Chronicle September/October 2024

CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2024 | AV - ELUL 5784 - TISHREI 5785

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

Facing the past, praying for the future Deborah K. Goldfarb | Jewish Long Beach

As summer wanes and our children and teens return to school, and young adults return to universities, I reflect upon the events of the past year. It has been a long, hot summer and I was happy to spend time camping in the Sierras, a respite from both the heat and the boiling political atmosphere related to the war. Unfortunately, as we approach the High Holy Days and I write this article, the war continues in Gaza, over 100 hostages remain in captivity, regular attacks from Hezbollah batter the north, and Iran and its proxies continue to threaten Israel.

Jewish tradition guides us into action in times of grief and in times of joy. A year ago, following the Hamas attack on October 7th, we came together as a community to mourn and process the shock we and our Israeli brothers and sisters felt as a Jewish Community. Since then, we joined together under the auspices of our parent body, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), to raise nearly $100 million to support the rebuilding of Israeli communities and the emotional support of their citizens who were ravaged by the attack and the war.

Jewish tradition guides us into action in times of grief and in times of joy This year the Jewish Holiday of Tisha B’av, the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av, was more prescient than ever as we mourned not only the loss of the Temples in Jerusalem, but the trauma of our Israeli brothers and sisters as they continue to pray for the return of the hostages held by Hamas.

This day of mourning is observed with a 25 hour fast to commemorate the tragedies which shaped the Jews as a people: the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem, the Crusades, the expulsions from Spain and the Inquisition, the Holocaust and now, the most brutal murder and injuring of Jews since the Holocaust, compounded by the capture and holding of the hostages and the anguish of an ongoing war.

Strength in Solidarity Long Beach’s Response to War in Israel

Advocating for Survival We proudly welcomed Rotem Korem and Shahar Etinger to Long Beach in May 2024 to share their firsthand account of the events of October 7 in Kfar Azza

In this issue, we outline some of these programs. Learn more on page 4.

Since the attacks, we have had many speakers and survivors at the Alpert JCC and we plan to continue these and other educational activities throughout the rest of the year. We are also preparing for a solemn commemoration on October 7, 2024 in conjunction with our local synagogues and organizations.

Eyes turned toward the East Acknowledgement of the ongoing hostage crisis has been a hallmark of Jewish Long Beach programming over the last year

As we move towards Rosh Hashanah and a new year, please join us as we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and the welfare of Israel and the Jewish people.

L’Shanah Tovah

Run for Their Lives A local grassroots initiative to raise awareness for the hostages by walking & running (Meets every Sunday at 10am at Bay Shore & Ocean)

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Jewish Federations of North America As communities around the world processed the worst atrocities in modern Jewish history, they knew they could count on the Jewish Federation system.

Thanks to our powerful network across North America, global reach, and vetting process that allows us to get dollars where they are needed most, Jewish Federations were there, ready to respond. Our system launched in full force, assessing needs, connecting with NGOs on the ground, and coordinating in real time with foundations and the Israeli government. We raised an incredible amount of funding and began making a significant impact.

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In this traumatic, unspeakable moment for the Jewish people, you have made an enormous difference. Every single person who has shown up, in every community — together, your unprecedented giving has made a truly significant difference in so many lives.

We have empowered hundreds of organizations and thousands of volunteers and have made a difference in the trajectory of Israel’s ongoing ability to respond to medical, mental health, communal, and economic needs as this crisis continues. We are in awe of the impact we are having together, and we thank you.

Total dollars raised

400,000

846,863,635

Lifeline Services $219M Medical & Trauma Relief $101M Economic Relief & Recovery $77M

Jewish Federations were there, ready to respond

Community Rebuilding $36M 4 | Chronicle | September - October 2024

Marking One Year Memorial Service with Local Clergy and Leaders Mon • Oct 7 2024 • 6:30 pm Alpert JCC Guest Speaker

Barak Moritz IDF “Lone Soldier” 7th Armed Brigade

RSVP at alpertjcc.org

CHANGE-MAKERS & COMMUNITY-SHAPERS

Upcoming Events

An update on Jewish Long Beach Women’s Philanthropy Susan Paletz | Director of Fund & Community Development Leadership Through Tzedakah Jewish Long Beach Women’s Philanthropy brings women together as a community to practice tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (justice) rachamim (compassion) and chessed (loving kindness). We provide opportunities for women to learn new skills and helping women of all ages and career stages translate their values into actions. We invite you to join us in an environment where every Jewish woman can enrich and strengthen her identity as a woman and a Jew and help make a difference. Be a part of the movement of local Jewish women who are leading by example.

Honoring Lions & Pomegranates We are so pleased to welcome Iris Kraemer, Chair of Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) National Women's Philanthropy, to Long Beach on Sunday, Sept 22, to

introduce her to our empowering network of women. Kraemer will speak at the Lion & Pomegranate Thank You Brunch event and update us on current philanthropic trends and endeavors from Jewish Federations of North America. Lions and Pomegranates should look for an email invitation with more information.

Celebrate Sukkot We welcome all women in our community to perform the mitzvah of dining in the Sukkah on Tuesday, Oct 22 at the Alpert JCC. We will share a beautiful vegetarian dinner, holiday desserts, wine, and the company of old and new friends under the palms of our sukkah.

To get involved in Women’s Philanthropy, contact Susan Paletz at spaletz@alpertjcc.org or (562) 426-7601 ext. 1012.

Lead and Inspire: Women’s Philanthropy Giving Societies

Lion & Pomegranate Thank You Brunch Guest Speaker Iris Kraemer Chair, National Women’s Philanthropy Sun • Sept 22 • 11 am Private Residence

Dinner in the Sukkah Tues • Oct 22 • 6 pm Alpert JCC Vegetarian dinner, holiday desserts, wine and good company. $15/pp.

Save the Date!

WOMEN’S WEEKEND 20 25

The Lions of Judah An international sisterhood of thousands of global activists who care deeply about the Jewish future. Each woman makes an annual commitment of $5,000 to the Jewish Long Beach Annual Community Campaign.

Pomegranate Society Women nurture, sustain, and plant the seeds for the next generation of Jewish leaders. Women who give a minimum of $1,800 to the Annual Community Campaign are recognized for their generous support of our local Jewish community.

January 24 - 26, 2025 Simi Valley, CA Co-Chairs: Eve Lunt & Andrea Salisbury 5 | Chronicle | Av - Elul 5784 - Tishrei 5785

Jerry & Joanne Levy

Helping the world,

ONE STARFISH AT A TIME Written by Sheryl Musicant Stewart Chair, Women’s Philanthropy Remember the tale about the boy throwing starfish that had washed ashore back into the sea? When a passerby asks, “Why bother? There are thousands of starfish on the beach. It won’t make a difference.” The boy, throwing another starfish into the sea, replies, “It made a difference to that one.” Joanne and Jerry Levy recount that story as emblematic of their philanthropic efforts on behalf of the Jewish community here in Long Beach.

Joanne grew up in the San Fernando Valley, and Jerry was raised in Kansas City. Though they’d both been raised in Reform Jewish homes, neither family had been particularly observant. The Levys wanted to ensure their two children, Gabrielle and Benjamin, had strong Jewish identities.

included a term as vice president for ritual practices. She joined the board of the local chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women and the board of Jewish Family and Children’s Service, all while working full-time as a school speech pathologist. Jerry joined the Temple Israel board after Joanne’s term ended. He served two years as treasurer and is beginning his second year as temple president. He was proud to lead the congregation during the celebration of the temple’s centennial this past year.

Jerry, a rheumatologist with Kaiser Permanente, had planned to retire from medicine at the end of 2019, but then came the pandemic. He was called back to support his fellow physicians in various capacities. Jerry cited his Jewish background and values – to help where and when he can – as motivation.

Jerry and Joanne settled in Long Beach in 1985 while Jerry was completing his residency. With no Jewish friends or connections here, they enrolled their kids in the Alpert JCC Early Childhood Education Center. Soon, the family began to develop a core group of Jewish friends.

After their children left home, Joanne became an adult bat mitzvah at Temple Israel and the couple began to immerse themselves in the Jewish community.

They focused their time, money, and energies on causes they cared about.

Joanne was invited to serve on the temple board. Her seven-year tenure

Now, this couple who spent their professional lives helping one patient at a time, has decided to help where they can, by establishing an endowment to benefit Jewish Long Beach. As they prepared for retirement and assessed their trust, the Levys made a list of the philanthropic causes they cared about – the University of Kansas, the Arthritis Foundation, and others. But Jerry and Joanne determined their highest priority was ensuring a strong Jewish community for families like theirs, now and well into the future.

The Levy family endowment will continue to grow in the coming years

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and one day, their children will have a say in how the funds are allocated.

Joanne and Jerry say it is important their adult children understand their priority is investing in the Jewish community and advancing the causes they believe in.

Jerry and Joanne know well that financial challenges and building membership are ongoing challenges for synagogues and Jewish organizations.

Though they can’t stem that tide alone, the couple hopes that, with the help of friends and other dedicated and generous community members, the organizations they care about, including Jewish Long Beach, will be able to keep the doors open for the next 100 years.

Jerry and Joanne, who will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in October, might not be able to change the entire world but hope to change a small part of it – one starfish at a time.

To learn more about how you too can give a Legacy Gift through Jewish Long Beach, please contact Kevin Giser at kgiser@jewishlongbeach.org or 562.426.7601 ext. 1011

JEWISH LONG BEACH

CULTURAL ARTS

FESTIVAL Music • Art • Food • Film • Literature

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Celebration of Theodore Bikel SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Film Screenings + Evelyn Linden Baldwin Creative Writing Contest Awards Ceremony DATE TBD Israeli Cooking Class + Family Movie Night All events held at Alpert JCC Sponsorships,VIP Passes, and Tickets at alpertjcc.org 7 | Chronicle | Av - Elul 5784 - Tishrei 5785

Way to go,

TEAM

LONG BEACH

Congratulations to all our teen athletes who represented Team Long Beach in the JCC Maccabi® Games in Detroit last month! We are beyond proud of Team Long Beach!

Gold Medal 16U 3v3 Basketball Santos Olumese and Levi Schimsky Silver Medal 14U Baseball: Sam Allen and Jadon Cohen 16U Boys Soccer Ethan Gertner Bronze Medal 16U Baseball Jordan Brown, Weston Cohen, Caleb Gitlin, Shane Guy, Landon Kramer, Aidan Pereg, Alex Rosoff, and Benny Ruggier

Illuminating the darkness through tradition Now accepting submissions for Evelyn Linden Baldwin Youth Creative Writing Contest Jewish Long Beach is proud to present the 2024 Evelyn Linden Baldwin Creative Writing Contest for students Grades 6 – 12 in the Greater Long Beach area.

Entries should respond to the following passage with a reflective essay, story, or short graphic novel exploring the concept of increasing light in the world.

First and second-place prizes in the amounts of $250 and $100, respectively, will be awarded to outstanding works in the high school and middle school categories. Winners will be notified by November 4. Winners and participants will be recognized at the Creative Writing Awards Ceremony on November 10 as a part of the Long Beach Jewish Arts & Culture Festival.

Submission deadline: October 15, 2024 at 5pm Submit original entries to alpertjcc.org/creative-writing Contact Dana Schneider-Chanzit at dschnieder@alpertjcc.org for any questions.

Prompt: "Light has long been a powerful symbol in human cultures and traditions. For example, light is significant in Jewish tradition.

Lighting Shabbat or Chanukah candles uses light to represent perseverance and symbolize hope. How does the idea of increasing light intersect with your tradition or values? Write a reflective essay, story, or short graphic novel exploring the concept of increasing light in the world. Consider how individuals may embody this concept through acts of kindness, charity, or spreading knowledge and wisdom."

September 19, 2024 Donate at longbeachgives.org/alpertjcc

All funds raised go towards social, educational, recreational, and spiritual programming for seniors.

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Happy New Year Jessie Butler & Family; Ellen Ruimy & Family; Sara Butler & Family; Carla Hoffman & Family; Heidi Hardy & Family

Shanah Tovah from our family to all!

Bill, Margaret, Emma, and Kevin

Wishing Our Community a Happy & Healthy New Year Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Long Beach & Orange County

Wishing You A Happy & Healthy New Year Marc, Sybil, Rachael, David, Deborah, Lily & Jonathan Tamaroff

Wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year NCJW Greater Long Beach & West Orange County

Shanah Tovah Barbara & Lester Brown May this year bring peace & happiness to you, your family, our country & the world Nancy, Jim, Seth, Sara, Ezra & Pax Linden, Marlene & Barry Levy

Wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year Don & Andrea Kaiser & Family

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Wishing you a sweet and healthy New Year Rosecarrie & Alan Brooks

Wishing You a Happy & Healthy New Year Jann Kronick-Gath and Chance Gath

Shanah Tovah The Kenigsberg Family

Wishing you a New Year of Health, Happiness, & Joy Laurie & Robert Raykoff & Family

Shanah Tovah Jewish Long Beach Board & Staff

Wishing You a Happy & Healthy New Year Shirley Ross

Best Wishes for a New Year of Joy & Laughter Dr. Susan Mathieu and the Happy Mathieu Family

Shanah Tovah & Happy New Year Amy, Jonah, & Josh

Shanah Tovah Beach Hillel Board, Staff & Students Wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year Arlene & Rick Freeman

Shanah Tovah!

Happy New Year!

Amy & Rich Lipeles

Wishing You a Happy & Healthy New Year Jeffrey, Lauren, Ellie, Joshua, Jacob, & Sandy Rips

Happy New Year Yolanda & Victor Placencio

Wishing You a New Year filled with Joy & Laughter Anna Salusky Salusky Law Group

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Support Alpert JCC Member-Owned Businesses!

We want to hear from you!

The Chronicle is building an AJCC Member-owned Business Directory, and we want you to be a part of it!

Email chronicle@jewishlongbeach.org to claim your FREE business directory listing!

Your Business Here!

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HEBREW ACADEMY

Investing in Futures

The Hebrew Academy’s Profound Impact “As a Jewish woman, it is very important to me to spend a year learning and growing in my identity in the land of Israel. I am excited to explore my Jewish identity, connect with my heritage, and grow as a young woman.”

Her words resonate with the core values instilled by the Hebrew Academy, demonstrating how the school's influence extends far beyond graduation.

Rabbi Newman, Head of School, extends a heartfelt thank you to the Long Beach community for their unwavering support.

Discovering the Hebrew Academy Innovation meets tradition in the Hebrew Academy's stateof-the-art STEM classroom. Funded by the Kaiser family, this “The enduring generosity of families like In 1979, Don and Andrea Kaiser moved space empowers students to explore, create, and excel in the from the San Gabriel Valley to Long Beach the Kaisers, along with legacy gifts and modern world while staying rooted in timeless values. with their family. As former educators, they endowment funds from Jewish Long commitment to the Hebrew Academy. sought a school that would offer their His professional expertise enhances his ability to Beach, allows the Hebrew Academy to children a nurturing, value-driven support and sustain the school’s mission, ensuring continue to provide an education that educational environment. The Hebrew blends academic excellence with Jewish that future generations benefit from a highAcademy, with its small class sizes and dual quality, values-driven education. values. This crucial support sustains and focus on secular and Hebrew education, enhances our programs. The new Jewish Inspired by the Pew report highlighting that the Long Beach Scholarship Fund, which quickly stood out as the perfect choice. best Jewish continuity is through Jewish began in 2024, will make our strong Don and Andrea were impressed by how education, Don and Andrea have dedicated value-based education accessible to even the Hebrew Academy combined academic themselves to supporting this mission. They excellence with Jewish teachings, creating an believe a comprehensive education must include more families. Together, we are nurturing environment where values were instilled in rigorous academic training and a deep connection the next generation of Jewish leaders right their children. Witnessing this profound to Jewish heritage and Israel. Their commitment is here in Orange County.” impact firsthand fueled their ongoing evident in the Kaiser Family Endowment through commitment and active involvement with Jewish Long Beach, which provides scholarships the Hebrew Academy. Don’s journey began for post high school student trips to Israel. as a parent and continued as a board Additionally, Don and Andrea funded the Hebrew member of the Jewish Federation of Long Academy’s STEM classroom and continue to Beach. As the current president of the provide annual funding for the program, Hebrew Academy board, Don dedicates his demonstrating their unwavering support for the time and expertise to support its mission and Jewish community. growth.

Constantly evolving to meet the challenges of tomorrow, these programs equip students with the skills and knowledge they'll need in an everchanging world. “We are preparing the future leaders of our community,” Don explains, his pride evident in every word.

Financial accessibility is a common concern for many families. The Hebrew Academy is dedicated to providing a Jewish education to any child whose family desires it, regardless of their financial situation. Don reassures, “The board's mission is to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent any child from receiving a Jewish Honoring visionaries: Rabbi Newman, Dean of Hebrew education.”

Academy, presented Don and Andrea Kaiser with a Menorah at Don has a simple invitation for parents worried a past Visionary Dinner, celebrating their profound contributions to Jewish education and community. about the social environment or cultural fit: “Come visit the school to see for yourself how A Legacy of Giving Back happy the children are in the positive Don's drive to give back to the community environment the dedicated teachers and is deeply rooted in the values his parents administrators provide for the children.” instilled in him. They taught him the importance of supporting the community, A Thank You to the Community and he passionately continues this legacy. As Estee Lovitch, this year’s graduating senior and an investment manager, Don understands recipient of the Kaiser Family Scholarship grant, the value of long-term planning and shares her anticipation for her upcoming gap year investment, which aligns perfectly with his in Israel:

“What truly sets the Hebrew Academy apart are the values it instilled in my kids,” recalls Don Kaiser. “I’ve seen those values carry through into their adult lives.” This profound observation captures the essence of the Hebrew Academy's enduring influence on its students, highlighting why this Orange County institution has been a cornerstone of Jewish education for over five decades.

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Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 129 Long Beach, CA

Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus 3801 E. Willow St. • Long Beach, CA 90815