Chronicle January February 2025

Flowers Aren’t Enough February 2 • 2 pm

Family Mega Challah Bake February 13 • 5 pm see pg. 16 for details

Purim Celebration March

Yom HaShoah Program April

Senior Outreach Year-Round

Jewish Long Beach Gala September

Cultural Arts Festival November

Chanukah Activities December

see pg. 12 for details

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A YEAR OF POSSIBILITIES!

Become a Program Patron today to support the continuation of your favorite community programs and events!

Contact Kevin Giser to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and becoming a Program Patron kgiser@jewishlongbeach.org • 562.426.7601 X1011

ANNUAL MEETING

Wednesday • Jan 22 • 6:30 pm RSVP at jewishlongbeach.org/annualmeeting

2025 Jewish Long Beach Board of Directors Slate Nominees for Officers: President: Richard R. Marcus, Ph.D President Elect: Lynne Kass Immediate Past President: Edie Brodsky VP Finance & Facilities/Treasurer: Shmueli Lovitch VP Fund & Community Development: Anna Salusky VP Children, Youth, Family: Pam Keiles VP Governance: Kathryn McDermott Secretary: Ken Schlesinger

Nominees for Board of Directors: Karen Ben-Shmuel* Linda Burney Shelley Carl Dr. Matt Davis* Daniela Villegas Erman Gary Fields Joyce Greenspan Mulu Skinner-Harrison Alan Kreida Beth Lesen, Ph.D* Seth Linden Michael Newman* Suzanne Perlitsh, Ph.D Jeremy Scherwin* Vicki Scherwin, Ph.D Norma Stein* Beth Sterling Linda Waltzman Ava Weiss *Denotes New Board Member

2 | January - February 2025

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

Renovations Moving Along Swimmingly Deborah K. Goldfarb | Jewish Long Beach In the early 1990’s a group of community leaders came together with a vision of creating a new Jewish community center to replace the previous center which had been functioning on the current site since 1960. Ultimately the new Barbara and Ray Alpert Jewish Community Center opened in 1999, with final fundraising being completed upon my arrival in 2005. The community was thrilled as we announced that we had reached our fundraising goal of $14M, and that we would have no mortgage on the facility.

Now, 25 years since the opening of the new AJCC, we have come to the place where improvements need to be made to the facility which serves over 30,000 people each year.

If you’ve been to the Alpert Jewish Community Center lately, you’ve probably seen the construction zone constituting the upgrading of the Mary Alpert Pool and the Arline & Paul Hillinger Family Deck and Patio. We are very excited about the progress that has been made, and the potential this and other capital projects are creating.

The first project that was recently completed adjacent to the pool area has been the Linden-Baldwin Cafe which has been updated with new paint, furniture, and coffee carts to create an enhanced work and hangout space.

We’ve already hosted a party in the new space! If you haven’t yet seen it, be sure to take a look when you stop by the center. With completion of the pool project, the Linden-Baldwin Cafe, with its modular furniture, will also be used as a catering staging area for parties, events and rentals on the Hillinger Family Pool Deck.

The pool is scheduled to reopen on Memorial Day Weekend, and we are excited to announce that the construction process is well on track to meet this deadline. While the area might currently look like piles of dirt where the previous deck used to be, we will soon start laying the new pavers and you will see significant progress towards the creation of our beautiful new aquatics center and retreat area.

The creation of the new aquatics

center is not only a much-awaited capital project - it is a renewed opportunity for us to engage families, members and guests of all ages. I often speak with members who remember the old pool, and the early days of the new pool which opened in 1999. They remember fondly how much of an impact those pools had on giving families a place to build friends, community, and lifelong memories and connections. We are very excited about providing even more opportunities for engagement as we reopen.

The new aquatics center will continue to provide swim lessons for our children, lap swim and aqua fitness classes for adults and seniors, and free swim for families and summer campers. Adults will also be able to relax in our new hot tub. The reimagined space will be a premier venue for all kinds of special events, such as Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties, Shabbat dinners, Havdalah onegs, movies by the pool, and endless more possibilities. There are countless memories waiting to be made.

ECE students explore the construction site of the reimagined Mary Alpert Pool & Hillinger Family Pool Deck.

We are committed to continuing to provide places for our community to gather, and we can’t wait to see all of you here. Thank you to all who have maintained their memberships at this time, and who see the potential of this new project.

Most of all, thank you to those who have contributed to the project, and to those who are still considering making a gift to the project. Special thanks to the Alpert Family, whose 75th Anniversary Gift in honor of their family's legacy continues to ensure the Mary Alpert Pool remains the spark for community building. There has never been a better time to give a gift to our community by supporting the Capital Campaign, including the pool project and other upcoming projects soon to be announced.

Please contact Kevin Giser, Fund Development Officer, kgiser@jewishlongbeach.org or 562.426.7601 ext. 1011 for more information on how to make your impact.

I can’t wait to see you at the pool this summer!

Campers soak up the sun at one of the last Summer of Fun events of 2024.

Over 25 years ago, construction began on the current site of the Alpert Jewish Community Center.

Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 3

CHRONICLE THE VOICE OF JEWISH LONG BEACH PUBLISHED SINCE 1947

FEATURES

Synagogue Directory I

P.O. Box 2279 Seal Beach, CA 90740 Rabbi Galit Levy-Slater 562.715.0888 | beithalev.com duets@icloud.com

5

LIVE EACH DAY

6

CREATIVE WRITING WINNERS

Carol Masters R

2024 Evelyn Linden Baldwin Youth Writing

14

EMPOWERING YOUNG ARTISTS

17

SEEKING A LIFE-CHANGER

O

Chabad of West Orange County/ Congregation Adat Israel 5052 Warner Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Rabbi Aron David Berkowitz 714.846.2285 | chabadhb.com info@chabadhb.com

A Donor for Kevin O’Grady O

DEPARTMENTS 15 16 18 19

Chabad of Los Alamitos & Cypress

12340 Seal Beach Blvd. Suite B-219 Seal Beach, CA 90740 Rabbi Shmuel Marcus 714.828.1851 | chabadlosal.com smarcus@jewishcypress.com

40th Norman Gottlieb Student Art Exhibition

Letter from the CEO Rabbinic Reflections Women’s Philanthropy Alpert JCC Programs AJCC Member-Owned Business

Beth David

6100 Hefley St. Westminster, CA 92683 Rabbi Nancy Myers 714.892.6623 | templebethdavid.org tbdavid@templebethdavid.org O

3 8 9 10 13

Beit HaLev (Virtual)

Hebrew Academy Puzzle Corner Community Bulletin Tributes & Memoriam

Congregation Lubavitch

3981 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807 Rabbi Yitzchok Newman 562.596.1681 yitzyg@aol.com C

Congregation Sholom of Leisure World, Seal Beach Mail to: PO Box 2901 Seal Beach, CA 90740 1421 Northwood Road Seal Beach, CA 90740 President Carol A. Stern Levine Direct 562.505.3622 | Membership 562.430.7040 congsholomlwsb@gmail.com

O

Shul By The Shore

3801 E. Willow Street Long Beach, California 90815 Rabbi Abba Perelmuter 562.621.9828 | shulbytheshore.org rabbi@shulbytheshore.org

Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus One Sommer Way 3801 E. Willow Street Long Beach, CA 90815-1791 562.426.7601 | jewishlongbeach.org Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Member

On the Cover Each year the Gatov Gallery partners with Long Beach Unified School District to curate a meaningful sample of middle and high school art.

Artwork created by 2023 Norman Gottlieb Student Art 1st Place High School winner Arthur Martins

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

R

15721 E. Rosecrans Ave. La Mirada, CA 90638 Rabbi Len Muroff 714.521.6765 | tbolm.org office@tbolm.org C

R

President, Board of Directors

Amy Lakin

Chief Program Officer

Rachel Roberts

Co-designer & Co-editor

Deborah K. Goldfarb

Kevin Giser

Susan Paletz

Yolanda Placencio

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Operating and Development Officer

Director of Fund & Community Development

Co-editor

Amanda Morell

Marketing Coordinator

Carlo Meir Co-designer

Temple Beth Shalom

3635 Elm Avenue Long Beach, CA 90807 Rabbi Menachem Mirski 562.426.6413 | tbslb.org office@tbslb.org

Temple Israel

269 Loma Ave. Long Beach, CA 90803 Rabbi Scott Fox 562.434.0996 | tilb.org info@tilb.org

Editorial and advertising queries, please call 562.426.7601 x1314 or write chronicle@jewishlongbeach.org.

Ad & Copy deadline for March/April 2025 issue: February 4, 2025 Chronicle ©2024 Jewish Long Beach. All Rights Reserved.

Richard R. Marcus, Ph.D.

Temple Beth Ohr

I

Temple Ner Tamid of Downey

10629 Lakewood Boulevard Downey, CA 90241 Rabbi Daniel Mehlman 562.861.9276 C I

Conservative Independent

O R

Orthodox Reform

See events hosted by organizations on page 18 of this issue The appearance of product or establishment advertising in The Chronicle does not constitute an endorsement of kashruth. Opinions printed in The 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.

4 | January - February 2025

Carol Masters at Legacy Society Luncheon August 2021

Carol Masters has a motto. Her goal is “living each day trying to accomplish something, not merely to exist.” And based on Carol’s busy schedule and many commitments in the Long Beach Jewish community and beyond, she’s a living embodiment of that motto.

Carol grew up in Glendale, where she and her family were active members of their local synagogue. Carol’s father was a member of the temple’s building committee, where he became good friends with the Masters family, who had a son close to Carol’s age. The rest, as they say, is history, as a family friendship turned over time into a courtship, with Mike and Carol marrying in 1966 and eventually settling in the Long Beach area. Along the way, Carol attended UC Riverside, UCLA, and Cal State Northridge, earning a degree in Mathematics as well as an elementary school teaching credential. Carol taught for three years and then left full-time teaching when she and Mike adopted their son David, who she brought along with her when she pivoted to apply her math knowledge as a tutor.

Carol and Mike joined Temple Israel of Long Beach in 1967, and in 1976, Rabbi Wolli Kaelter asked Carol to take on a new role, establishing the preschool program at the Sunday morning religious school. That, Carol says, is where she found her niche; from then on, Carol Masters became a constant presence in the Long Beach Jewish Community, particularly in the lives of children and families. She joined the staff of the JCC’s preschool summer camp program in 1985, and by 1989, she was spending her

weekdays as the Assistant to the Long Beach JCC’s preschool director, Lori Davidson, and her Sundays at Temple Israel. In her spare time, she became involved in various committees focusing on social justice, reproductive rights, and children’s issues.

Although Temple Israel has always been a home to Carol, in the early 2000s, as Mike became disabled, Carol found herself part of Congregation Shir Chadash as well. There, she became involved in the congregation’s religious and social missions, adding another layer to her rich history of contributing to the fabric of our community.

She joined the congregation’s board, and, through the Long Beach Legacy Foundation, helps to award grants to organizations throughout the the Jewish community. After Mike’s passing, Carol has also been deeply involved with the Lakewood Women’s Club, the El Dorado Women’s Club, and acts as a community volunteer at Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens, helping to facilitate educational crafts programs for visitors from Long Beach Unified’s 4th-grade classes. In addition, Carol has become involved in the National Council of Jewish Women, packing abortion comfort kits and Hugpacks for area foster children.

When it comes to making a lasting impact with her dollars, Carol is delighted by the ease with which she was able to set up her charitable trust through the Jewish Long Beach Legacy program. The program allowed her to designate the causes closest to her heart as recipients, including Jewish Long Beach, Temple Israel, JFCS, and the Passover fund. Carol feels strongly that in

order to ensure the continuity of Jewish life and community, her contributions will have the biggest effect right here, at home. Carol’s philosophy is that action and giving are just “part of who I am.” She “doesn’t need people to see what I’m doing…I just need to do it!”

And she does, and has, every day for over 50 years.

Carol on the 2022 Italy/Israel Jewish Long Beach Trip

Have you left a Legacy Gift to Jewish Long Beach and want to share your impact story?

Do you feel inspired by Carol’s story and want to learn about the difference you can make with a Legacy Gift?

Contact Kevin Giser at kgiser@jewishlongbeach.org or 562.426.7601 ext. 1011

JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

GREATER LONG BEACH Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 5

Evelyn Linden Baldwin

2024 Creative Writing Contest Winners

Light has long been a powerful symbol in human cultures and traditions. Middle and high school students in the greater Long Beach area were prompted to write a reflective essay or story exploring the concept of increasing light in the world, considering how individuals may embody this concept through acts of kindness, charity, or spreading knowledge and wisdom.

L-R: Jim Linden, Elessar Nolasco (Hon. Mention MS), Jasmine Ortiz (1st Place HS), Eva Yurish (1st Place MS), Betty Miller (2nd Place MS), Jolie Handler, Nancy Linden

1st Place – High School Joyful Luminescence, Candescent Flame of Remembrance Jasmine Ortiz, 12th Grade As the crisp autumn air settles over Mexico, a luminous transformation begins.

The veil between worlds grows gossamerthin, and the landscape blooms with the golden glow of remembrance. Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, emerges not as a somber occasion but as a radiant celebration of life's enduring light in the face of loss.

Imagine the soft flutter of marigold petals falling like whispers of sunlight. These Caminos de Cempasúchil weave through streets and cemeteries, their vibrant orange a defiant flame against the encroaching twilight. Each petal, placed with loving care, becomes a beacon for wandering souls, guiding them back to the warmth of remembrance.

As night falls, candles flicker to life in windows and on doorsteps, their flames dancing like heartbeats of those long passed.

These tiny beacons pierce the darkness, forming a constellation of earthbound stars that light the way home for spirits adrift in the great beyond.

In homes and public squares, ofrendas rise like illuminated towers of memory.

Here, past and present converge in a symphony of light and love. Photographs, once faded and forgotten in dusty albums, are resurrected in the gentle glow of candlelight. The faces of grandparents, parents, and children lost too soon shine with renewed vitality. Their smiles, captured in sepia and silver, seem to flicker with life, as if they might step out of their frames and rejoin the family circle.

The air grows thick with the mingled scents of burning copal, sweet pan demuerto, and the earthy perfume of marigolds. These 6 | January - February 2025

fragrances weave together to create an invisible thread connecting the living to the dead, present to past. Each inhale becomes an act of communion, drawing lost loved ones' essence into those who remember.

As midnight deepens its hold, cemeteries transform from places of quiet repose to vibrant gardens of memory. Candlelight dances across weathered tombstones, illuminating names and dates that speak not of endings but lives richly and joyously lived.

Families gather at gravesides; their laughter mingles with tears in flickering light as they share meals and toast cherished memories— breathing life into stories passed down through generations.

In these moments, death loses its sting; cemetery lights remind us our loved ones aren't gone but merely hidden from view— like stars obscured by daylight—their influence, love, and essence continue shaping our world and guiding us like gentle glows from distant celestial bodies. As stories are shared and memories rekindled, a warm radiance spreads through gatherings, illuminating faces and hearts alike. This inner light, kindled by love and nurtured by tradition, becomes a bulwark against forgetting's darkness—each tale told, favorite dish prepared, and candle lit becomes an act defying the void, declaring we never truly part with those we love.

In this abundance lies a profound truth: love transcends life's boundaries and death's embrace. The bonds we forge illuminate paths long after cherished ones depart. Every act of remembrance, tear shed, and laugh shared strengthens the luminous weave connecting us across time and space.

As dawn approaches and spirits prepare to return, Día de los Muertos’ light doesn't fade but absorbs into participants' hearts, becoming an ember glowing softly within, ready to be kindled again during times of darkness and doubt. This celebration

teaches us that even amidst deep grief and profound loss, we possess the power to create light by coming together, sharing stories, and honoring ancestors, illuminating the deepest shadows. Día de los Muertos stands as a testament to humanity's indomitable spirit, our capacity for finding joy amid sorrow, and our ability to keep love alive beyond mortality's boundaries.

1st Place – Middle School A Hanukkah Candle Eva Yirush, 7th Grade The first thing I noticed were the trees, the picturesque trees that stood outside my window. They looked beautiful, mantled by a plethora of snow-covered branches that swayed delicately as the gentle wind flew past them. I used to love these trees as a child. I would parade around them with my sister, our noses blanketed in a harsh coat of pink and our eyes bright in a flurry of excitement and awe caused by the white masterpiece that made up the ground around us as we were monitored by our grandma, who took watching our youthful play a very serious profession, until she caved and trampled through the icy snow to join us, Hanukkah lights receding in the window behind her. I turn away from the window as dad starts the car, as the wheels start to turn. Our car fades into the horizon, indulged with silence, and infused with shrouded problems.

I open my car door slowly, letting the wind blanket my face in an abrasive air that reminds me of freshness, of pain. The venue is pretty, full of flowers of all shades that cloak the grounds with beauty, and a discordant tranquility. I look at my mother and sister. Their faces are captured in shocked desolation, lips pursed and eyes hollow, filled to the brim with disbelief and

Below are the 1st place high school and middle school entries. Congratulations to all 41 participants! numbness. My father is silent, his face flushed in a sullen expression.

We walk forward, preparing to be shadowed by a harrowing sight. Besides the casket, two large shovels lay. I see my uncle approaching, an enervated look plastered on his blue eyes. My mother and my uncle stand next to each other for a second, observing the final resting place of their mother. They slowly begin to pierce their shovels into the ground, extracting the dirt from it, and watching, with tears engulfing their solemn eyes, the dirt pile above her, hiding her from all the people she loved.

This was goodbye.

It’s our house still. All the furniture has retained its stature, the walls still stand with banal obstinacy. So, what has changed? It’s us. It’s the way my parents sleep in different rooms. It’s my sister who has cascaded the windows that peer into her soul with darkness. It’s my uncle, who does not visit anymore, leaving our family starved of the glee that he lit the house with. But mostly, it’s my grandmother, and how she’s gone, trapped under mounds of dirt and miles away from the hearts that her departure has evoked in a sterilizing melancholy.

I think of this all at dinner, surrounded by plates of food and distant eyes. “How was work?” I ask, eyeing my mom, conducting a hasty attempt to normalize the coldness that besets our dinner table.

“It was good.” Her phlegmatic tone sears my heart, and I go quiet.

“Where’s dad?” my sister's voice rises from obscurity.

“He’s upstairs.”

“But why?”

My mom pauses, her eyes filling with enmity. “We had a fight.”

“But why?” My sister asks again, the words escalate in a tone of anger, as her eyes dig at my mother’s face.

“Because apparently, I’m not being a good wife. I’m shutting everyone out. Because he doesn’t understand I’m hurting, I’m grieving.” Her eyes lose their livid visage and begin to spiral into despondency.

“Everyone here is hurting! Does that mean we ruin every relationship that’s important to us? This family is shattered because of you!”

The world around me goes dark as they continue to argue. I try to ignore the feeling as my sister's words echo in my ears, “This family is shattered because of you.” They serve as recurring evidence of the one idea I have been endlessly trying to escape. Could our family really be falling apart? The answer comes to me in sharp haste, yes.

I stand alone in the basement, surrounded by stacked boxes that loom over me, all rife with memories and eclectic objects. I reach to clasp a box labeled, “Hanukkah.” As I slowly remove the lid, my eyes are met with a cloud of dust that shrouds the objects that lay under it. I take out a latke recipe, a small dreidel and a silver menorah. As I run my fingers over their cold crevices, they pierce me with a yearning to return to those Hanukkahs where everything felt irreproachable, where laughter cosseted our minds and our hearts, where snow fell and the candles lit grandma’s home with hope. Slowly, an idea approaches my listless mind: the only way to repair this family is to bring it together again, to remind it of the beauty of the celebration that united us all those years ago.

The room is adorned with decorations that line the walls and stuff the counters with child-like idiocy. I love it. It looks familiar, because it is--it’s my recreation of my grandmother's favorite holiday. But really, it’s a healing process. I stack the invitations, each overladen with paper that is fraught with

words and explanations and bound upstairs to deliver them.

The candles burn low, flickering and dwindling as we all gather around. “Is this grandma's old menorah?” My mom asks, a calm look in her eyes. “Yeah, I found it in the basement,” I respond, eyeing her. She looks happy, her face entangled in a daze that lights the whole room. “All of this is beautiful,” she whispers. “It takes me back,” my uncle adds, staring at the menorah with pride and fondness.

As my mother and uncle embrace, the world falls back into place. I can hear the laughter of my father and sister as it replenishes a feeling of warmth that my heart has yearned for. Behind me, someone approaches. “I am so proud of you,” my uncle whispers, his eyes filling with unalloyed gratification. “For what?” I probe.

“For bringing this family together again.” He smiles for a second. “You are like a Hanukkah candle, bringing light to darkness.”

Evelyn Linden Baldwin Evelyn Linden Baldwin was a beloved leader in the Long Beach community. Born in Cincinnati, she lived most of her life in Detroit until she moved to California in 1982. Shortly after moving to Long Beach, Shelley Carl and Rabbi Wolli Kaelter arranged a “shiddach” between Evelyn and Bob Baldwin, whom she married and spent a beautiful ten years until Bob passed away in 1992. Evelyn was a social worker by training and supported her love of Judaism, education, and Israel. She left a legacy of kindness, humility, and intellect to the community. She would be proud to know the lasting impact she has made, along with her children, Jim and Russ, and grandchildren, Seth, Ari, Becca, and Josh, all of whom continue to teach and support her values of Judaism, education, and community building.

Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 7

Evelyn Linden Baldwin

2024 Creative Writing Contest Winners

Light has long been a powerful symbol in human cultures and traditions. Middle and high school students in the greater Long Beach area were prompted to write a reflective essay or story exploring the concept of increasing light in the world, considering how individuals may embody this concept through acts of kindness, charity, or spreading knowledge and wisdom.

L-R: Jim Linden, Elessar Nolasco (Hon. Mention MS), Jasmine Ortiz (1st Place HS), Eva Yurish (1st Place MS), Betty Miller (2nd Place MS), Jolie Handler, Nancy Linden

1st Place – High School Joyful Luminescence, Candescent Flame of Remembrance Jasmine Ortiz, 12th Grade As the crisp autumn air settles over Mexico, a luminous transformation begins.

The veil between worlds grows gossamerthin, and the landscape blooms with the golden glow of remembrance. Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, emerges not as a somber occasion but as a radiant celebration of life's enduring light in the face of loss.

Imagine the soft flutter of marigold petals falling like whispers of sunlight. These Caminos de Cempasúchil weave through streets and cemeteries, their vibrant orange a defiant flame against the encroaching twilight. Each petal, placed with loving care, becomes a beacon for wandering souls, guiding them back to the warmth of remembrance.

As night falls, candles flicker to life in windows and on doorsteps, their flames dancing like heartbeats of those long passed.

These tiny beacons pierce the darkness, forming a constellation of earthbound stars that light the way home for spirits adrift in the great beyond.

In homes and public squares, ofrendas rise like illuminated towers of memory.

Here, past and present converge in a symphony of light and love. Photographs, once faded and forgotten in dusty albums, are resurrected in the gentle glow of candlelight. The faces of grandparents, parents, and children lost too soon shine with renewed vitality. Their smiles, captured in sepia and silver, seem to flicker with life, as if they might step out of their frames and rejoin the family circle.

The air grows thick with the mingled scents of burning copal, sweet pan demuerto, and the earthy perfume of marigolds. These 6 | January - February 2025

fragrances weave together to create an invisible thread connecting the living to the dead, present to past. Each inhale becomes an act of communion, drawing lost loved ones' essence into those who remember.

As midnight deepens its hold, cemeteries transform from places of quiet repose to vibrant gardens of memory. Candlelight dances across weathered tombstones, illuminating names and dates that speak not of endings but lives richly and joyously lived.

Families gather at gravesides; their laughter mingles with tears in flickering light as they share meals and toast cherished memories— breathing life into stories passed down through generations.

In these moments, death loses its sting; cemetery lights remind us our loved ones aren't gone but merely hidden from view— like stars obscured by daylight—their influence, love, and essence continue shaping our world and guiding us like gentle glows from distant celestial bodies. As stories are shared and memories rekindled, a warm radiance spreads through gatherings, illuminating faces and hearts alike. This inner light, kindled by love and nurtured by tradition, becomes a bulwark against forgetting's darkness—each tale told, favorite dish prepared, and candle lit becomes an act defying the void, declaring we never truly part with those we love.

In this abundance lies a profound truth: love transcends life's boundaries and death's embrace. The bonds we forge illuminate paths long after cherished ones depart. Every act of remembrance, tear shed, and laugh shared strengthens the luminous weave connecting us across time and space.

As dawn approaches and spirits prepare to return, Día de los Muertos’ light doesn't fade but absorbs into participants' hearts, becoming an ember glowing softly within, ready to be kindled again during times of darkness and doubt. This celebration

teaches us that even amidst deep grief and profound loss, we possess the power to create light by coming together, sharing stories, and honoring ancestors, illuminating the deepest shadows. Día de los Muertos stands as a testament to humanity's indomitable spirit, our capacity for finding joy amid sorrow, and our ability to keep love alive beyond mortality's boundaries.

1st Place – Middle School A Hanukkah Candle Eva Yirush, 7th Grade The first thing I noticed were the trees, the picturesque trees that stood outside my window. They looked beautiful, mantled by a plethora of snow-covered branches that swayed delicately as the gentle wind flew past them. I used to love these trees as a child. I would parade around them with my sister, our noses blanketed in a harsh coat of pink and our eyes bright in a flurry of excitement and awe caused by the white masterpiece that made up the ground around us as we were monitored by our grandma, who took watching our youthful play a very serious profession, until she caved and trampled through the icy snow to join us, Hanukkah lights receding in the window behind her. I turn away from the window as dad starts the car, as the wheels start to turn. Our car fades into the horizon, indulged with silence, and infused with shrouded problems.

I open my car door slowly, letting the wind blanket my face in an abrasive air that reminds me of freshness, of pain. The venue is pretty, full of flowers of all shades that cloak the grounds with beauty, and a discordant tranquility. I look at my mother and sister. Their faces are captured in shocked desolation, lips pursed and eyes hollow, filled to the brim with disbelief and

Below are the 1st place high school and middle school entries. Congratulations to all 41 participants! numbness. My father is silent, his face flushed in a sullen expression.

We walk forward, preparing to be shadowed by a harrowing sight. Besides the casket, two large shovels lay. I see my uncle approaching, an enervated look plastered on his blue eyes. My mother and my uncle stand next to each other for a second, observing the final resting place of their mother. They slowly begin to pierce their shovels into the ground, extracting the dirt from it, and watching, with tears engulfing their solemn eyes, the dirt pile above her, hiding her from all the people she loved.

This was goodbye.

It’s our house still. All the furniture has retained its stature, the walls still stand with banal obstinacy. So, what has changed? It’s us. It’s the way my parents sleep in different rooms. It’s my sister who has cascaded the windows that peer into her soul with darkness. It’s my uncle, who does not visit anymore, leaving our family starved of the glee that he lit the house with. But mostly, it’s my grandmother, and how she’s gone, trapped under mounds of dirt and miles away from the hearts that her departure has evoked in a sterilizing melancholy.

I think of this all at dinner, surrounded by plates of food and distant eyes. “How was work?” I ask, eyeing my mom, conducting a hasty attempt to normalize the coldness that besets our dinner table.

“It was good.” Her phlegmatic tone sears my heart, and I go quiet.

“Where’s dad?” my sister's voice rises from obscurity.

“He’s upstairs.”

“But why?”

My mom pauses, her eyes filling with enmity. “We had a fight.”

“But why?” My sister asks again, the words escalate in a tone of anger, as her eyes dig at my mother’s face.

“Because apparently, I’m not being a good wife. I’m shutting everyone out. Because he doesn’t understand I’m hurting, I’m grieving.” Her eyes lose their livid visage and begin to spiral into despondency.

“Everyone here is hurting! Does that mean we ruin every relationship that’s important to us? This family is shattered because of you!”

The world around me goes dark as they continue to argue. I try to ignore the feeling as my sister's words echo in my ears, “This family is shattered because of you.” They serve as recurring evidence of the one idea I have been endlessly trying to escape. Could our family really be falling apart? The answer comes to me in sharp haste, yes.

I stand alone in the basement, surrounded by stacked boxes that loom over me, all rife with memories and eclectic objects. I reach to clasp a box labeled, “Hanukkah.” As I slowly remove the lid, my eyes are met with a cloud of dust that shrouds the objects that lay under it. I take out a latke recipe, a small dreidel and a silver menorah. As I run my fingers over their cold crevices, they pierce me with a yearning to return to those Hanukkahs where everything felt irreproachable, where laughter cosseted our minds and our hearts, where snow fell and the candles lit grandma’s home with hope. Slowly, an idea approaches my listless mind: the only way to repair this family is to bring it together again, to remind it of the beauty of the celebration that united us all those years ago.

The room is adorned with decorations that line the walls and stuff the counters with child-like idiocy. I love it. It looks familiar, because it is--it’s my recreation of my grandmother's favorite holiday. But really, it’s a healing process. I stack the invitations, each overladen with paper that is fraught with

words and explanations and bound upstairs to deliver them.

The candles burn low, flickering and dwindling as we all gather around. “Is this grandma's old menorah?” My mom asks, a calm look in her eyes. “Yeah, I found it in the basement,” I respond, eyeing her. She looks happy, her face entangled in a daze that lights the whole room. “All of this is beautiful,” she whispers. “It takes me back,” my uncle adds, staring at the menorah with pride and fondness.

As my mother and uncle embrace, the world falls back into place. I can hear the laughter of my father and sister as it replenishes a feeling of warmth that my heart has yearned for. Behind me, someone approaches. “I am so proud of you,” my uncle whispers, his eyes filling with unalloyed gratification. “For what?” I probe.

“For bringing this family together again.” He smiles for a second. “You are like a Hanukkah candle, bringing light to darkness.”

Evelyn Linden Baldwin Evelyn Linden Baldwin was a beloved leader in the Long Beach community. Born in Cincinnati, she lived most of her life in Detroit until she moved to California in 1982. Shortly after moving to Long Beach, Shelley Carl and Rabbi Wolli Kaelter arranged a “shiddach” between Evelyn and Bob Baldwin, whom she married and spent a beautiful ten years until Bob passed away in 1992. Evelyn was a social worker by training and supported her love of Judaism, education, and Israel. She left a legacy of kindness, humility, and intellect to the community. She would be proud to know the lasting impact she has made, along with her children, Jim and Russ, and grandchildren, Seth, Ari, Becca, and Josh, all of whom continue to teach and support her values of Judaism, education, and community building.

Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 7

REFLECTIONS

Reflecting on the Ruach (Spirit) of Chanukah written December 2024

Rabbi Levi Perelmuter | Shul by the Shore Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, shines as a beacon of resilience, faith, and rededication in the Jewish calendar.

This holiday commemorates the miraculous victory of the Maccabees against the Seleucid Greeks, a small band of faithful Jews who stood against a mighty empire intent on erasing their faith and culture. The story of Chanukah is not just one of ancient history; it resonates powerfully in our own time, particularly as we witness the ongoing struggles in the Land of Israel.

threat, we are reminded today of the importance of safeguarding our traditions and values amid modern-day conflicts.

The menorah, kindled during Chanukah, symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and spirit over oppression. It reminds us that even a small amount of light can dispel great darkness. Each candle we light is a testament to our enduring faith and our refusal to let despair extinguish hope.

As we celebrate Chanukah, we are called to not only stand united but to strengthen our Jewish identity. Now more than ever, we must embrace our heritage with pride, deepen our commitment to Torah values, and instill these principles in the next generation.

The courage of the Maccabees serves as

Today, as in the time of the Maccabees, the Jewish people face challenges to their identity and survival.

The parallels between the ancient conflict and the current conflict in Israel are striking. Just as the Maccabees fought to preserve their faith under

a timeless reminder that a strong Jewish identity is our greatest source of resilience.

May the light of Chanukah guide us forward, bringing strength and courage to the Israeli Defense Forces, freedom to those held captive, and a renewed sense of Jewish pride to communities around the world.

SEEN SCENE AT THE

Your Jewish Long Beach Moments

Tag and follow us on social media @jewishlongbeach

Bringing together those of differing faith traditions December 5

8 | January - February 2025

Thanking our dedicated volunteers at a special luncheon December 11

Learning about Chanukah traditions through hands-on candle dipping December 5

LEADING THE WAY FORWARD Ladies Leadership Council

Women’s Philanthropy

Bulletin

Sheryl Stewart, Jewish Long Beach Women’s Philanthropy Chair Leading Tomorrow On behalf of Jewish Long Beach's Women's Philanthropy, I want to thank you for your long-standing commitment to the values and priorities of our organization strengthening and advancing Jewish life here in our community and around the world. Your leadership, investments (of time, talent, and funds), and your vision for the future of our Jewish community are appreciated and valued, in many cases by people you will never know.

I would like to invite you to join the new Women's Philanthropy Ladies Leadership Council, formerly known as the Cabinet. It is my belief that this new name more aptly and clearly states what we will do -- consult, discuss, and lead -- as we work to further our mission, identify areas of focus, present legacy events, such as the Arlene Solomon

Visions event, and support the many agencies under the wide tent of Jewish Long Beach.

Please make plans to join our first LLC meeting on Tuesday, January 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Alpert JCC. We will have wine and desserts. You will learn more about the goals of our new LLC and how you can join in guiding our group to even greater successes in the coming year.

Please RSVP to Susan Paletz at spaletz@alpertjcc.org or via phone at 562-426-7601 X1012. Susan and I very much look forward to seeing you there.

Warmly,

HINENI WOMEN’S WEEKEND Sheryl Stewart Women's Philanthropy Chair

Dignity Project

Launched in 2021, the Dignity Project ensures that women and girls in the greater Long Beach community have access to adequate menstrual and hygiene supplies.

“Here I Am”

JANUARY 24 - 26, 2025

AT BRANDEIS BARDIN CAMPUS, SIMI VALLEY A weekend celebrating womanhood, friendship, and Judaism

SAVE THE DATE

Arlene Solomon Visions

Scan to register for Women’s Weekend 2025 or visit jewishlongbeach.org/womens-weekend25

Thurs • May 8 Alpert JCC An evening celebrating outstanding women in the community

Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 9

ALPERT

On the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus One Sommer Way | 3801 E. Willow St. | Long Beach, CA | 90815 (562) 426-7601 | alpertjcc.org

Your Center for Life!

NEW YEAR MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL START 2025 FOR JUST JANUARY 1 - 31, 2025

Join at alpertjcc.org

$25

*TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY

Happening Weekly Drop-in Mah Jongg: Mondays, 6 PM Wednesdays, 1 PM Memoir Writing: Tuesdays | 6 PM Register at alpertjcc.org Barbara Alpert Singing Circle: Wednesdays 10:30 AM | Free Drop-in Canasta: Wednesdays | 11:30 AM, 1 PM Kabbalah: Wednesdays | 12 PM | Free

Hours: Mon - Thurs 6 AM - 9 PM, Fri 6 AM - 6 PM, Sat-Sun 7 AM - 5 PM Upcoming Closures: Wed (1/1) Closed, Sat (1/4) Closed

Culture & Community

Fitness

Family Mega Challah Bake Thursday | Feb 13 | 5 PM Make your own challah from scratch, snack on Kosher trail mix, and jam out to live music from Jelly of the Month Club!

L’Dor v’Dough: Senior & Student Challah Bake Friday | Feb 14 | 1 PM

Adult & Teen Self-Defense Workshop with Sensei Mac 4-Week Series | Starting February 2 Learn how to defend yourself using martial arts techniques while building confidence and self-esteem. All skill levels.

with Beach Hillel

A mini intergenerational challah bake for our seniors and Beach Hillel students.

Where Things Stand in the Middle East with Avi Melamed Monday | Feb 24 | Time TBA Briefing and Q&A with former Israeli Intelligence officer and senior Arab Affairs advisor Zena and Pauline Gatov Gallery January: ECE Chanukah Art Show February: 40th Norman Gottlieb Student Art Exhibition

Off-Site Aqua Fitness At Ability First (across the street from the J) Continue aqua fitness during the Mary Alpert Pool remodel. RSVP for classes at alpertjcc.org Personal Training New AJCC Members: Enjoy a one-hour fitness assessment and three 30-minute Personal Training sessions, all for $120!

Group Fitness Schedules Visit alpertjcc.org or the Alpert JCC app for class schedules.

Tae Bo®

Martin Luther King Jr.

with Billy Blanks®

Sun • Jan 19 • 9:30 AM

March 1, 2 9:30 AM

Day of Service Spend the day volunteering in the ECE garden!

Take a class in-person with the founder of Tae Bo®

Get involved at alpertjcc.org

Register at alpertjcc.org

Happening Monthly Jessie Butler Senior Luncheon Wednesday | Jan 15, Feb 5, 19 | 12 PM Senior Shabbat & Luncheon with Temple Israel Saturday | Jan 11, Feb 15 | 11 AM Happiness & Humor Group Friday | Jan 3, Feb 7 | 11 AM | Free Alpert Classic Film Society Wednesday | 7 PM | Virtual Jan 8: Oklahoma (1955) Feb 12: The Graduate (1967)

WE’RE HERE TO HELP! 10 | January - February 2025

SAVE THE DATE

pURIM

SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2024

Anneleise Thompson athompson@alpertjcc.org | ext. 1514 Adults, Seniors, Volunteers

alpertjcc.org

JAN

Blood Drive WHY ?

O D NATE

7

Tues | 9 AM - 3 PM

Win a trip to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans!

Schedule your appointment at alpertjcc.org Dana Schneider-Chanzit dschneider@alpertjcc.org | ext. 1067 Jewish Life & Culture

Elsie Bennett ebennett@alpertjcc.org | ext. 1056 Fitness, Wellness & Aquatics

J BABY

Parent & Me: Ages 0 - 12 months Monthly Group Fitness Classes CLASSES START

JANUARY 7 Body Blast 1st Tues Yoga 2nd Thurs Pilates 3rd Thurs Stretch & Meditation 4th Thurs LEARN MORE AT ALPERTJCC.ORG

Youth Activities Tu B’Shevat Hike Monday | Feb 10 | Gum Grove Park Seal Beach Celebrate the new year of the trees with a hike!

Camp Komaroff April 14 - 18 | Ages 4 - 12 Spend spring break at camp with fun activities, field trips, and Legos! Register at alpertjcc.org Discover Youth Sports! with First Touch Soccer, Sensei Mac, and BBallers Hoops

Indoor Soccer (Futsal) for ages 7 - 12, Martial Arts for ages 3+, and Basketball for ages 3 - 14.

PJ Library Free Jewish storybooks delivered straight to your home every month! Open to Jewish families with children ages 0 - 8. Ages 9 - 12: sign up for PJ Our Way to continue receiving monthly books!

Sign up today!

Emily Gould egould@alpertjcc.org | ext. 1093 Children, Youth & Families

Michelle Sears msears@alpertjcc.org | ext. 1320 Membership Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 11

ALPERT

On the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus One Sommer Way | 3801 E. Willow St. | Long Beach, CA | 90815 (562) 426-7601 | alpertjcc.org

Your Center for Life!

NEW YEAR MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL START 2025 FOR JUST JANUARY 1 - 31, 2025

Join at alpertjcc.org

$25

*TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY

Happening Weekly Drop-in Mah Jongg: Mondays, 6 PM Wednesdays, 1 PM Memoir Writing: Tuesdays | 6 PM Register at alpertjcc.org Barbara Alpert Singing Circle: Wednesdays 10:30 AM | Free Drop-in Canasta: Wednesdays | 11:30 AM, 1 PM Kabbalah: Wednesdays | 12 PM | Free

Hours: Mon - Thurs 6 AM - 9 PM, Fri 6 AM - 6 PM, Sat-Sun 7 AM - 5 PM Upcoming Closures: Wed (1/1) Closed, Sat (1/4) Closed

Culture & Community

Fitness

Family Mega Challah Bake Thursday | Feb 13 | 5 PM Make your own challah from scratch, snack on Kosher trail mix, and jam out to live music from Jelly of the Month Club!

L’Dor v’Dough: Senior & Student Challah Bake Friday | Feb 14 | 1 PM

Adult & Teen Self-Defense Workshop with Sensei Mac 4-Week Series | Starting February 2 Learn how to defend yourself using martial arts techniques while building confidence and self-esteem. All skill levels.

with Beach Hillel

A mini intergenerational challah bake for our seniors and Beach Hillel students.

Where Things Stand in the Middle East with Avi Melamed Monday | Feb 24 | Time TBA Briefing and Q&A with former Israeli Intelligence officer and senior Arab Affairs advisor Zena and Pauline Gatov Gallery January: ECE Chanukah Art Show February: 40th Norman Gottlieb Student Art Exhibition

Off-Site Aqua Fitness At Ability First (across the street from the J) Continue aqua fitness during the Mary Alpert Pool remodel. RSVP for classes at alpertjcc.org Personal Training New AJCC Members: Enjoy a one-hour fitness assessment and three 30-minute Personal Training sessions, all for $120!

Group Fitness Schedules Visit alpertjcc.org or the Alpert JCC app for class schedules.

Tae Bo®

Martin Luther King Jr.

with Billy Blanks®

Sun • Jan 19 • 9:30 AM

March 1, 2 9:30 AM

Day of Service Spend the day volunteering in the ECE garden!

Take a class in-person with the founder of Tae Bo®

Get involved at alpertjcc.org

Register at alpertjcc.org

Happening Monthly Jessie Butler Senior Luncheon Wednesday | Jan 15, Feb 5, 19 | 12 PM Senior Shabbat & Luncheon with Temple Israel Saturday | Jan 11, Feb 15 | 11 AM Happiness & Humor Group Friday | Jan 3, Feb 7 | 11 AM | Free Alpert Classic Film Society Wednesday | 7 PM | Virtual Jan 8: Oklahoma (1955) Feb 12: The Graduate (1967)

WE’RE HERE TO HELP! 10 | January - February 2025

SAVE THE DATE

pURIM

SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2024

Anneleise Thompson athompson@alpertjcc.org | ext. 1514 Adults, Seniors, Volunteers

alpertjcc.org

JAN

Blood Drive WHY ?

O D NATE

7

Tues | 9 AM - 3 PM

Win a trip to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans!

Schedule your appointment at alpertjcc.org Dana Schneider-Chanzit dschneider@alpertjcc.org | ext. 1067 Jewish Life & Culture

Elsie Bennett ebennett@alpertjcc.org | ext. 1056 Fitness, Wellness & Aquatics

J BABY

Parent & Me: Ages 0 - 12 months Monthly Group Fitness Classes CLASSES START

JANUARY 7 Body Blast 1st Tues Yoga 2nd Thurs Pilates 3rd Thurs Stretch & Meditation 4th Thurs LEARN MORE AT ALPERTJCC.ORG

Youth Activities Tu B’Shevat Hike Monday | Feb 10 | Gum Grove Park Seal Beach Celebrate the new year of the trees with a hike!

Camp Komaroff April 14 - 18 | Ages 4 - 12 Spend spring break at camp with fun activities, field trips, and Legos! Register at alpertjcc.org Discover Youth Sports! with First Touch Soccer, Sensei Mac, and BBallers Hoops

Indoor Soccer (Futsal) for ages 7 - 12, Martial Arts for ages 3+, and Basketball for ages 3 - 14.

PJ Library Free Jewish storybooks delivered straight to your home every month! Open to Jewish families with children ages 0 - 8. Ages 9 - 12: sign up for PJ Our Way to continue receiving monthly books!

Sign up today!

Emily Gould egould@alpertjcc.org | ext. 1093 Children, Youth & Families

Michelle Sears msears@alpertjcc.org | ext. 1320 Membership Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 11

*Sponsors as of 12/5/24

Temple Beth Ohr La Mirada

Flowers Aren’t Enough A One-Woman Show by Naomi Ackerman

SUNDAY • FEBRUARY 2 • 2 - 4 PM At the Alpert JCC on the Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus A profoundly mov ing piece 3801 E. Willow St. Long Beach, CA 90815 of work, beautifully writ Suitable for ages 14+

‘Flowers Aren’t Enough’ tells the story of Michal, a young woman who falls into an abusive relationship. Based on true stories, Ms. Ackerman has woven the voices of women from different cultures and backgrounds into a performance that encourages social change. Discussion and dessert reception to follow.

Tickets: $15/person Scan to get tickets today! alpertjcc.org

ten and brilliantly port rayed Rev. Dr. Donna L. Byrn s

a to her character in Naomi draws you in , re quite seen befo way that I’ve never ch an intimate, guttelling the story in su e that you feel as if wrenching narrativ riencing it yourself. you’re almost expe Dave Koz

Give a Passover Gift to Our Community Greetings due February 4 Purchase a Passover Greeting in the March/April Chronicle to support the Jewish Long Beach mission and wish our readers a Chag Sameach jewishlongbeach.org/passovergreetings chronicle@jewishlongbeach.org • (562) 426-7601 x1314 12 | January - February 2025

Support AJCC Member -Owned Business Contact us to include your business!

Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 13

A 40-Year Tradition The annual Norman Gottlieb Youth Art Show and Competition is an annual showcase that celebrates and rewards the talent and vision of the student artists and educators of the Long Beach Unified School District.

For 40 years, the Zena and Pauline Gatov Gallery, in conjunction with the Long Beach Unified School District, has brought together a sampling of the best artwork that Long Beach middle and high schools have to offer. This annual show provides a unique opportunity for students to participate in a juried art show, sponsored by Jewish Long Beach

through a special fund established over 35 years ago by Past President Norman Gottlieb. The show is currently generously subsidized by Nicole and Dr. Daniel Honigman.

Education," recognizing the dedication of art educators in public schools. The Gatov Gallery Art Committee extends its thanks to all the art teachers of LBUSD who help make this show possible.

Jewish Long Beach is proud to continue to support talented young artists in their artistic endeavors. Each year, the top participants from both middle and high school are recognized for their artistic achievement in an awards reception with family, friends, and fellow classmates.

The community is invited to be a part of this continued tradition of empowering young artists in the Long Beach area at the 40th annual Norman Gottlieb Student Art Exhibition. Student artwork will be up in the Gatov Gallery February 7 - March 21 with an awards reception on February 27 at 6 PM. All are welcome and encouraged to view this expression of youth creativity.

The show also awards the "Honigman Award for Inspired Visual Arts

Past Student artwork

2024

2024

2023

2022

2024

2023

40th Annual Norman Gottlieb

Student Art Exhibition Awards Reception: February 27, 6 PM Free & open to the public 14 | January - February 2025

HEBREW ACADEMY

When Vision and Foundation Align, Success Stories Are Made Rochie Popack

"They easily transitioned into advanced classes in middle school, and now, as they prepare to graduate from Marina High School, they’re ranked 1 and 2 out of a class of 500."

For Dr. Alla and Igor Lichtmaher, this proud achievement for their twin sons, Gil and Levi, is a testament to the journey that began at Hebrew Academy’s preschool. From preschool through fifth grade, the boys were immersed in an environment that nurtured their academic talents and instilled values that have guided them ever since.

“Our boys’ academic journey truly began at Hebrew Academy,” Alla shares. “The foundation they received there made all the difference—not only in academics but in the values that shaped them into kind, respectful young men.”

When their family chose to transition Gil and Levi to public school for middle school, the boys seamlessly applied the resilience, confidence, and love of learning cultivated at Hebrew Academy. As they prepare for college, the twins set their sights on ambitious futures—one aiming for a medical career while the other is drawn to engineering. Their dedication to academic excellence and aspirations to make a difference testify to the strong start they received at Hebrew Academy.

A Strong Start That Lasts a Lifetime In today’s world, where concerns like antisemitism and shifting values weigh heavily on parents’ minds, Hebrew Academy offers more than just academics—it provides a foundation of pride, resilience, and confidence. Its unique, integrated approach nurtures students’ academic and personal growth from their earliest years, laying a solid foundation for lifelong success. With small class sizes and dedicated teachers, each child’s potential is recognized and nurtured.

At the same time, a curriculum blending Judaic and secular studies fosters intellectual growth and a strong sense of identity. For Gil and Levi, this early foundation propelled them forward, empowering them to thrive academically and personally.

Their younger brother, Jeffrey, now a ninthgrader at Marina High School, is already

Gil and Levi Lichtmaher have both been named Senior of the Month at Marina High School for the 2024-2025 school year consecutively.

benefiting from the same foundation his brothers had. Ala and Igor feel confident watching him carry forward the values and skills he gained at Hebrew Academy, ready to take on new challenges with a similar strength.

A Community That Endures One of the Lichtmahers’ greatest joys is seeing how Hebrew Academy’s influence extends beyond the classroom. Even after their sons moved on to public school, the Hebrew Academy community has remained constant. The Lichtmaher boys are still warmly invited to Bar Mitzvahs and other community events alongside their Hebrew Academy friends and former teachers. “My boys greet everyone with warmth and respect,” Alla shares, “carrying forward the values they learned from their earliest days at Hebrew Academy.”

A Legacy of Excellence and Integrity For families like the Lichtmahers, Hebrew Academy has been more than a school; it’s the foundation of a legacy—a place where academic excellence, lifelong friendships, and values come together to shape future leaders. Watching their sons prepare for bright futures in medicine and engineering, Alla and Igor know that wherever life takes them, Gil and Levi carry the heart of Hebrew Academy: resilience, kindness, and a commitment to making the world a better place.

Hebrew Academy doesn’t just prepare students for school—it prepares them for life.

Are you ready to build a legacy of learning, values, and community for your child?

Discover what makes Hebrew Academy extraordinary at hacds.org/discover.

A JOYFUL START TO LIFELONG LEARNING

CELEBRATING CONFIDENCE, FRIENDSHIPS, AND LIFELONG SUCCESS

THE HEBREW ACADEMY R.E.A.L. DIFFERENCE:

A Values-Driven Foundation for Success from Preschool to High School

R

REFLECT A LEGACY

Inspiring Pride in Tradition

E

EXPERIENCE ACADEMIC RIGOR

Fostering Curiosity and Creativity

A

APPRECIATE HOLISTIC GROWTH

L

Nurturing the Whole Child

Cultivating Kindness & Community

LEARN WITH PURPOSE

EDUCATION THAT INSPIRES, VALUES THAT LAST BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY HERE Learn more about Hebrew Academy’s programs for all ages and schedule your tour today.

Visit: HACDS.org/Journey

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @HEBREWACADEMYOC TO SEE WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SO SPECIAL! Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 15

Family

MEGA

CHALLAH BAKE THURS • FEB 13 • 5 PM Let’s bake and celebrate Tu B’Shevat!

Featuring Live Music with

Tu B’Shevat (Feb 12 - 13) is the new year of th e trees!

Make your own challah from scratch with step-by-step instruction Snack on Kosher trail mix Get creative with Tu B’Shevat crafts Dance to live music from Jelly of the Month Club $25/Challah Kit • Additional $5 for Bowl, Baking Sheet, and Spoon

QR

Scan to register or visit alpertjcc.org

PUZZLE CORNER Word Scrambler Unscramble the letters below to find the answers.

1.HALHACL 2.ABDER 3.DUGOH 4.URFOL 5.RSUMEEA 6.ADBRI

Welcome to our Puzzle Corner!

This edition features our favorite bread - challah!

Challah is a braided loaf of bread that is central to Jewish traditions. It is eaten on Shabbat, which comes every Friday after sundown, and at holiday meals. The bread is given a blessing before being eaten, usually being ripped apart or sliced.

(MyJewishLearning.com)

Want to make your own challah? Attend our Family Mega Challah bake on February 13 to get hands-on instruction. Scan above for more details.

How to Braid Challah

7.ETAYS 8.IERS 9.BEKA 10.TNIDRAITO ANSWERS: 1.Challah 2.Bread 3.Dough 4.Flour 5.Measure 6.Braid 7.Yeast 8.Rise 9.Bake 10.Tradition

16 | January - February 2025

©

Seeking a Life-Changer

Family of Kevin O’Grady Continues Search for Liver Donor ADONOR4KEVIN.com A beloved community member, Jewish activist, champion for homeless youth, advocate for equality, and an amazing father, husband, and friend, Kevin O’Grady needs our help. He has lived with liver disease for four years, and his transplant team at USC Medical Center recommends a living donor liver transplant as soon as possible. A donor would save his life.

How Can You Help?

We aren’t asking you to commit to being a donor, but simply hoping you’ll take the next step and have a phone conversation with the liver transplant team at Keck Medicine of USC. Even if you can’t be a donor, please help spread the word to people you know, including friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors.

photo

What to Know

In Our Own Words “Understanding Kevin’s need, I felt moved to register to start the donor process. I had a conversation with USC then had my blood tested. The test determined that my blood type matched Kevin’s, so I went to USC for a day of testing and bloodwork to determine if I might be a donor candidate. The medical staff was kind, patient, and thorough, and explained that potential donors remain anonymous until after surgery, removing me from being pressured while retaining the ability to change my mind at any point.

Ultimately, I did not end up being a medically acceptable candidate, but I hope that by sharing the story of the support I received, others will be inspired to submit themselves as potential donors.”

“Putting myself forward as a potential donor for Kevin was a no brainer. I’m a mother of two, and I’d want to know that members of my community would step up for me and my family if something were to happen to one of us. I know that liver donation is a routine and safe procedure, and that it was important to do this mitzvah for a family in need.”

- Melissa Newman, former AJCC board member and ECE Committee Chair

Beth, Melissa, and Kevin are all willing to answer questions about the process. We hope you’ll consider taking the first steps toward helping Kevin. Please visit adonor4kevin.com or scan the QR code for more information.

- Beth Sterling, Jewish Long Beach VP Children, Youth, Family; former AJCC employee, and decade-long AJCC community member

Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 17

COMMUNITY BULLETIN

Get involved Beth David

Sunday, January 5, 10:30 am Brotherhood Brunch: A Cold War Incident Charlie Niederman in the Coast Guard The true story of the 1965 U.S. Coast Guard Icebreaker Northwind’s mission to circumnavigate the globe north of the U.S.S.R. featuring politics, intelligence, spying, science, seamanship, icebreaking, engineering, royalty, and boxer Joe Lewis.

Brunch 10:00 am, Presentation 10:30 am Adults $18; Children under 13 $9 before Dec. 31 Adults $24; Children under 13 $12 after Dec. 31 Thursday, January 9, 12 pm Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Myers Saturday, January 11, 9 am Torah Study with Rabbi Myers Tuesday, January 21, 1 - 7 pm Blood Drive Call Cathy Niederman at 714.673.1154 or cathbowls@gmail.com to make an appointment.

Sunday, January 26 Movie Night Saturday, February 8, 9 am Body, Mind, & Spirit Shabbat Thursday, February 13, 12 pm Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Myers Sunday, February 16, 10:30 am Brotherhood Brunch Saturday, February 22, 9 am Torah Study with Rabbi Myers Sunday, February 23 Movie Night Sunday, February 23, 1:30 pm Women of Beth David Social Action Event Blanket Making Register for events at tbdavid@templebethdavid.org or 714-8926623.

Temple Beth Shalom

Sunday, January 12, 10 am - 1 pm Sisterhood Bunco, Brunch & Bellinis Light Brunch included RSVP & ticket purchases are required by 1/6/25, $25 per person Please RSVP to tbsbunco@yahoo.com Sunday, January 26, 11 am Situational Awareness & Countering Active Threat with Meredith Burke, JLB Community Security Director Registration is requested.

Sunday, February 2, 12:30 - 2:30 pm Chavurah Playdate Open to the whole community, this is an opportunity for parents and children to play and engage in community activities to get to know each other better. Registration is requested.

Saturday, February 8, 10 am Scout Shabbat Scout patches are available.

18 | January - February 2025

Sunday, February 16 1 pm VIP Reception 2 pm Performance Stars of David Musical followed by a dessert reception. Registration & ticket purchase required.

Saturdays, 10 am-12:30 pm Shabbat Tots Bring your kids on Saturday mornings for supervised activities and fun while you attend 10 am services.

This program is sponsored in part by a generous gift from Congregation Shir Chadash.

For adult learning classes and other events please see our website calendar.

For more information and to register for events please call 562.426.6413, email office@tbslb.org, or visit tbslb.org

CSULB Jewish Studies

Thursday, February 6, Time TBD Jewish cookbook author Joan Nathan at the AJCC. More details coming soon.

Temple Israel

Thursdays, January 9 & 16, 7 pm Overview of Modern Israeli History Friday, January 17, 6 pm Got Shabbat? Service Join us for our musical jazz-infused Service Featuring Kendra Cogert and the Shabbatones Friday, January 24, 6 pm Tot Shabbat RSVP to Michelle at mdt@tilb.org Thursday, February 6, 7 pm Jewish Student Resilience at Cal State Long Beach: A Panel Discussion Sunday, February 9, 10 am Modern Jewish Heroes Tuesdays, 7 pm Intermediate Hebrew Beginning February 11 Cost $80 Friday, February 28, 6 pm Tot Shabbat RSVP to Michelle at mdt@tilb.org Please RSVP for all events at info@tilb.org

NCJW - Greater Long Beach & West Orange County

Saturday, January 11, 8:30 am - 12 pm Early Learning & Kindergarten Festival at Barton Elementary School.

Help is needed with registration and handing out materials.

Sunday, February 2, 2 pm Flowers Aren’t Enough Written and performed by Naomi Ackerman, Founder/Executive Director of The Advot Project. Flowers Aren’t Enough tells the story

of Michal, a young woman who falls into an abusive relationship, The show’s power is that it breaks the often-held myth that only uneducated, poor women from bad families are victims. Based on true stories, Ms. Ackerman has woven women's voices from different cultures and backgrounds into a performance encouraging social change.

Presented in partnership with Temple Beth Ohr, Shalom in the Home, and Jewish Long Beach. Tickets $15/person.

Friday, February 21, 6 pm Saturday, February 22, 10:30 am Repro Shabbat at Temple Israel in person & virtually.

This meaningful Shabbat is dedicated to the important Jewish value of Reproductive freedom. Rabbi Fox will lead a Torah study of Mishpatim, the Torah portion that forms the basis of the Jewish approach to reproductive freedom Sunday, March 2, 11:30 am Shirley Stein Annual Book Review will be at The Grand. “It’s About Love After All.” The guest speaker will be the Honorable Sherri Sobel, Ret. Fascinating short stories about Sherri’s work in the L.A Juvenile Courts Saturday, March 8, 8:30 am - 12 pm Early Learning & Kindergarten Festival at Alvarado Elementary School, Signal Hill.

Help is needed with registration and handing out materials.

All NCJW events are free unless indicated, donations are appreciated. All programs, announcements, and registration can be found at www.ncjwlongbeach.org call 657.235.2511

COMMUNITY

Tributes & In Memoriam JFCS

Jewish Long Beach From Jewish Long Beach Board, Leadership, & Staff IN MEMORY OF Estalee Eichler Beloved mother to Pam Keiles Lanie Eichler Beloved sister to Pam Keiles Bill Millman Beloved husband to Ann Millman Wendy Miller Beloved sister to Paula Avchen MAZEL TOV To Marian & Paul Martin on the birth of their grandson Ezra Kainoa Martin

General Fund

General Fund

IN HONOR OF

IN MEMORY OF

Russell Singer Happy 70th Birthday from Andrea Resnick

Lance Valt from his wife, Marilyn Valt

Senior Programs

IN HONOR OF

IN HONOR OF

Nancy Levin from her husband, Ken Levin

Dr. Susan Mathieu Happy Birthday from Betty Cretara, Dela Robertson, Dina Gamarnik Want to honor someone special?

Send in a tribute to be featured in the next issue of the Chronicle!

For Jewish Long Beach tributes call: 562.426.7601 ext 1314

Refugee Fund

For JFCS tributes call 562.427.7916

May Their Memory Be A Blessing Leslie Shiffman Jon Feder Irving Israel Simon Estalee Eichler Lanie Eichler Bill Millman Wendy Miller James Hall

In partnership with Jewish Long Beach & Jewish Family and Children’s Service Dr. Susan Mathieu and MSW Intern, Anna-Claire Wilcox

Invite You To:

A NEW GROUP FOR GRIEF AND LOSS A space in the community to learn and talk about grief and loss.

Starting January 2025 To register, scan the QR code with your smartphone (562) 427-7916 • jfcs@jfcslboc.org

JANUARY/FEBRUARY SHABBAT CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES January 3: 4:39 pm January 10: 4:45 pm January 17: 4:52 pm

January 24: 4:58 pm January 31: 5:05 pm February 7: 5:12 pm

February 14: 5:19 pm February 21: 5:25 pm February 28: 5:31 pm Tevet - Shevat 5785 | 19

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

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