Issuu

THE VOICE OF JEWISH LONG BEACH PUBLISHED SINCE 1947

JULY – AUGUST 2022 | TAMMUZ – AV – ELUL 5782

jewishlongbeach.org

VOL. 75 NO. 5

INSIDE TABLE

OF CONTENTS

Taryn Williams named Best Community Leader by the Long Beach Post’s reader’s choice award

Five Grant Recipients to visit Israel in 2022

Alpert JCC Center for Life

Women’s Philanthropy

Back to Full Strength!

36 Hours of Jewish Long Beach and Alpert JCC

14 15

Community News

The Key to Leadership is Building Bridges

THE VOICE OF JEWISH LONG BEACH PUBLISHED SINCE 1947

Robert Baldwin Memorial Fund-Experience Israel Grant Don and Andrea Kaiser Family Scholarship Summer of Fun! Dignity Project

Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus One Sommer Way

Come join us for new and returning programs

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

Thank you for your support!

Phone: 562.426.7601 | FAX: 562.424.3915

Tributes/In Memoriam

/jewishlongbeach

@jewishlongbeach

jewishlongbeach.org

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Member

Jewish Long Beach is a 501(c)3 with tax I.D. 95-1647830 Edie Brodsky/Dr. Barry Zamost Co-Presidents, Board of Directors

Zach Benjamin Chief Executive Officer

Kevin Giser Chief Operating and Development Officer

Susan Paletz Director of Fund & Community Development

Rachel Roberts Manager of Marketing & Leadership Engagement

Yolanda Placencio Development Administrator

June 2022: Jewish Long Beach & Alpert JCC were proud to partner again with JCC Krakow to bring the Ride for the Living Global Challenge to Long Beach. Participants took on the 60 mile fitness challenge, representing the distance between Auschwitz-Birkenau and JCC Krakow. This year, the funds raised from the Challenge benefitted JCC Krakow’s aid Ukrainian refugees.

Editorial and advertising queries, please call 562.426.7601 x1314 or write chronicle@jewishlongbeach.org. Ad & Copy deadline for Sept/October 2022 issue: August 4, 2022 ISSN# 1525- 6847 The appearance of product or establishment advertising in the Jewish Community Chronicle does not constitute an endorsement of kashruth. Opinions printed in the Jewish Community Chronicle do not necessarily reflect those of Jewish Long Beach. The publication of a paid political advertisement does not constitute endorsement of any candidate, political party or political position by Jewish Long Beach or any employee. Photo credits and copyrights Cover - ©Rachel Roberts Chronicle ©2022 Jewish Long Beach All Rights Reserved.

SHABBAT CANDLELIGHTING July 1 7:50 pm July 8 7:49 pm

2 | CHRONICLE

July 15 7:46 pm July 22 7:43 pm July 29 7:38 pm

JULY – AUGUST 2022

August 5 7:32 pm August 12 7:25 pm

August 19 7:17 pm August 26 7:08 pm

CONVERSATIONS COMMUNITY

Rebuilding the Tent of Abraham and Sarah Zach Benjamin

Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Long Beach

Seven years ago, I realized my professional calling to transition from a 10-year career in international business development to a new adventure as a Jewish communal executive. The Zach Benjamin genesis of my decision lay primarily in a deep sense of personal responsibility and commitment to the future of Jewish life and peoplehood. I felt strongly that any professional knowledge, skills, or abilities that I might be able to contribute should help ensure the welfare and continuity of the Jewish people. The transition from “civilian” to life as a “professional Jew” marked the culmination of a three-year selfeducation process. I researched a wide variety of

to the Jewish future. Surely, we must occupy enough common ground to eclipse our differences and disagreements, and perhaps this highly collaborative Jewish communal infrastructure—galvanized by millennia of challenge—would prove to be one of the secrets to the long-term success of the Jewish people in diaspora. I still chuckle to myself thinking back on those early assumptions about organized Jewish life. The Jewish communal environment is, as most of us understand, less than sanguine. I began my Jewish professional career in New Mexico, a community that, like many others, featured Jewish institutions that existed largely in siloes, viewing each other primarily as competitors for donor dollars, carving out and defending their territory, and generally eyeing each other through a lens of suspicion. Collaboration was the occasional

While the comment was certainly offered with an element of jest, it was also founded in what I believe is an indelible truth. Valuable messages sometimes arrive in ugly packaging. Similarly, bad faith often enters our sphere cloaked in pleasing window dressing. The Jewish culture and experience arose from both triumph and trauma, the vestiges of which are encoded in our DNA and passed from generation to generation. Perhaps ironically, it is unlikely that our history would be so rich, our present so fulfilling, and our future so promising were our skin not calloused with the scar tissue of past and current travesty. We are a people who do not trust easily, and who often do not forgive readily. This caution has helped sustain us, but it is a tendency that has also created firewalls within our own Jewish communities that too often trap us in a cycle of smallminded conflict, rather than allowing us to rise above

I asked him why the Jewish discursive reflex appeared too often to be a hostile one... “I think this is just how Jews interact with each other.” Jewish communal movements, from Israel advocacy to anti-genocide activism, eventually settling on the Jewish federation system as the setting in which I felt that I could help make the most swift and significant Jewish impact. Comparatively few people are fortunate enough to merge the causes that feed their souls with the work that pays the bills. An inherent risk of disillusionment exists in serving a professional purpose to which one is emotionally and ideologically attached. Workplaces, communities, and bureaucracies are complicated structures that often operate at the mercy of human nature, which itself can be volatile and unpredictable. Most of us do not always feel the sense of fulfillment in the workplace that we experience when volunteering, advocating, or engaging in activism, especially when carrying out mundane day-to-day tasks, navigating the complexities of management and supervision, and facing the paradoxes of community politics. Nonetheless, my experience both within and outside of the Jewish professional world has convinced me that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks to serving professionally in a movement that matters personally. However, the realities of this path have not always matched the expectations. I began myJewish communal careerwith the perhaps naïve expectation that, despite the rich ideological, cultural, socioeconomic, and religious diversity that exists among the Jewish people, all of those who work and volunteer in Jewish communal spaces must certainly be bound by a shared sense of responsibility

exception to the rule of isolation. Congregations viewed the JCC and federation not as gateways to Jewish life for the unaffiliated, but rather as agencies nefariously committed to poaching their members and resources. Conversely, the non-denominational Jewish agencies questioned the motives of the congregations when they did seek collaboration, completing a vicious cycle of miscommunication and distrust. Happily, by the time my family and I left New Mexico for Long Beach, the prevailing attitudes and environment had shifted 180 degrees, from siloed to collaborative. We achieved this through the hard work of difficult, sometimes distressing conversations, commitment to constant communication and candor, and a determination among our Jewish communal leaders to power through resistance and toward the vast landscape of common ground that we, as Jewish institutions, all shared. Early in my tenure at the Jewish Federation of New Mexico, after a particularly acrimonious conversation with a member of the clergy, I remember calling the then-president-elect of our board of directors to lament the nature of the discussion. He was a seasoned lay leader who had helped build congregations and Jewish federations in multiple communities throughout his 60 years of volunteer service. I asked him why the Jewish discursive reflex appeared too often to be a hostile one. He paused for a moment, clearly reflecting on his deep wellspring of experience and Jewish communal knowledge. His answer still evokes both my laughter and my reluctant agreement: “I think this is just how Jews interact with each other.”

the petty, to survey the broader landscape, and to settle among our commonalities. Over the course of the past two years, and especially in recent months, I have committed myself, both personally and professionally, to dwelling primarily in the big picture of life’s blessings, rather than in the weeds of its blemishes. This sea change in my default mindset, much like the metamorphosis that I observed in the New Mexico Jewish community, requires persistence, perseverance, and maintenance to achieve, ultimately resulting in a more peaceful, productive existence. Inevitably, regression is also part of the journey, and as long as we use those setbacks as springboards toward learning and growth, they too are an important element of the process. Similarly, we as Jews would be well-served to acknowledge our traumas and challenges, leveraging the learning opportunities they yield to assist us in minimizing future endangerment. However, we must also avoid sliding down the coattails of trauma’s aftermath to a reflexive suspicion of each other’s motives and toward the assumption that others are encroaching upon our limited space under the Jewish communal tent. Rather, we must retrain ourselves to dwell above our fears, working collaboratively to build a bigger tent that, like Abraham and Sarah’s, is open on all four sides to all who are committed to the Jewish future.

JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG

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JEWISH LONG BEACH & ALPERT JCC SPOTLIGHT

The Key to Leadership is Building Bridges Rachel Roberts | Manager of Marketing & Leadership Engagement

Beach Hillel and Alpert New Leaders Forum Participants wins “Best Community Leader” award from LB Post. “To be a leader is to be a bridge builder. More than that, it’s to serve as a bridge yourself.” says Taryn Williams, who was recently named Best Community Leader by the Long Beach Post’s annual “Best Of Long Beach” reader’s-choice awards. Taryn, who also goes by her Hebrew name, Tirtzah, is an accomplished researcher, speaker, presenter and activist. Through academics and community service, she’s forged her path as an advocate for increasing Jewish visibility and representation. Much of Taryn’s community work is centered around bridging the various communities she represents. Throughout her academic career, she’s researched and challenged barriers to academic and professional advancement faced by the formerly incarcerated community, to which she also belongs. In her role as campus ambassador intern to Gift of Life Marrow Registry, she builds bridges between patients in need and eligible donors. To date, she’s added 128 potential donors to the registry and facilitated two matches. Additionally, she empowers leaders, clergy, and educators from interfaith communities to navigate difficult conversations about Israel with Project Shema, in collaboration with Jewish Orange County. “Everything I do and everything I am is because of my Judaism,” Taryn reflects. She feels especially grateful to the guidance and stability she found in the Jewish community. That sense of community represents a journey that first led her to Beach Hillel, where she and her young children found a place to thrive in an otherwise not-so-kid-friendly college environment as an undergrad at Cal State Long Beach. She later served as Beach Hillel’s Treasurer. The Hillel community, in turn, led her to Shul by the Shore, and ultimately her family’s decision to enroll twins McKayla and Isaiah, now 7, in the Hebrew Academy.

Taryn Williams has forged her path as an advocate through academics and community service. She’s made it her personal mission to empower herself and others to challenge implicit biases.

That feeling of belonging is hard to replicate, but that didn’t stop Taryn from committing to the Jewish student community at her new school. Starting her Ph.D. in Organizational Management at UC Irvine prompted her involvement in OC Hillel, where she now serves as a bridge between postgraduate students and Jewish life. As a participant in the Alpert New Leader’s Forum 2020-21 cohort, Taryn actively engaged in lively discussions and hands-on experiences to prepare for lay leadership roles in Jewish agencies, such as Hillel. By trailblazing the position of Vice President of Graduate Programs on the OC Hillel Board of Directors, she’s opened the door for Jewish and Israeli students from graduate to post-doc programs to connect. She maintains all of these roles: mother, student, researcher, activist, and volunteer, with tremendous grace, and a style that’s completely her own. She’s made it her personal mission to empower herself and others to challenge implicit biases, which can often prevent us from seeing the “divine spark” in others. The divine spark, Taryn explains, is the Torah’s way of asserting each individual’s innate goodness. If there’s one thing she hopes she can teach others in her role as Long Beach’s “Best Community Leader,” it’s that we all possess a divine spark, the ability to be a leader. Mazel tov, Taryn, on this momentous achievement, and kol ha’kavod (all the honor) on your unwavering commitment to service.

TEAM LONG BEACH Wishing all of our athletes the best of luck!

Team Long Beach Sendoff Pool Party Thursday, July 14, 5 PM, Alpert JCC 2022 JCC Maccabi Games July 29 - Aug 5, Lawrence Family JCC, San Diego, CA 4 | CHRONICLE

JULY – AUGUST 2022

Baseball

Swim

Soccer

Jordon Brown Weston Cohen Enzo Somers

Zoee Goodman Samantha Hamilton Harper Hogan

Riley Melnick Adi Lieber

Dance

Volleyball

Flag Football

Michelle Alpern

Jackie Melnick

Golf Evan Smeltzer

Sophia Sala

SPOTLIGHT JEWISH

LONG BEACH & ALPERT JCC

Now Boarding: Five grant recipients to visit Israel in 2022 Rachel Roberts | Manager of Marketing & Leadership Engagement

Jewish Long Beach seeks to deepen our community’s connection to Israel’s vibrant and diverse culture. We are grateful to the Baldwin and Kaiser families for partnering with us to send local youth on immersive experiences in Israel with merit-based scholarships. Providing these opportunities helps fufill our collective responsibility to engage with the broader Jewish world. Join us in congratulating the following scholarship recipients, as we wish them safe, fun, and meaningful travels.

Robert Baldwin Memorial Fund-Experience Israel Grant Samantha Hamilton-Swimming in the Maccabiah Games Shoshana Carter-MASA Gap Year Program Shimshon Sufrin-Yeshiva Summer Learning Program The Robert Baldwin Memorial Fund at Jewish Long Beach was established by the Baldwin and Linden families to promote Jewish continuity by connecting our teens to Israel through organized peer trips and educational programs. The youth that benefit from this wonderful gift are our future.

Don and Andrea Kaiser Family Scholarship Liba Cantor, Hebrew Academy Senior Alon Shafran, Beach Hillel Senior Don and Andrea Kaiser believe in wanting to perpetuate the importance of strong ties to Israel and have established the Kaiser Family Endowment through Jewish Long Beach. One component of this Endowment is the establishment of two scholarships for student trips to Israel. The Kaiser Family Endowment will provide an annual grant each to a graduate of Hebrew Academy of Orange County and to a Hillel student. Jewish Long Beach strives to bring Israel immersion to our community, both overseas and here at home. Want to learn about how Camp Komaroff brings Israeli culture to camp? Meet our Israeli counselors on page 12!

FLEXIBLE TRAVEL PACKAGES | FIVE-STAR HOTELS | DELUXE TOUR BUSES | DELICIOUS MEALS

Israel and Italy

Jewish Long Beach & Alpert JCC Community Trip

Spots still available! December 5 - 19, 2022 Contact Susan Paletz at spaletz@alpertjcc.org

JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG

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ALPERT JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER YOUR

CENTER FOR LIFE

#YourCenter FREE FUN AT THE POOL FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY!

COMMUNITY POOL PARTIES Tuesdays | 5 - 7 PM Dress up in theme, BYO Dinner Tues July 26: Maccabi Send-Off (Sports theme) Tues Aug 23: Pirates

Shabbat at the Pool | 5 PM Fri July 15: BYO Dinner Fri Aug 12: Tu B'Av Dinner* *Learn more on pg 9!

Thursdays | 5 - 7 PM Pizza available for purchase Thurs July 14: Camp/ECE Alumni Night Thurs Aug 4: Movie Night

ALPERT JCC BEACH DAY Seal Beach Sun | July 24 | 12 - 2 PM

THANKS FO R COMING TO SKATE D AY! JUNE 12, 20 22

Senior Shabbat & Luncheon

Meet & Greet Luncheon

Saturdays | July 9 & Aug 6 | 11 AM | Free

Wednesday | Aug 31 | 12 PM | Free

Service with Temple Israel clergy at 11 AM, followed by kosher lunch & entertainment

Seniors are invited to schmooze, enjoy kosher lunch, and hear from guest speaker Gary Frolich, MS, CGC.

6 | CHRONICLE

JULY – AUGUST 2022

YOUR CENTER FOR LIFE ALPERT

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

ForLife FITNESS

AQUATICS

Dry Sauna: NOW OPEN to Members! Towel Service: Complimentary at each visit Your J, Your Way: Virtual and in-person group classes Basketball: Open 7 days a week, no reservations required Special Offer! For a limited time, new members receive a fitness orientation and THREE 30-min personal training sessions for just $99 ($150 value)!

HAPPENING WEEKLY Knit Wits: Mondays | 1 PM | Free Barbara Alpert Chorus: Wednesdays | 10:30 AM | Free Kabbalah*: Wednesdays | 12 PM | Free Mah Jongg*: Wednesdays | 1 PM | $5/session** Become a J Ambassador! Volunteering even just a few hours a week can make a huge difference! Parent & Me: Babies, toddlers and parents are invited to learn and play with one another! *RSVP Required **Free for Alpert JCC Members

NEW! Learn to Swim for Adults: We believe in water safety for all! Now enrolling adult group and private swim lessons. TRY FOR FREE! The Bluefin Prep Swim Team enrolls swimmers ages 6-14 monthly. Sponsored by the Zamost Family in honor of Isadore Zamost.

Aquacize: Get your groove on in this low-impact, seniorfriendly aerobics class M/W/F 11 AM! Reservations required.

ALPERTJCC.ORG (562) 426-7601 SUMMER HOURS: MON - THURS 6 AM - 9 PM | FRI 6 AM - 6 PM | SAT - SUN 7 AM - 6 PM

STAY CONNECTED @ALPERT_JCC

/ALPERTJCC PEOPLE LOVE US ON

JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG

5782 TAMMUZ – AV – ELUL | 7

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

The Philosophy Behind Chabad

Rabbi Shmuel Marcus | Director of Chabad Los Alimitos and the Hebrew High

In a quiet neighborhood of Los Alamitos, a few days before Passover, I pushed the doorbell of total strangers and presented them with a gift Shmurah matzah. Every year, Chabad rings millions of doorbells around the globe, but what line of thought motivates these activities? What can we learn from them? How did it all come to be? The answer starts with a true love story of how a small group of Chasidic immigrants (in just 70 years) became one of the largest Jewish global networks in history.

there’s one love that most exhibits the other two. The gateway to the pinnacle in our relationship with G-d and His Torah is primarily through the love of His children. Philosophically this can be explained in there being a personal limit to prayer and study when done in solitude. It’s specifically when we love, engage, and teach others that we enter into a new vista of Divine relationship with G-d and His Torah. The “otherness” is what allows us to venture beyond our own limits. “Excuse me, are you Jewish?” a phrase many people may associate with Chabad. The key word here is “you.” Because celebrating alone won’t do it for Chabad. This approach expresses that the gateway to the deepest Divine relationship is specifically through loving thy neighbor. Through making sure

In short, Chabad philosophy teaches that the three big loves (Thy G-d, His Torah, and Thy neighbor) are inseparably one. In short, Chabad philosophy teaches that the three big loves (Thy G-d, His Torah, and Thy neighbor) are inseparably one. To love G-d, is to love His Torah and His children. So, in 1951 the Rebbe made a statement and call to action as he assumed leadership of the movement: The deepest relationship with G-d necessitates a deep love for His people.

he or she has the tools and ability to connect to G-d and their heritage. So, if you’re looking for G-d and transcendence try ringing a neighbor’s bell. Chabad Los Alamitos and the Hebrew High visit www. MyJewishClub.com

Sure, Jews have always known that we are obligated to love G-d, His Torah, and each other, but the Rebbe was saying that

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JULY – AUGUST 2022

Beit HaLev  I

P.O. Box 2279 Seal Beach, CA 90740 Rabbi Galit Levy-Slater 562.493.2680 duets@icloud.com www.galityomtov.com R Beth David 

6100 Hefley St. Westminster, CA 92683 Rabbi Nancy Myers 714.892.6623 tbdavid@templebethdavid.org www.templebethdavid.org O Chabad of Los Alamitos & Cypress 

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

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

O Congregation Lubavitch 

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

I Congregation Shir Chadash 

6440 Del Amo Blvd. Lakewood, CA 90713 Rabbi Karen Isenberg 562.429.0715 csclakewood@dslextreme.com www.csclakewood.org

Congregation Sholom of Leisure World, Seal Beach  C Mail to: PO Box 2901 Seal Beach, CA 90740 1421 Northwood Road Seal Beach, CA 90740 President Carol A. Stern Levine Phone: Direct 562.505.3622 Phone: Membership 562.430.7040 congsholomlwsb@gmail.com I P’nai Or 

3955 N. Studebaker Road Long Beach, CA 90808 Email: info@pnaior.org Website: www.pnaior.org

Shul By The Shore  O

3801 E. Willow Street Long Beach, California 90815 Rabbi Abba Perelmuter 562.621.9828 rabbi@shulbytheshore.org www.shulbytheshore.org R Temple Beth Ohr 

WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚͬWƌŽũĞĐƚ DĂŶĂŐĞƌ

562-233-9934

Synagogue Directory

Bringing you the latest Jewish Community news since 1947 Subscribe two ways 1. Visit jewishlongbeach.org/jewishcommunity-chronicle Scan the QR code

15721 E. Rosecrans Ave. La Mirada, CA 90638 Rabbi Dr. Mark Goldfarb Phone: 714.521.6765 office@tbolm.org www.tbolm.org

C Temple Beth Shalom 

3635 Elm Avenue Long Beach, CA 90807 Rabbi David Cantor 562.426.6413 office@tbslb.org www.tbslb.org R Temple Israel 

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

Temple Ner Tamid of Downey  I 10629 Lakewood Boulevard Downey, CA 90241 Rabbi Daniel Mehlman 562.861.9276

2. Call (562) 426-7601 ext 1314

C Conservative  I Independent  O Orthodox  R Reform 

JEWISH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY

Dignity Project

Susan Paletz | Director of Fund & Community Development

H LONG BE

Sponsored by Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Long Beach

Dignity Project N

' S

TH P H I L A N

Our mission is to provide individuals in need with essential personal hygiene products so they can attend school and work and participate in community life without interruption.

Each month, millions of women and girls suffer the indignity of not having adequate hygiene supplies. Our response? To join with other Federations around the county and launch the Dignity Project. We will be collecting, storing and distributing personal hygiene items. Each Dignity Kit is in a plain reusable bag.

Our goal is to distribute the Dignity Kits to teens and women in the community who are struggling to obtain these supplies. We will distribute to LBUSD middle & high schools, women’s shelters and homeless shelters in Long Beach. We need Women’s Philanthropy and volunteers to donate supplies (all unopened items), donate money to purchase the supplies, and help assemble and distribute the kits. Let us work together as women to help other women have the dignity we all deserve. A $36 donation will cover the cost of one of these monthly packages and ensure that a woman can care for herself with the right supplies and self-respect. Please contact Susan Paletz, Director of Fund & Community Development Jewish Long Beach for volunteer and donation information at spaletz@alpertjcc. org 562.426.7601 ext. 1012.

t a e r Lov b e l e Ce Tu B'Av Shabbat Dinner & Kids' Night Out Friday | August 12 | 5:30 PM | Alpert JCC

Tu B’Av is a joyous holiday, once used to mark the beginning of the grape harvest, which in modern times has become better known for celebrating love in all its forms! Alpert JCC Members and guests are invited on August 12 for a Tu B'Av Celebration! Dinner will be available for purchase and includes a Kids' Night Out with supervised entertainment for kids.

THURSDAYS AT 8:00AM ON ZOOM

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

WILL RESUME THIS FALL!

Mark the end of Shabbat with TBS and let us take care of the kids so you can enjoy a night out! Childcare/programming for kids will be provided by TBS. For more details and dates, please call us!

For more information about our services and programming and for the livestream and zoom links, please visit us at tbslb.org or call (562) 426Ͳ6413. 3635 Elm Avenue—Long Beach, CA 90807

tbs.longbeach@verizon.net for more information and the RSVP link.

JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG

5782 TAMMUZ – AV – ELUL | 9

COMMUNITY

Back to Full Strength! The Alpert JCC on the Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus is your Center for Life. We are now back to full strength! The Alpert JCC and Jewish Long Beach is a place where families, and communities come together for Jewish Culture, aquatics, fitness, recreation, socializing, and children, youth & families programs in a safe and inclusive environment. All are welcome here. Come join us for the Barbara Alpert Singing Circle, Senior Luncheon, Kabbalah with Rabbi Perelmuter, Drop-in Mah Jongg, Happiness and Humor Group and many more new and returning programs.

Graduates singing together: “There’s always a place for me and my family at the Alpert JCC”

Families and friends lift their hands in a communal blessing for the ECE Graduates

Sara Linden reviews the ins and outs of Mah Jongg

Seniors are happy to receive Passover lunch and gift bag from volunteers

Rabbi Perelmuter delves into various topics surrounding Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, in his free weekly class (Wednesdays at 12 PM)

Rolling into Summer at Family Skate Day at Pigeon’s Roller Rink

Senior luncheon participants enjoy a catered lunch with musical guests, crafts, games & more

Spectators gather for the Long Beach Modern Quilt Guild’s Artist Reception

10 | CHRONICLE

Dr. Susan Mathieu brings stories, games, Malek Sammour, Alex Wright and Frank McIlquaham volunteer jokes and more to her monthly Happiness & their Wednesday mornings to the Barbara Alpert Singing Circle Humor gatherings (1st Fridays at 10:30 AM)

JULY – AUGUST 2022

Participants are ready for laughter at the monthly Happiness & Humor gatherings

Volunteers assemble Passover lunches to deliver to seniors

Volunteers assemble Passover gift bags to deliver to seniors

The Barbara Alpert Singing Circle is open to Rabbi Perelmuter guides the class through all singing levels the world of Kabbalah

HEBREW ACADEMY ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY

Finding comfort, community and Jewish Connection at Hebrew Academy Karen Berger | Admissions Director, Hebrew Academy of Orange County

B"H

Mary Cramer at the Hebrew Academy Visionary Dinner surrounded by her family.

Long-time Hebrew Academy supporter and this year’s Visionary Award recipient, Mary Cramer admits that while her Hebrew skills could use some improvements, her adult children read and write Hebrew beautifully — thanks in large part to the Hebrew Academy, Mary adds proudly. “I grew up on a farm in Norco, where there wasn’t much of a Jewish community,” Mary recalls. “Our family would drive a long way to find a synagogue, so my connection to Jewish traditions and culture was limited. I wanted something different for my own children.” The daughter of holocaust survivors from Poland, Mary understood that her parents associated their Jewish faith with trauma and fear. “They did the best they could to raise me in a Jewish home, but their experiences as survivors made it difficult for them,” she explains. “Reconnecting to my Jewish heritage was important to me, especially when I had children of my own.” Raising her young family in Norco, Mary wasn’t sure how to provide her children with the Jewish experiences that were unavailable to her. She shared her concerns with Rabbi Eliezrie, who had started a synagogue that included a small Hebrew school in nearby Yorba Linda. He advised her to join his community which offered a more vibrant Jewish presence. So, Mary packed up her family and moved. Resettling in Yorba Linda, Mary saw that her children still weren’t finding a meaningful connection to their Jewish identity. “It became clear that my children didn’t feel like they fit in or belonged in their new school,” she remembers. “I could see the stress on my daughter’s face, and knew this was not right.” After a Sunday evening visit from Rabbi Eliezrie and Rabbi Newman, Hebrew Academy’s Head of School, Mary made the decision that changed her family’s life. The next day, she enrolled her children at the Hebrew Academy. “We were immediately welcomed and accepted,” she says. “My children were supported through this transition as they acclimated socially and academically, and were soon happy and thriving.” Mary also saw her children’s love and pride for their Jewish heritage come to life. Being part of a supportive

Jewish community became especially important when the children’s father suddenly passed away. “My children were not alone,” explains Mary, “the entire school community was there for them.” The close-knit community has created lifelong friendships. After excelling as Hebrew Academy students, Mary’s daughter Erica and her son Joey are still in touch with their classmates. Her second son Michael, another Hebrew Academy alumnus, is now an accomplished lawyer and Rabbi. “In Poland before the holocaust, our relatives included rabbis,” Mary says. “To have a rabbi once again in our family means so much. My father, who once shied away from his Jewish faith, now speaks with such pride about his grandson, and is happy to join the family for Shabbat meals.”

WE'RE GROWING STRONG.

For Mary, her family’s reconnection to their Jewish identity has been one of life’s greatest blessings. “I have Hebrew Academy to thank for this,” she says. “The school was the rudder for my children, the moral compass. I give Hebrew Academy credit for helping me raise three exceptional Jewish adults.” Recalling a quote from fellow philanthropist and good friend Mr. Allen Alevy, Mary adds, “If you want Jewish grandchildren, send your kids to Hebrew Academy. Well, I have five wonderful Jewish grandchildren!” For over four decades, Mary Cramer has been instrumental in making sure other families have access to Jewish learning as well. Through the generous contributions of Mary and other supporters, the Hebrew Academy is able to offer scholarships and financial aid that connect more students to the school’s award-winning, academic programs and enriching educational experiences. “I can say to any family, from any Jewish experience or background, Hebrew Academy will welcome you with open arms, and kindle pride in what it means to be survivors and to be Jewish,” shares Mary. B"H

We thank Mary Cramer for allowing us to be a part of her beautiful family and for helping so many others find their home as part of the Jewish Community and Hebrew Academy family.

JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG

Hebrew Academy Art Festival

Sunday, November 13, 2022

www.ArtFestHACDS.org

5782 TAMMUZ – AV – ELUL | 11

COMMUNITY

Camp Komaroff to welcome three Shlichut Rachel Roberts | Manager of Marketing & Leadership Engagement

Shlichut (shlee-HOOT) translates literally as “missionaries,” but colloquially refers to Israeli staff members at non-Israeli camps. In partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, Camp Komaroff is proud to welcome three Shlichut, camp counselors from Israel, for the summer 2022 session. In addition to familiar summer camp duties, these counselors will also have a special role in educating campers and staff alike on Israeli culture, music, art, language, and food. These activities often become some of the most memorable of the summer. Join us in giving our three Shlichut a big Camp Komaroff welcome: Shalom Aleichem, we are so glad to see you!

Mira Shalev

Amit Gazit

Liat Kordonsky

Mira recently earned her BA Anthropology and Sociology with honors, and completed her military service. Her passions include singing, songwriting, theater, improv and play production.

Amit recently completed her military service as a combat fighter and is looking forward to starting university soon. She’s been involved in the Israeli youth movement Krembo Wings, an inclusive group for children with and without special needs, for several years. Amit enjoys cooking and baking, and has a knack for drawing, illustration and graphic design.

Liat is a seasoned singer, dancer and performer. Her theatrical band, Katom Tapuz (literally “Orange Orange”), is known for their rendition of Grease. She’s also given music lessons to kids.

Hometown: Bat Yam

Hometown: Hod HaSharon

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COMMUNITY

36 HOURS

OF JEWISH LONG BEACH and ALPERT JCC THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Hear stories from our community about

ADVOCACY REOPENING THE AJCC SENIOR MEAL DELIVERY SUPPORTING STUDENTS & REIMAGINGING FAMILY PROGRAMS

You made a difference Our impact doubled from June 29 - 30, thanks to your generosity and the matching gifts of Amy & Rich Lipeles, Lisa Raufman Natelson & Bernard Natelson, Shari & Lawrence Nemirow, Sandy & Daryl Philips, and Anonymous Donors.

Special thanks 36 Hours Co-Chairs: Rich Lipeles and Beth Sterling; Evening of Thanks Co-Chairs: Alan Brawer and Lauren Friedman; Platinum Sponsors: Andrea & Don Kaiser and Rosecarrie & Dr. Alan Brooks; Silver Sponsors: Dr. Huguette & Dr. Edgar Moran; Bronze Sponsor: Ken Schlesinger Disclaimer: Sponsors listed as of 6-17-22. Any sponsorships made after that date will be placed in the Sept/Oct Chronicle.

Visit jewishlongbeach.org To learn how Your support Builds Community, sustains Jewish Continuity, and demonstrates Caring & Compassion locally and around the world. It's never too late to make your presence known.

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COMMUNITY NEWS EVENTS

See What’s Happening in Your Community Beth David Saturday, July 16, 6:00 pm Matzo Ball Italian Dinner with entertainment by crooner Doug Roegiers and comedy by Bary Weisenberg. Tickets $45 before July 8, $55 after, children $25. Register at www.templebethdavid.org Friday, August 12, 7:30 pm Disney Shabbat Under the Stars. Disney Costumes encouraged. Friday, August 12, 7:30 pm Chori Shabbat service Under the Stars Saturday, August 13, 9:00 am Mind Body and Spirit Shabbat at the Seal Beach Pier either walking on the sidewalk or walking on the sand. Friday, August 19, 7:30 pm Beatles or Beach Boys Shabbat service Under the Stars Temple Beth Shalom Sunday, August 21, 3 pm-5 pm Active Shooter/Threat Training TBS, is hosting a community wide, in-person Active Shooter/Threat Training intended to help you become trained, equipped, and empowered. Given recent events around the country, it is imperative to learn some of the tools and practices proven to save lives. Retired Commander Jeff Liberman (28 years with Long Beach PD) and retired Lieutenant Tom Fischbacher (31 years with Newport Beach PD) will facilitate the training. Email or call the office 562.426.6413 for more information and the RSVP link. TBS, 3635 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90807 tbs.longbeach@verizon.net

NCJW Greater Long Beach & Orange County Thursday, August 18, 7:30 pm Filling Hugpacks at the Alpert JCC on the Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus. NCJW will be packing backpacks (Hugpacks) for High School level children. Come give students in the foster care system a “hug”! Snacks and drinks provided. RSVP required: communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org For more information call 657.235.2511 or email info@ncjwlongbeach.org. or go to www. ncjwlongbeach.org for updated information

To donate, visit https://jfcslongbeach.org/jfcs-refugeeassistance-fund or call JFCS at 562.427.7916.

Beit HaLev Saturday, August 6, 5:00 pm A special Tisha B’Av evening service will be livestreamed from the Beit Halev Zoomagogue: https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/9152434704?pwd=THJGTE1O UXI5VXFDTWtuZHF4K3VxUT09, Facebook.com/ galityomtov and YouTube.com (Beit Halev LIVE!)

Sunday, July 24, 10:00 am (Pacific time zone) Karen Franklin: New strategies in German Jewish Genealogy Karen Franklin is Director of Family History at Leo Baeck Institute, where she assists genealogists with family research and maintains relations with institutional partners in the genealogical field. Register in advance for the virtual meeting at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZMpcOygqjktHtA9NGkGfnV39MPhQlIUsq1t

JFCS Thinks Globally, Acts Locally to Launch Refugee Assistance Fund Growing numbers of refugees, including Ukrainians, are coming to the greater Long Beach area. Because of their unexpected exodus to escape unspeakable horrors of war, threats to personal safety due to civil unrest, and the physical and emotional harm engendered by persecution, JFCS of Long Beach has created a Refugee Assistance Fund. By helping us, you help stabilize these traumatized men, women, and children with food and necessities, financial assistance, counseling, and referral to resources from other area nonprofits. Proceeds from this fund are used by the JFCS Social Work and Older Adult Services staff solely to provide vital services to these children and families who through no fault of their own, need our support. This assistance is given without regard for religion, race, or national origin.

Orange County Jewish Genealogical Society (OCJGS) The Orange County Genealogical Society was formed in 1971 with a great deal of assistance from then Orange County Historian, Donald Clark. We have evolved from a handful of dedicated people to a membership well over 500.

Sunday, August 28, 10:00 am (Pacific time zone) Emily Garber: All was not lost: Researching relatives inthe Holocaust Family history research is a powerful tool to reconstruct families torn apart by genocide during World War II. Learn about numerous sources, both online and in archives,that can reaffirm ties that could not be destroyed. Emily Garber, an Arizona-based researcher, writer, and speaker, has been conducting family history research since 2007. She specializes in Jewish genealogical research and has worked with records from both Eastern European and German Jewish immigrants. Register in advance for the virtual meeting at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvciurT0vGtPTEyc9wGpLA42Q4xmPsiRi

JEWISH LONG BEACH & ALPERT JCC PARTICIPATE IN LONG BEACH GIVES FOR 3RD YEAR IN A ROW Join Long Beach in a community-wide day of giving on Thursday, September 22. Supporting Alpert JCC Senior Meal Delivery Program Providing 8,000 free meals to seniors in 2022!

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

Give from the heart! Donations accepted online, by mail and over the phone. Make a Difference: Contact Susan Paletz at spaletz@alpertjcc.org or (562) 426-7601 x1012

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IN MEMORIAM TRIBUTES COMMUNITY

JEWISH LONG BEACH

GENERAL FUND

ALPERT JCC

Susan Paletz from Lauren Friedman

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

JFCS

IN HONOR OF

IN MEMORY OF

MAY THEIR MEMORY BE A BLESSING

GENERAL FUND BEST WISHES FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY

Anna Chinski Beloved mother to Edie Brodsky & Family from Joanne Feldman

Joel Epstein from Binnie & Jack Berro

Rosecarrie Brooks On receiving the CCEJ Humanitarian Award

SENIOR LUNCH FUND IN HONOR

Norma & Jan Stein On your son’s wedding

Phyllis Schulman Beloved mother to Pamela Flores from Binnie & Jack Berro

Dr. Susan Mathieu from Rotary Club of Los Alamitos

MARCIE BALAN BLAKEY FUND

MAZEL TOV

IN MEMORY OF Daniel Yoshpe Beloved father to Nina Yoshpe Maginot

GERDA SEIFER YOM HASHOAH FUND

Garth Begler Beloved husband to Laura Snyder

Anna Chinski Beloved mother to Edie Brodsky & Family from Sharon & Marty Kenigsberg

Phyllis Schulman Beloved mother to Pam Flores

IN MEMORY OF

IN MEMORY OF Romie Temkin to Linda Waltzman & family Beloved mother & grandmother from Renee Simon For JFCS tributes call: 562.427.7916

Bradley Barnett Garth Begler Frieda Goldberg Lillian Liss Diane Schneider Phyllis Schulman Daniel Yoshpe We extend our condolences to the families and friends of those who have recently lost a loved one. If you know of someone who has recently passed and would like them recognized in our publication, please send your request to: chronicle@jewishlongbeach.org

Zichrono Livrakha

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

Honoring Jessie Butler and Gordon Lentzner

Dream With Us A Gala Celebrating Jewish Long Beach & Alpert JCC November 13, 2022 JEWISHLONGBEACH.ORG

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The Jewish Community Chronicle Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus 3801 E. Willow Street, Long Beach, CA 90815

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 129 Long Beach, CA

Postperson please deliver by 7/2/22

Change Service Requested

T E M P L E I S R A E L LO N G B E AC H

JOIN OUR TEMPLE FAMILY

“We strive for Temple Israel to be like Abraham’s tent, open on all sides, welcoming to all. In keeping with that philosophy, everyone who wishes to be a supporting member of our community is welcome, regardless of the amount they are able to contribute.”

Temple Israel Board of Directors NEW MEMBERSHIP YEAR BEGINS JULY 1, 2022

Through your involvement in our Temple Israel Community, you will... - Experience what it is to be part of a multi-generational family - Discover what it is to participate in a vibrant center for life-long Jewish learning - Teach your children the importance of community, Jewish culture, and spirituality

For information about how you can join our community, please contact the Temple Office (562) 434-0996 or email info@tilb.org

COMING HOME:

An Educational Concert and Havdalah

WITH CANTOR KELLY COOPER Saturday, July 23 at 7:00 pm In person and Livestreamed

FREE TO ATTEND • OPEN TO THE PUBLIC In this educational concert, we will explore songs about coming home, coming together, and ways in which we can make the world, our home, a better place. It will feature songs based on our sacred texts. Join me as we explore melodies, both old and new, together. WE ARE A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE REFORM CONGREGATION INSPIRING JEWISH LIFE IN LONG BEACH FOR OVER 98 YEARS!

269 LO M A AV E N U E • LO N G B E AC H , C A 90803 • 562.434.0 9 9 6 • W W W. T I L B. O R G 16 | CHRONICLE

JULY – AUGUST 2022