Real People, Great Results!

“Touro College Los Angeles was a natural choice for me due to the unique blend of a quality education and personal attention. The high-level courses combined with caring and dedicated professors helped me accomplish my goals.”

TThe Megila describes Esther Hamalka by saying רתסאו יהתו היאור לכ יניעב ןח תאשנ. Esther had the unique quality of Chein, she charmed everyone around her. Rebbitzen Sharon Shenker A”H exemplified this midda as well. She had true Chein, and everyone who knew her loved her and felt loved by her.

On Wednesday night, over 80 women gathered live as the LINK Kollel in conjunction with the Community Shul, commemorated the Shloshim of our dear teacher, mentor, and friend Rebbetzin Sharon Shenker A”H. This moving tribute included divrei chizuk from Rav Baruch Yehuda Gradon, Rosh Kollel of Mirkaz HaTorah, as well as divrei Torah, memories, and reflections from some of Sharon’s closest friends.

Rebbetzin Judith Cohen, from the Community Shul led the women inTehillim. We then had a chance to say a Bracha out loud and respond Amein התמשנ יוליעל. Rebbitzen Chana Heller, long-time work partner of Jewish women’s initiative/ AISH Los Angeles and closest friend shared the amazing hashgacha of how then college student, Sharon Gold, won a raffle ticket to Eretz Yisrael and through this began her journey to Yiddishkeit that would impact so many.

Next, Rabbi Gradon gave us a stirring approach to processing the tragic loss. Abby Symonds, a close friend of Sharon, spoke so touchingly of Sharon’s impact on her. She spoke of her unique approach to hosting, the legendary “Shenker shuffle,” encouraging her guests to be vulnerable and meet new people. She spoke about her vitality and wisdom, and how she made everyone feel like a million dollars. Rebbetzin Batyah Brander then gave beautiful insights into Megillas Esther and so poignantly connected the life and middos of Esther Malka with Sharon A”H.

Mrs. Chavi Jacobs, one of Sharon’s closest friends spoke so eloquently about the deep significance of Sharons petira that

BRACHA

LEAH POLLACK, Future Doctor Touro College Los Angeles, ‘18, Touro’s New York Medical College, ‘24

was on Rosh Chodesh Shevat, and her shloshim at the start of Adar. Sharon embodied the growth of shvat and the Simcha of Adar. Despite the indescribable pain (which she experienced for years), we learned about her incredible internal gevura/strength that she harnessed to overcome her physical limitations. She would push forward to be her best self.

At the end of the program, Mrs. Carli Becker, who co-coordinated the evening with Mrs. Brander, introduced an initiative to commemorate Sharon’s legacy and to bring an aliyas neshama. Participants were encouraged to notice moments of G-dly love in their everyday experiences and to then record them in a mini journal. The inscription in these journals paid tribute to Rebbetzin Sharon Shenker, who regularly modeled the importance of gratitude to the people around her and to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.

We will sorely miss her warmth, wisdom, her kindness, and her friendship. May the Shenker family know no more sorrow, and may Sharon’s legacy live on in our hearts and minds, through the lessons she gave to us in her all too short but impactful lifetime

We Thank the LAPD

Yeshivat Yavneh has Week-Long Adar Celebrations

In In the early morning of February 15th, a man was shot while walking to his car off of Pico Blvd. after morning prayers. At first, the police indicated it was not targeted, but random. It was not until the next day, when a second man was shot, also after leaving morning prayers off of Pico Blvd., that the LAPD recognized that the first incident was indeed a targeted antisemitic attack and that both hate crimes were committed by the same person.

Later on Thursday afternoon, Jamie Train, 28 years old, was arrested near Palm Springs. He is being charged with federal hate crimes. He has a history of making antisemitic statements and personal threats to other Jews, including those he went to dental school with. He admitted to police he searched for a Kosher market to know where to find his targets and identified them by their head covering.

On Friday and Saturday, Pico Blvd. was heavily patrolled by the LAPD on horses and members of Magen Am. The Jewish community wants to thank the LAPD for the support and protection that the LAPD provides, and to Magen Am for their leadership in keeping our community safe and secure.

YAYOE’s Annual Presentation by Mr. “Pistachio Farmer” Ichaki

On Tu B’Shevat, our pre school and girls in first, second, and third grade learned about trees in a unique way from a special pistachio farmer (and YAYOE father) Mr. Nadav Ichaki of Nut Farmers and Fistook LLC. Mr. Ichaki has made his presence an annual event at YAYOE, to teach us about the growing, harvesting, and processing of pistachio nuts and almonds here in California. Everyone asked thoughtful questions and was amazed at the complexity of the agricultural processes.

Mr. Ichaki’s colorful video highlighted the importance of Hashem’s bracha of geshem and the creation of honey bees for the successful cultivation of all agricultural crops. We learned that without this process, we would not enjoy many of the fruits and vegetables that we do, including chocolate.

As a special treat, Mr. Ichaki presented each girl (and Morah!) with a small peach, nectarine, or cherry sapling. We look forward to hearing updates on their growth.

Thank you, Mr. Ichaki and the entire Ichaki family, for your continued generosity in sharing your expertise, for the yummy samples, and for an interesting, relevant, and memorable way to spend Tu B’Shevat.

Epic Family Comes to Los Angeles

The L.A. Community was excited to celebrate its fifth year with EPIC Family, an international Chinuch organization that Empowers and Inspires Parents and Children. With the support of local Rabbonim and Menahalim, the Epic Family mission is to provide Chizuk to the communities that they visit, with added support and guidance in all aspects of parenting.

EPIC Family spent two Epic weeks in the greater Los Angeles area, including Hancock Park, Pico Robertson, the Valley, and Tarzana. In total there were 3 Shabbatonim across 13 Kehillos, Shiurim, and Lectures for boys and girls at 10 Yeshivas and Schools as well as a Motzai Shabbos Chinuch Think Tank panel attended by many and evening events at different homes in the community, empowering hundreds of parents and inspiring thousands of children.

Events were held for every age from elementary school age to parents of parents (grandparents), and everywhere in between. EPIC Family provides additional resources for schools, teachers, and Rabbeim as well as offering in-house training and personal sessions. They had a tremendous impact on the community with over 50 total engagements.

In Israel, the organization continues to help Olim and their families, who have decided to move to Israel to help them acclimate to their new home. They ensure that families have the necessary resources to educate and lead their families and have a successful tran- sition, by running a comprehensive and professional mentoring program for hundreds of boys and girls every year and guidance for parents by social workers and therapists.

Many families enjoyed private one on one sessions with leading Rabbonim, and personal advice specific to their unique situation. We are so happy and thankful that EPIC Family decided to make Los Angeles one of its focus cities, and we look forward to their continued efforts in helping provide additional resources for our community.