 15 years, Devorah Lovitch, or Morah Devorah – as she’s affectionately called by her students – has been sparking a love for learning. It came as no surprise to learn that Morah Devorah was recently named a finalist for the Top Teacher of Orange County 2022 award by Parenting OC magazine.

Thanks to teachers like Morah Devorah who work tirelessly to keep our students safe, while engaged, the Hebrew Academy was able to reopen and welcome back students with in-person learning much sooner than many other schools. While these past few years have been filled with change and uncertainty, Hebrew Academy teachers have gone above and beyond to provide consistency, stability, and joy to our students when they need it most.

Morah Devorah is a perfect example of the level of dedication shown by Hebrew Academy’s teachers. Her interactive and hands-on approach to learning, shared by the entire faculty, has been instrumental in helping our students stay engaged, motivated, and progressing by leaps and bounds in their academic, emotional, and social growth.

“As one of our students’ first teachers, Morah Devorah helps us identify the skill levels and needs of every child,” says Judaic Principal Rabbi Popack. “Our teachers continue meeting our students where they are, throughout their educational journey at Hebrew Academy.”

Morah Devorah and her dedicated, passionate colleagues are among The Hebrew Academy’s warm and nurturing the key reasons families love the environment welcomes families across the Hebrew Academy, and why the Jewish experience in an award-winning 21stcentury learning community that challenges, campus was recently voted the best supports and empowers all students to learn Faith-Based K-12 School in Orange with purpose, fulfill their potential, and thrive County by readers of Parenting emotionally as well as academically.

OC. Morah Devorah’s passion for teaching, devotion to our students, and joy for life truly embody the educational experience at Hebrew Academy.

We invite you to discover this experience for yourself. Call (714)898-0051 ext 284 or visit HACDS.org/Discover to schedule a tour and learn more.

“When you walk by Morah Devorah’s classroom, you’ll always hear the sounds of children laughing, sharing, expressing curiosity and wonder,” says Hebrew Academy’s Principal, Dr. Bryn Harari. “In all our classrooms at every level, learning is an active hands-on experience in which the students participate.

Students learn by doing, rather than just by listening.”

Hebrew Academy teachers create opportunities within the curriculum for meaningful conversations. Morah Devorah makes time to listen to Gideon share about what he drew in his Kindergarten Journal.

Morah Devorah and our teaching staff’s active-learning approach helps bring Hebrew Academy’s innovative dual curriculum to life. At Hebrew Academy, students begin integrating Judaic Studies and Hebrew language with General Studies early in their educational journey. Beginning in Morah Devorah’s Kindergarten classroom, the Hebrew reading curriculum and Judaic lessons serve to strengthen students’ critical thinking, communication, and problemsolving skills across all academic areas.

Beyond academics, Morah Devorah is deeply attuned to her students’ emotional and social development.

“As a mother myself, I understand that the needs of students go far beyond the classroom,” she explains. “I try to create a safe, inclusive environment that supports all students while giving them the tools to work together to reach goals, solve problems, and express empathy. That’s how students thrive.”

Throughout the Hebrew Academy’s educational journey, teachers ask questions that require students to analyze, synthesize and evaluate. Chumash Teacher, Mrs. Stillerman, asks her students to apply the lessons of the Torah to the modern-day.

In encouraging students to respect each other, Hebrew Academy teachers model this behavior in their own approach. By focusing on the abilities and strengths of each student, instructors are able to personalize the classroom experience in a way that celebrates every student’s accomplishments.

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COMMUNITY HOLIDAY

GREETINGS

We Wish You a Kosher and Joyful Passover

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover

Don & Andrea Kaiser

Rabbi Abba & Chanie Perelmuter and Rabbi Levi & Rochie Perelmuter Shul by the Shore

National Council of Jewish Women Greater Long Beach & West Orange County Section

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover

Jeffrey, Lauren, Ellie, Joshua and Jacob Rips

Judi and Arthur Gelb and Family

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover

Jann Kronick-Gath and Chance Gath

Happy Passover Susan & Mark Paletz

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover Shirley Ross

Chag Pesach Sameach

Happy Passover Aaron and Leslie Kern

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover Lee and Barbara Shoag

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Chag Pesach Sameach Lauren, Stuart, Aaron, Jakob & Nathan Friedman

Chag Pesach Sameach Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Long Beach & West Orange County

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover Ray and Kookie Brown

Happy Passover Curtis, Kristie, Delaney, and Chase Kaiser

Happy Passover Yolanda and Victor Placencio

Happy Passover Linda Temkin Waltzman

HOLIDAY GREETINGS

Chag Pesach Sameach with Love The Mathieu Family, Susan, Pam, Joseph, Terri, Daniel, Nicole

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover Arlene & Rick Freeman

Chag Pesach Sameach

The Kenigsberg Family

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover

COMMUNITY

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover

Wishing You & Your Family a Happy Passover

Rosecarrie and Alan Brooks

Laurie & Robert Raykoff and Family

Marc, Sybil, Rachael, David, Deborah, & Lillian Tamaroff

From Our Family to Yours, We Wish You a Joyful, Meaningful Passover B’shalom, Zach, Taina, and Zoe Benjamin

Happy Passover Happy Passover

Kevin Giser and Emma Rees

Jessie Butler, Ellen, Sara, Carla, Heidy & Families

Chag Sameach

Chag Sameach

Jewish Long Beach and Alpert JCC

The Danziger Family Cecelia, Danny, Donna and Daniel JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG

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COMMUNITY NEWS

EVENTS

See What’s New in 2022 Jewish Long Beach and Alpert JCC Kid’s University is now KESHER After-School Enrichment In a constantly changing world, we found it more important than ever to ensure our programs carry a brand and message that is consistent with our values.

After heavy deliberation, we are proud to introduce KESHER to you. Learn more about our program at alpertjcc.org/kesher.

Wed, March 2, 7:00 pm Alpert Classic Film Society March Film: The Best Years of our Lives.

Fri, Mar 4, 10:30 am and Fri, Apr 1, 10:30 am Happiness & Humor Active and senior adults are invited on the first Friday of the month to enjoy mixers, music, stories, and games at this free gathering!

Thurs, March 10, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Cedars-Sinai Blood Drive Saving a life is the holiest mitzvah of them all! Schedule an appointment at tinyurl.com/ LBJAJCC31022.

Thurs, Mar 24, 6:00 pm 37th Annual Norman Gottlieb Student Art Awards The Awards reception will celebrate LBUSD students’ creativity and acknowledge outstanding works.

Tues, Mar 29, 5:30 pm Evelyn Linden Baldwin Creative Writing Contest Awards This year, the Baldwin Creative Writing Contest prompts students to write about Tikkun Olam.

The reception will award four $75 prizes to outstanding pieces of poetry and prose.

Visit alpertjcc.org for more information on each program!

Beth David Saturday, March 5, 10:30 am Tot Shabbat Purim Reception to follow.

Sunday, March 13, 11:00-2:00 pm Purim Carnival Wednesday, March 16, 7:00 pm Disneyland Purim Reception to follow.

Saturday, March 19, 7:00-10:30 pm Beth David Young Professionals Post-Purim Celebration Please RSVP by Thursday, March, 17.

Sunday, March 20, 2:00-3:00 pm Women of Beth David present “A History of Candy” with special guest, Janet Liss, RSVP by March 11.

Saturday, April 2, 10:30 am Tot Shabbat Passover Reception to follow.

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Saturday, April 16, 6:30 pm 2nd Night Passover Seder Contact the temple office for details.

Congregation Shir Chadash Saturday, April 16, 6:45 pm 2nd Night Pesach Seder with Rabbi Karen Isenberg Wednesday’s March, 30, April 6, 20, 27, May 4, 11 Adult Education ZOOM Classes with Rabbi Isenberg Call or email office for more information.

Sharon-Carmel Hadassah Monday, March 21, 1:00 pm “Your Life Decluttered” Julia G, Raz, Ph. D., professional organizer. $20 includes lunch & speaker.

RSVP to Eileen Braeman Mizzu66@yahoo.com or 562.420.9980.

JFCS Race With A View Sunday, May 1, 8:00 am, onsite Registration opens at 7:00 am Make plans now to move with JFCS for mental health at the 34th Annual Race With A View. Race With A View is a 5K/10K run or walk along the beautiful waterfront of downtown Long Beach, starting at Pierpoint Landing near the Aquarium of the Pacific and Shoreline Park.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and Race With A View Kicks off public relations activities. For more information and to become an event sponsor or to register, visit www.racewithaview. com or call JFCS at 562.427.7916.

NCJW Greater Long Beach & West Orange County Saturday, March 5, 8:30-noon Kindergarten Festival to be held at Burcham Elementary School. Subject to change due to updated COVID protocols by the Health Department.

Vaccinated volunteers needed.

Thursday, March 10, 6:00-7:30 pm HugPacks for Foster Youth, at the Alpert JCC on the Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus. Help us fill backpacks. Vaccinated volunteers needed.

Please RSVP for both events at communityservice@ ncjwlongbeach.org Movie Night Discussions: Virtual on ZOOM Thursday, March 24, 7:00 pm DON’T LOOK UP Two low-level astronomers must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth.

Thursday, April 28, 7:00 pm THE TENDER BAR A raucous, poignant, luminously written memoir about a boy striving to become a man, and his romance with a bar.

Both films can be viewed on Netflix. Register for Movie Night at www.ncjwlongbeach.org

Help NCJW Help Afghan Refugees Imagine leaving home with the clothes on your back and little else. More than 76,000 Afghan refugees have arrived in this country since last fall.

These families fled everything they’ve known to come to safety in this country and then spent an unknown number of weeks on a military base.

Under guidance from HIAS, a national resettlement agency, National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Long Beach & West Orange County Section (NCJW), is helping to resettle a vetted Afghan family in the Long Beach area. NCJW’s first priority is to find housing, then move on to gathering furnishings, helping them find jobs, school registration, public benefits and many more factors that will help them make a home in this community.

There are numerous opportunities for the community to help NCJW GLB & WOC in its efforts through volunteering, donating furniture, gift certificates, and most importantly cash. To donate go to AfghanRefugeeResettlement/donate and select Immigration Services Fund. If you have specific items (clothing, furniture, appliances, etc.) or want to volunteer, please email welcomecircle@ ncjwlongbeach.org and explain how you can help this family feel welcome in Long Beach!

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

Bar Mitzvah Henry Lior Day Henry Day of Temple Beth Shalom in Long Beach will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 7th, 2022. Henry has attended Torah School at Temple Beth Shalom since pre-school age and the community at TBS Henry Lior Day has been welcoming and instrumental in shaping his Jewish learning and understanding of Torah, we look forward to celebrating with him.

CSULB Jewish Studies Program Thursday, March 3, 7:00 pm via ZOOM The CSULB Jewish Studies Program is delighted to sponsor a talk by Dr. Rebecca Kobrin. Her topic will be: “Too Big to Fail in 1930: Jews, Antisemitism, and the Collapse of the Bank of United States.” Dr. Kobrin is the Russell and Bettina Knapp Associate Professor of American Jewish History and works in the fields of immigration history and American Jewish History.

This will be our annual Dr. Arlene Lazarowitz Memorial Lecture. Dr. Lazarowitz founded the CSULB Jewish Studies Program in 1999 and also established our monthly lecture series.

This event is free and open to the public. To obtain the Zoom link, please email: Jeffrey.Blutinger@csulb.edu.

IN MEMORIAM

JEWISH LONG BEACH AJCC

JEWISH LONG BEACH AND ALPERT JCC GENERAL FUND

LIGHTING THE WAY FORWARD

HAPPINESS & HUMOR PROGRAM

IN MEMORY OF

IN HONOR OF

IN HONOR OF

Marcel Salomon from Carol Beckerman

Dr. Susan Mathieu in appreciation for the kindness to their mother Alma from Dr. Wayne Freeman & Karen Braveman Freeman

FROM JEWISH LONG BEACH & ALPERT JCC BOARD, LEADERSHIP & STAFF

Lea Gerber Happy Birthday from Talma Zelitzki from Sandy & Daryl Phillips

GET WELL WISHES

IN HONOR OF

Ed Green Barbara Shoag Thinking of you & sending warm wishes your way

Deborah Goldfarb On your retirement & long standing commitment to the Jewish Community from Aaron & Leslie Kern

MAZEL TOV On the birth of Mara Sivan Harmala to Laibson & Harmala Families

IN MEMORY OF Seymour Alban Beloved Husband to Reva Alban Barbara Shipnuck Beloved Mother to Louisa Shipnuck & Family Doreen Kizner Beloved Mother & Mother-InLaw to Dr. Joel & Ronna Kizner Walter Schwimmer Beloved Husband to Ronny Schwimmer Gerald Alan Kurbatzky Beloved Father & Father-In-Law to Andrea & Jeff Salisbury Evelyn Friedman Beloved Mother & Mother-InLaw to Stuart & Lauren Friedman & Family Golda Beloved Grandmother to Dima Galkin

Sharon Kenigsberg On your retirement & long standing commitment to the Jewish Community from Aaron & Leslie Kern Sharon Kenigsberg Wishing you happy, healthy retirement days! from Binnie & Jack Berro

IN MEMORY OF Mark Hardy Beloved Husband to Heidi Hardy from Sharon & Marty Kenigsberg Mark Hardy Beloved Son-in-Law to Jessie Butler from Sharon & Marty Kenigsberg Sy Alban Beloved Husband to Reva Alban from Sharon & Marty Kenigsberg Evelyn Friedman Beloved Mother & Mother-InLaw to Stuart & Lauren Friedman from Arlene & Rick Freeman

Mel Mermelstein Beloved Husband to Jane Mermelstein

GERDA SEIFER YOM HASHOAH FUND

David Harrison Beloved Father & Father-In-Law to Robin Harrison & Mulu Skinner-Harrison

Happy Birthday to Reva Alban from Gerda & Harold Seifer

HOWARD TZVI MARCUS FUND IN MEMORY OF of your Dear Mother & Mother-In-Law to Yael & Richard Marcus from Sharon & Marty Kenigsberg

TRIBUTES

IN HONOR OF

IN MEMORY OF Dr. Seymour Alban to Reva Alban from Gerda & Harold Seifer

DREAM WITH US IN MEMORY OF Sy Alban Beloved husband to Reva Alban from Ruth, Bob, Kyle and Evan Lefkowtiz

JFCS JFCS GENERAL DEVELOPMENT FUND IN MEMORY OF Mark Hardy to Heidi Hardy & Family from Jessie Butler

GENERAL DEVELOPMENT FUND IN HONOR OF Joan Leb & Ted Van Bomel from Lauren, Collin & Jack Martin

SENIOR ADULT MEAL DELIVERY PROGRAM IN MEMORY OF

Kathy Walsh Happy Birthday from Curtis Gibbs Marvin Zamost from Julie Urban

IN MEMORY OF Alan Love to Willow Love & Family from Gay Fite

In memory of his parents from Larry Sugarman

MARCIE BALAN BLAKEY FUND

JEWISH LONG BEACH AND ALPERT JCC CAMPUS FUND

Irving & Freida Katz from Lynne Katz

GET WELL WISHES

Mort & Bea Webber from Susan & Mark Paletz

To Barbara Shoag Thinking of you & sending warm wishes your way from Judi & Gordon Lentzner

Newt & Fran Paletz from Susan & Mark Paletz Rachel Rothstein to Esti Rothstein from Mary Josephine Guzzetta Jeffrey Koff to the Koff Family from Katie Lorenzen

Sy Alban Beloved Husband to Reva Alban & Family from Judi & Gordon Lentzner

Evelyn Friedman Beloved Mother & Mother-InLaw to Stuart & Lauren Friedman from Judi & Gordon Lentzner

MAZEL TOV to Sara & Seth Linden Joy to see you carry on the Linden legacy from Carol & Fred Lerner

Doreen Kizner Beloved Mother & Mother-InLaw to Dr. Joel & Ronna Kizner from Judi & Gordon Lentzner

MICHAEL SEGAL MAIMONIDES FUND IN MEMORY OF Mark Hardy to Heidi Hardy & Family from Shirley Feiwell

IN MEMORY OF Bill Coleman to Sharon Coleman from Judi & Gordon Lentzner Georgia Brown to Joyce and Hank Feldman from Judi & Gordon Lentzner ForJFCS tributes call: 562.427.7916

IN MEMORY OF

Sharon Sloan Beloved Wife to Dr. Matt Sloan from Judi & Gordon Lentzner

Glenn Butler Karter to Janet Karter from MaryAnn Chow

Sy Alban to Reva Alban from Karin Polacheck from Nancy & Mark Schneider

IN HONOR OF

Shlomit Jackson from Sharon Amster Brown

Mark Hardy to Heidi Hardy & Family from Jessie Butler to Jessie Butler from Helen Gomez

COMMUNITY

For Jewish Long Beach & Alpert JCC tributes call:562.426.7601 ext 1314

MAY THEIR MEMORY BE A BLESSING Monica Hirsh Seymour Alban Barbara Shipnuck Naftali Schiff Doreen Kizner Kurt Charipper Walter Schwimmer Gerald Alan Kurbatzky Dr. Marcy Zwelling Evelyn Friedman Ruth Yavitz Golda Mel Mermelstein David Harrison We extend our condolences to the families and friends of those who have recently lost a loved one.

Mark Hardy to Jessie Butler & Family from Barbara, Ben, Jay & Lee Alhadeff

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

Doreen Kizner Mother & Mother-In-Law to Joel & Ronna Kizner Jessie Butler

Zichrono Livrakha

JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG

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5782 ADAR – NISAN | 15

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 3/1/22

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

Counting Down to 100 Years!

CELEBRATE TEMPLE ISRAEL’S 98TH BIRTHDAY... AND PURIM! Saturday, March 19th at 7:30 pm This Year’s Purim Shpiel

Esther - A Persian Musical

Join us for a special Hamilton-themed reenactment of the Purim Story!

THE ORGAN AND MUSIC OF THE REFROM MOVEMENT

ISRAELI CURRENT EVENTS

PASSOVER FESTIVAL SERVICES

Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 pm

Wednesday, March 30 at 9:30 am

Saturday, April 16 and Friday, April 22

(In Person and Livestream) Join Cantor Emeritus Marvin Finnley and Organist David York for a look at the history of the use of the organ in the Reform movement, concluding with a tour of the organ loft at Temple Israel.

WITH DANNY EHRLICH

(Zoom Only) Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People. What does being “Jewish” mean in Israel? Is there a tension between Jewish national and religious identities?

Yizkor will be observed

10:30 am

(In Person and Livestream)

WE ARE A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE REFORM CONGREGATION INSPIRING JEWISH LIFE IN LONG BEACH FOR OVER 97 YEARS!

269 LO M A AV E N U E • LO N G B E AC H , C A 90803 • 562.434 .0 9 9 6 • W W W. T I L B. O R G 16 | CHRONICLE

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MARCH – APRIL 2022