July 11, 2018 | 28 Tamuz, 5778
This Week
Friday, 7/13
7:30pm
Shabbat Under the Stars

Our summer Shabbat services take place on the back patio. Families of all ages are welcome at ALL of our Shabbat services.
Saturday, 7/14
9:00am
Hevrah Torah

Sunday
Religious School reconvenes September 23rd
Upcoming Events
University Synagogue
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 3 | 6:30pm
Shabbat Under the Stars: Family and Havurot
Bring the whole Havurah and enjoy the summer night!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 | 5pm - 9pm

Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support University Synagogue. Click on the link above, or read more below if you would like to participate!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 | 5:30pm
Annual Shabbat BBQ and Open House
Join us at University Synagogue for our annual Shabbat BBQ!


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 | 7pm
An American S'lichot: A Community Observance
University Synagogue, in partnership with Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills and Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Community Events
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SUNDAY, JULY 22 | 4pm

The film follows the story of Al Schwimmer and the illegal operation that occurred in an attempt to save the newborn Jewish State.
 
The event will take place on July 22nd at 4pm at:
 
The Museum of Tolerance
9786 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles CA
90035
Tea With Toby

Shalom Chaverim,
 
Thank you for making my first couple of weeks here so welcoming. I have been inundated with emails, messages, calls and visits. It has been wonderful!
 
I am excited to get to know you and the entire community in the coming months. To jumpstart this process, I would like to invite you to MEET me in the coming weeks at a program called  TEA WITH TOBY . There is no agenda here other than to have a visit, some conversation, and a little nosh together. I hope that you can join me at one of the times below. Make sure to RSVP at least two days before the session that you would like to attend at  tberkow@unisyn.org  or call the office at (310) 472-1255. I’m a Jewish mom, so I want to make sure that we will have enough food available.
TEA WITH TOBY Dates & Times
 
Tuesday, July 31 st  – 9:00-10:15am OR 6:00pm-7:15pm
 
Tuesday, August 14 th  – 9:00-10:15am OR 6:00pm-7:15pm
 
Thursday, September 6 th  – 9:00-10:15am
 
Thursday, September 13 th  – 9:00-10:15am (For ECLC Families)
 
Lastly, if you cannot make one of these times and would like to schedule an appointment, please reach out. I’m happy to make time for you.
 
Best,
 
Toby
Mazal Tov
Mazal Tov 3
Mazal Tov to Megan Risdon and Sam Hanson on the birth of their son, Reign Jagger Risdon Hanson.

Mazal Tov to Hallie and Stephen Prince on the birth of their daughter, Rahne Ariel Prince .
Zichronam Livrachah
Marina Khaya Soleimanian Shabtai , sister of Miranda (Sion) Shamsian .
Todah Rabbah

Thank you to Suzanne Sheridan (Leonard Sheridan, of blessed memory) for her donation of a signed and numbered limited edition lithograph by Perli Pelzig entitled, “The Six Days of Creation." Many of you may recognize this artist’s name as the same artist who created our fantastic stained glass windows in the Kopelson Family Sanctuary.

This 2-color lithograph depicts in six sections the days of creation as we find them described in the Torah and interpreted by the artist. For a closer look, please stop by our reception area where the print will hang to be enjoyed by our congregants, and for generations to come.
Immigration Pro Bono Opportunity
In response to the still-growing number of cases, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, in partnership with Bet Tzedek, has created an initiative so that members of our legal community can provide pro bono representation for underage clients in need. While you must be an attorney, you do not need to be an immigration attorney in order to help. We have heard from many attorneys looking for a meaningful way to help those most impacted by recent changes to the enforcement of immigration laws.

We are offering two ways for you to learn how you can help, and you may participate in either or both. They are:

  • A special policy briefing via phone hosted by the Federation’s Legal Division and facilitated by Jessie Kornberg, President & CEO of Bet Tzedek

Wednesday, July 11, 2018
6:00-6:30 PM
Dial-in information will be provided with confirmation.

  • A session devoted to training attorneys to take on pro bono representation of undocumented minors. The session will prepare you for representing an undocumented minor in state probate court to obtain a legal guardian and secure specific findings regarding Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), an important form of federal immigration relief for youth who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by a parent.

Monday, July 23, 2018
7:00-9:00 PM

The Jewish Federation Goldsmith Center, Sanders Boardroom
6505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90048

Light dinner will be served.
Many of us have expressed concern over the recent immigration policy changes. This is an opportunity to turn that concern into meaningful action. We can make a difference and use our legal training to bring Jewish values and empathy to bear on this crisis.

For those of you who need to coordinate this project with your firm administrators and/or pro bono director, or if you have any other questions, please contact Amy Shpall at (323) 761-8158 or AShpall@JewishLA.org .

Sincerely,

Craig Rutenberg
Chair, Legal Division

Alex Weingarten
Chair, Community Engagement
Have you ever dreamed of traveling to Israel with the one you love? Honeymoon Israel might be your perfect chance!

Honeymoon Israel provides trips to Israel for locally based groups of young couples who have at least one Jewish partner. Spend nine exhilarating, romantic, and memorable days exploring Israel in luxury with the one you love — and share the experience with 19 other diverse couples from Los Angeles. You will return home with a new community and friends who feel like family.

Honeymoon Israel wants to ensure that you and your family feel welcome in the Jewish community and inspire you to incorporate Jewish values into your life in whatever way works for you. We think the Jewish community has a lot to offer the world and would like to see it grow, so we’re promoting an inclusive view of Jewish life — including partners from other faiths and people who might traditionally have been excluded. Honeymoon Israel is a completely inclusive organization that highly encourages participation by couples of diverse backgrounds, including interfaith, Jewish, multi-racial, LGBTQ, and those with young children.

INTERESTED IN APPLYING?

Applications are now open for two upcoming Honeymoon Israel LA trips:
  • February 28-March 10, 2019
  • August 1-11, 2019

Cost: $2,200 per couple, inclusive of flight and ground costs
Couples interested in either trip must submit an  online application  by  July 30th . (Note: this application cycle is for the remainder of trips in 2019.)

CURIOUS IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE?
To be eligible to apply for Honeymoon Israel, couples must:
  • Have at least one partner who identifies as Jewish
  • Have at least one partner who is ages 25-40 years old (with neither partner over 45 years old)
  • At least one partner must have no prior organized Israel experience on a post high school Jewish peer trip (i.e. if both partners have been on Birthright or a MASA program, you are ineligible)
  • Be in a lifelong committed relationship and/or within first five years of marriage
  • Live within L.A. county limits

HAVE QUESTIONS?
Contact Jennifer Green at  Jenn@HoneymoonIsrael.org  or (206) 890-8975.
We hope you and your partner take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect — with each other, Israel, and new friends!
Follow University Synagogue on Facebook!

Want to stay up to date on all events and activities? Please like and follow us on our Facebook page. Simply click on the button below, sign into your Facebook account, and click like. 
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Mitzvah Corps:
We're Here For You!
University Synagogue Mitzvah Corps is here, and we care!  Dedicated to serving our fellow congregants as they encounter major life cycle events, we will gladly send a welcome gift to a new baby, and provide support for ill or mourning congregants and their families (delivering a hot meal, completing a minyan, running an errand, etc.). 

If you’re in need of some TLC from the Mitzvah Corps, please just inform any clergy member or the synagogue office.   We’d also love to have you join us as a volunteer — the demands are few and the rewards are plentiful!

Please contact Susan Wieder at sdwieder@mac.com .
Oneg Shabbat Sponsorships

Share your special life cycle event with the congregation on Friday night!

Birthday, Anniversary, Engagement, Aufruf or Baby Naming . . .

Click here to see the sponsorships. 

For more information, please contact Bonnie Kebre at BKebre@unisyn.org
Have a Great Week!