A Chorus of voices, joining in UNISON

A chorus of voices, joining in UNISON

Sheryl Musicant Stewart

Among the many lessons we’ve learned over the past two and a half years, we’ve certainly been reminded to prioritize what is important. I myself have a renewed appreciation for the ability to gather with friends and family. Without a doubt, community life, no matter one’s age, has proven to be an essential part of our mental and physical health, personal enjoyment, and overall sense of well being. Being together with others we care about makes our hearts sing.

Providing a place where thousands of hearts can come together to “sing” each year has been the core mission for the Alpert Jewish Community Center (AJCC) and Jewish Long Beach since 1948. Join friends, family and neighbors at UNISON on Sunday, November 13 at 5:00 p.m. as we celebrate the coming together of the AJCC and Jewish Long Beach and honor Jessie Butler and Gordon Lentzer, both pillars in our community. This fun, festive evening will take place throughout the AJCC, refreshing life memories and reminding us of Jewish Long Beach’s impact over the past seven and a half decades to help shape, define, strengthen, and enhance our greater Long Beach community, with familiar tunes that echo through the generations.

Maria Osorio and her family moved back to California from New York City, and then came to the AJCC for the ECE program. Her son, Jonás Lamb, attended preschool, as well as summer camp, swim lessons and martial arts classes. Now 15, he is still friends with several of his ECE classmates, and Maria and her husband, Chris, gather often with families they met there.

Shelley and Tom Carl sent their son Matthew to preschool at the J. Today, Matthew, 44, is a rabbi in New York, and remains dear friends with Seth Linden, Charles Brodsky and Todd Kaplan. The Carls remain best friends with the parents of those boys, all of whom came to the J to establish a strong foundation for their young kids, only to find that and so much more.

Binnie Berro’s mom was active in the Jewish community and sought to build social connections for the pre-teens and teens who didn’t get to meet many Jewish kids. Binnie was going to participate, whether she liked it or not. Now in her 80s, Binnie recalls being about 12 and not wanting to go into the old Long Beach JCC on Pacific Avenue until her mother pushed her out of the car. Today, Binnie and Jack are overjoyed that two of their great-grandchildren, Abby and Jacob Krugman, are now students in the ECE.

Jewish Long Beach strives to preserve Jewish life and strengthen Jewish advocacy, while also providing assistance to people in need and at risk, regardless of their religion or background. The agency connects those who want to help with those who need it most, distributing impact grants for programs throughout the community. For example, they pivoted quickly, modifying and expediting their grant process to support our community through a COVID-19 Relief Fund. Tens of thousands of dollars were disbursed, thoughtfully and strategically, via grocery gift cards for vulnerable families in need and learning tools for school-age kids, among other support.

Coming together in UNISON on November 13 will remind us that it takes more than one voice to ensure that Jewish Long Beach and the AJCC continue to build life memories and a strong support system for generations to come. Now it is time to consider how you will lend your own voice and contribute to the future of our beautiful community songbook.