Upcoming Classes for May 2022

Check out our May classes and click on the link to sign up!

Coming Soon!

Jewish Art History & Jewish Artists

by

John Paul Thornton 

American artist, educator and speaker

This will be a 2 hour presentation on Zoom

including a Q & A session

Meet Andy & Phyllis Levy

What do you do when there’s no Jewish Community Center in your neighborhood?

If your name is Andy Levy, you build one!

Andy and Phyllis Levy’s JCC journey began with Andy’s father. Seeing no sign of a JCC on Long Island, New York, he and his friends contacted the Jewish Federation and asked for seed money to build one. Eventually, they built six JCC’s throughout the Long Island area that are still actively serving the community, twenty-two years later.

The Levys were active members of the SYJCC in Suffolk. They were proud of its signature event, an annual Jewish Arts Festival. Covering several acres, the festival included eight sound stages for entertainment, arts and crafts, and refreshments. Well-known headliners, including entertainers Arlo Guthrie and Alan King, along with many local politicians and supporters, participated in the Festival.

Both Phyllis and Andy began their careers as teachers. After teaching, Phyllis veered into the fashion world. She became a Wardrobe Consultant, and after 26 years still loves “dressing her clients”. Andy was in the flexible packaging business for 26 years, followed by several years in the school district administrative software business before serving as Interim Executive Director of their synagogue. This led to a job as Executive Director of a non-profit organization assisting poor people on Long Island.

Two years ago, the Levys’ son-in-law suggested they consider moving to Westlake Village, a community similar to Phyllis and Andy’s home in Dix Hills. With the added bonus of being closer to their grandchildren, the Levys moved to California just as Covid and quarantines began. They were basically isolated from everyone and everything. So, they looked up the closest Jewish Community Center, and soon joined Valley JCC. When restrictions were lifted, they became very active in the Center, joined a committee and started making new friends. 

Now settled into their life in Westlake Village, close to their children and grandchildren, Phyllis enjoys yoga, cooking and reading, while Andy is an avid “do-it-your-selfer” and arbitrator for FINRA. 

We welcome Phyllis and Andy to Valley JCC and appreciate how much they have already participated as members of the Fundraising Committee, their work on the Galathon preparation, and their interest in helping to grow our presence in the community.

Readers Club

Join us!

Wednesday, May 18th at 7:00pm

"Born a Crime"

by Trevor Noah

RSVP to: rsvp@ValleyJCC.org



When you RSVP you will receive the meeting ID and Password

Introducing Ben Yeger

"Basketball With Ben"

Ben Yeger grew up in the San Fernando Valley, attended Heschel Day School, El Camino Real High School, and UC Santa Cruz, where he studied English Literature. With his parents, he attended Congregation Beth Kodesh (now Shomrei Torah Synagogue).

Ben enjoyed playing all sports, including basketball, with the JCC. That brings him full circle to what he's doing now, since Ben's business, Eclipse Basketball, is partnering with Valley JCC's Wayne League Basketball. Along with Valley JCC's Jason Moser, they are growing the adult league that is currently playing at the Emek gym, and are planning summer camps and sports clinics. Camps show kids how to have fun while learning sports. Summer camp activities will include contests and tournaments.

After college, Ben worked in finance but wanted to do something meaningful and make a difference. So, he created a business named Basketball With Ben, established sports clinics, and participated in Valley Thunder Basketball with 8-15 year olds. In 2013 he joined Westlake High School as the freshman basketball head coach. One of his client's sons attended Emek Hebrew Academy. Following a conversation with the Rabbi, Ben offered to conduct a basketball clinic. This led to a job offer to start a full sports program at Emek. Ben has been with Emek for nine years, and serves as Athletic Director , Physical education, and basketball coach. He greatly expanded their sports program and won some championships.

Recently, Ben started his own business, Eclipse Basketball, for boys and girls ages 7-14 years. Ben explains that the reason he coaches is that he didn't have a positive and passionate coaching role model when he was younger, and wants todays youth to have someone who really cares. His goal has been to bring this passion to the Jewish community, to teach boys and girls to enjoy sports, teach responsibility, life lessons, to be a good citizen, to work together, and to be good representatives of their community.

"As a coach," Ben says, "I teach kids to understand their role, learn what they're good at, and that each individual player is valuable and important to the team. One of the life lessons is to believe in the team concept, work hard, and earn your way."

Valley JCC May Calendar

Check Out May Classes & Events!

Mah Jongg

at The Village NorthRidge

Join in and have fun on



Mah Jongg Game Day

Mondays

10:00am to 2:30pm

Location:

The Village NorthRidge

9222 Corbin Avenue, Northridge

Bring your lunch!

Fee: $6 per session; no charge for VJCC members

For more information, contact Judi at Judi@mahjonggfunla.com

or call: (818) 764-6240

To become a member of the Valley Jewish Community Center

Go To: www.valleyjcc.org/membership

From the Desk of Rick Lupert

Rick Lupert is the Communication Associate with our

Valley JCC. He is a Southern California poet, song leader and graphic designer. He is the author of the book God Wrestler: A Poem for Every Torah Portion, along with 24 other collections of poetry.

This was written in response to the invasion of Ukraine...Rick Lupert

I don't remember a time when War

wasn't on the tips of everyone's tongues.

Every page of the history books is littered with it

Even our ancient text tells us who to go to war with.

In the recent memory of our grandparents

there was the war to end all wars

and soon after that came the next one.

They've made movies and TV shows about

the intermediary wars. The peace and love of

the 60s went hand in hand with Vietnam.

And then there's the modern wars that have

gone on so long we forgot they were happening.

What a surprise when they ended and

people were mad for some reason.

This intrusion into Ukraine may be my

13-year-old's first war.

Or at least the first one he gets to experience

from the beginning.

I remember when my people left Russia.

It seems the Czar is still at it.

He wears a modern suit now.

He tells cameras and phones lies

about what isn't really his.

He sits in an office far from where

the cannonballs fly.

Happy Birthday! May

Sherri Blumenthal

Janet Fishman

Rabbi Jason van Leeuwen

Kristen Perez

Liron Samara

Justin Zeefe

Neal Berg

Orel Cohen

Lindy Dubois

Jan Silver

Shirley Grodsky

Betty Mansky

Lilli Mensch

Jocelyn Mills

Joyce Newman

Fran Peck

Yossi Rabinovitz

Lian Lavy

Roye Schrager

We Wish You Good Health & Happiness!

May Holiday:

Lag BaOmer

Lag BaOmer, a minor, festive holiday, falls on the 33rd day of the seven-week period between Passover and

 Shavuot. It is a period of time known as the Omer. (The numerical value of the Hebrew letter lamed is 30, and the value of gimel is three; lamed and gimel together are pronounced “lahg.”)

The Omer has both agricultural and spiritual significance: it marks both the spring cycle of planting and harvest, and the Israelites’ journey out of slavery in Egypt (Passover) and toward receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai (Shavuot). This holiday provides a break from the semi-mourning restrictions (no parties or events with music, no weddings, no haircuts) that are customarily in place for some Jewish communities during the Omer.

An omer (“sheaf”) is an ancient Hebrew measure of grain. Biblical law forbade any use of the new barley crop until after an omer was brought as an offering to the Temple in Jerusalem. This commandment led to the practice of the S’firat HaOmer, or the 49 days of the "Counting of the Omer.”

Lag BaOmer commemorates a variety of historical events, including the end of a plague that killed many students of Rabbi Akiva (c. 50-135 C.E.), the yahrzeit of 2nd-century mystical scholar Shimon bar Yochai, and a Jewish military victory over Roman forces in 66 C.E. In remembrance of these events, some people celebrate with picnics and bonfires. Many couples in Israel choose to get married on Lag BaOmer, and many people also choose to wait until that day to get a haircut or beard trim.

...www.ReformJudaism.org

S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches

A Lag BaOmer Dessert

Lag BaOmer, day of joy, celebration and bonfires, takes place in May. And if you’ve ever sat around a bonfire, you’ve probably eaten something involving the ingredients pictured here.

It’s a simple equation: Graham crackers + marshmallows + chocolate + bonfire = S’mores.

Now, if you’re a sworn traditionalist, read no further. But if you’re willing to embrace a decadent twist on the hallowed campfire concoction, read on and get the recipe for the deliciously cold S’more ice cream bar, pictured here.

LINK for full recipe CLICK HERE

or go to:

https://www.chabad.org/recipes/recipe_cdo/aid/2169436/jewish/Smores-Ice-Cream-Sandwiches.htm

...www.chabad.org

Book Review

Personal Librarian

by Marie Benedict

The remarkable story of J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict, and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray.

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection.

But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American.

The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.

authormariebenedict.com

Every generation is full of stereotypes: The Greatest Generation pulled themselves up by the bootstraps, the Silent Generation were low-key, Baby Boomers got a bad rap, Gen X are seen as cynics, Millennials are often slammed as brats at the office by elder generations, and Gen Z will someday save the planet via TikTok.

Of course, there’s more to every generation than that, so If you’re wondering

“What generation am I?” here is the break down.

Greatest Generation (Born 1901-1927)

The Greatest Generation survived a lot. They lived through the Great Depression and fought in World War II, then contributed to one of the most economically prosperous times in American history. They came of age in an era of rapidly innovating technology, including the telephone, radio, and television — as well as the more sinister inventions, like the atomic bomb that devastated civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan during the war. The Greatest Generation are lauded for their abilities to adapt and thrive in crisis and are celebrated for leaving the world better than they found it.

Silent Generation (Born 1928-1945)

The Silent Generation were small in number due to low birthrates in the 1920s and 1930s and were generally raised as kids to be seen and not heard, hence their name. Like the Greatest Generation, they survived the Great Depression and were born during periods of war. The Silent Generation were described as “fatalistic” and practical, and generally opposed to war (especially in Korea and Vietnam). Mostly better educated than their predecessors, they longed for a secure job and quiet, idyllic lives but were tolerant of other lifestyles as well. Feminists in the Silent Generation were slammed for having the nerve to want both a career and a home life.

Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)

Baby Boomers got their moniker from the “baby boom” that occurred following the second World War. There are 76 million Baby Boomers! Known for their post-World War II optimism, Baby Boomers were largely shaped by the Cold War, Vietnam War and Civil Rights, hippie and yuppie movements. They value interpersonal communication, but are still largely fluent with technology. Baby Boomers have the highest divorce rate in American history and the second-highest marriage rate. Boomers are regarded as generally driven, especially financially, to the point of often being criticized as greedy.

Gen X (1965-1980)

Gen X (Generation X) are often referred to as a forgotten generation. They had the highest rate of divorced parents of any generation. They are more focused on work-life balance than their workaholic Boomer parents, likely because they were often “latch-key kids.” Though often criticized for being slackers and cynics, Gen X are actually largely entrepreneurial. Gen X have had numerous historical events that have defined and shaped them: The end of the Cold War, Ronald Reagan‘s laissez-faire economics and recession, the crack and AIDS epidemics and the rise of home computing and the Internet. They also ushered in the golden age of hip-hop and birth of grunge, and with it a widespread disdain of authority and the establishment as a whole.

Millennials (1981-1995)

Millennials have been criticized for their addiction to technology and alleged narcissism, but there’s much more to them than their devices and Instagram feeds. Also known as Generation Y, they have lived through two major recessions, countless mass shootings, racial and civil unrest, 9/11 and the two longest wars (Iraq and the War on Terror in Afghanistan) in American history. Millennials have been labeled for being entitled and bratty, and the “me me me generation.” Millennials are the first generation to have higher rates of both unemployment and student loan debt than preceding generations. Millennials have largely delayed marriage and having children until they felt financially stable, and many are apprehensive about homeownership for the same reasons.

Gen Z (1996-2015)

Gen Z are the first truly digital native generation, with many receiving their first cellphones before 11 years old. More social media savvy than their millennial peers, they are more aware of social justice and political issues than many of their older generations were at the same age, largely due to their heavy social media use. Studies have shown that Gen Z possess a great deal of emotional intelligence and are likely to partake in activism. Because Gen Z are still so young, there isn’t a ton of data on them just yet — but we’re so looking forward to what they bring to the table and the world.

...www.parade.com

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