Study, Action, & Love of Community

Study, Action, & Love of Community: Legacy of Joan & Daniel Leb

Lynne Kass

The Joan z”l & Daniel z”l Leb Family Fund was established in 2015 to ensure that the Lebs’ commitment to active involvement in the Long Beach Jewish Community and the importance of the relationships and sense of belonging they received in return would continue in perpetuity. The Fund makes annual distributions to Temple Israel, NCJW and Jewish Long Beach, while also setting aside 20% of the distribution to be directed by the Lebs’ children, Michael Leb & Marian Martin, (along with their respective spouses, Nancy Hytone Leb & Paul Martin), in support of the non-profit organizations of their choosing.

In a recent conversation with Marian, Michael, Nancy & Paul, we discussed their parents’ early years in Cleveland, their life-long commitment to social action and civic engagement, and to the immense importance for them of Jewish identity, observance and active involvement in the Jewish community. Here’s what we learned…

Joan and Daniel grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, attending the same schools, becoming a couple in high school, and attending prom together. They continued dating through Joan’s undergraduate studies at Bryn Mawr and were married in August of 1955, just two months after Joan’s graduation in June. Daniel attended medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland followed by internship and residency opportunities that took the couple to San Francisco. Daniel then joined the service through the Air Force and was stationed at Tinker Air Force base in Oklahoma where their son, Michael, was born. Following Daniel’s service, it was back to Cleveland, where the majority of both families were and are still living, and where Marian was born.

So how did the family end up in the Long Beach/Los Angeles area? Strangely enough,Michael, Marian, Nancy & Paul all separately made their way to Southern California from the late 1970’s through the late 1980’s. Michael was the first to experience So Cal, clerking for a judge in the LA area upon graduation from law school. While he didn’t commit to So Cal living at the time, he did invite his sister to visit, and Marian decided that LA was the place for her. She applied to UCLA’s Business School for her graduate studies (her only application), was accepted and moved in 1987. Michael moved out shortly after and lived with Marian for a while before settling in West LA. Paul was actually the first to arrive when, after college in 1979, he moved to LA with his uncle, and Nancy came in 1983 – a transplant from Des Moines, Iowa.

While at UCLA, Marian became friendly with a close friend of Nancy’s whose family lived in Seal Beach. Marian and Nancy were introduced, and both were invited to a Hanukkah party hosted by their mutual friend’s mother in Los Alamitos. Michael was invited as well, and the rest is history. After that initial meeting in 1987, Michael & Nancy were married in 1991. Marian, who was living adjacent to Long Beach, and Paul, met later, while working at the same company in Santa Fe Springs, and were married in 1993. When their daughter, Allison, was born in 1996, grandparents Joan & Daniel made frequent visits, and then upon Daniel’s retirement as a nephrologist, the couple relocated to Long Beach in 2000.

Both Marian and Michael shared similar experiences with their parents during their childhood years. Joan and Daniel were both extremely bright, well-read and life-long learners. They were socially and politically active and well-versed in current events. It was never “what they said” but “what they did” in leading lives that prioritized civic-mindedness and public service. Joan was extremely active with The League of Women Voters, while Daniel, as a practicing nephrologist, also remained active academically and utilized his skills in service to many.

In terms of their Jewish heritage, Marian & Michael characterized their household as observant/Reform and recalled how important weekly Shabbat dinners (always with a full Kiddush) were to their parents. The family grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and Joan and Daniel were extremely involved in their local synagogue – where both participated with the social action committee, Joan volunteered with the Temple Sisterhood and Daniel sang in the choir. Joan was also active in advocacy work with NCJW.

Nancy recalled her first meeting with Joan and Daniel when she and Michael visited them for Passover. She expressed how loving and welcoming they were and how very important their Jewish identity and their family’s commitment to Judaism were to them.

Paul’s experience was a bit more challenging, as he was not Jewish. However, before their engagement, he and Marian had made a commitment to having a Jewish home and raising Jewish children, which helped to create the environment of comfort and acceptance that followed. Paul commented that Joan and Daniel were not just life-long learners, but life-long teachers and they made a point of helping him to learn more about Judaism and the Jewish community to which he now belonged.

Upon their move to Long Beach in 2000, Joan and Daniel immediately joined and became active Temple Israel members and weekly Torah study participants. They were also bridge players and formed a community of friends with whom they played on a played on a regular basis. They loved the Long Beach Jewish Community and were forever grateful for the sense of community and belonging they found here, enhanced by their participation with Temple Israel, Jewish Long Beach (both with the Jewish Federation and the Alpert JCC) and NCJW.

Which brings us full circle to the establishment of the Leb Family Fund and the decision to include their children in the decision-making of the fund’s distribution. In addition to their commitment to support the organizations to which they gave and received so much, they wanted to ensure that their children understood the importance of mindful charitable giving by creating an opportunity for annual decision-making. Both Marian and Michael spoke about how important it is for them to direct the distribution under their control to

support the organizations, both in Long Beach and beyond, that were important to their parents. Marian continues to have her mother’s mail forwarded to her and keeps track of the many organizations to which her parents gave support so that she, Michael, Nancy and Paul, can use that information to inform their giving, which will begin this year.

The Talmud recalls a story that Rabbi Tarfon and the elders were once discussing the question of which is greater – study or practice? Rabbi Tarfon answered saying: “Practice is greater.” Rabbi Akiva answered saying: “Study is greater for it leads to practice.” Then they all answered and said: “Study is greater because it leads to action.” (Babylonian Talmud Tractate Kiddushin 40b).

Joan and Daniel Leb exhibited a life-long commitment to study and action that has been and continues to be an inspiration, not just to their family, but to all of us in the Long Beach community who had the pleasure of knowing and volunteering with them.

Do you feel inspired by the Lebs’ 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