Events In The West: From December 26-30, Yarchei Kallah, with Kollel Mercaz HaTorah, takes place in the beis medrash at Beth Jacob Beverly Hills… On January 7-8, Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, founder and dean of Yeshiva Darchei Noam of Monsey, will be the scholar-in-residence at Young Israel of Century City.
Safety: The light at Oakwood and La Brea in the Los Angeles La Brea-Hancock Park area has five seconds for “Walk” and 15 seconds for “Don’t Walk.” Jewish community leaders and several rabbis from institutions in Paul Koretz’s council district met with the councilman about this issue and other community issues about six months ago. They requested Koretz to increase the combined crossing time from 20 to 30 seconds, as is appropriate for a major intersection. This would give more time for the elderly and infirm to cross. So far, though, nothing has been done to change the time. Recently, 88-year-old Berish Landau, who used a walker, was killed crossing the street because he couldn’t cross quickly enough. Rabbi Shmuel Jacobs, a rabbi at Yeshiva Rav Isaacson (Toras Emes), who helped Landau cross the street on a daily basis in order for him to daven Shacharis at Congregation Bais Yehuda, was seriously injured but is recovering.
Kosher Updates: The banana bread and cinnamon flavors of Quaker instant weight control oatmeal are dairy, even though there is not yet a “D” on the box.
Singles: From January 12-15, Beth Jacob Beverly Hills will host the International Shabbaton for Young Professionals, featuring psychologist and author Dr. Gary Neuman. Women Only: On January 21, Beth Jacob Beverly Hills will feature a Shabbos lunch for single women ages 50-68… Have you had any exasperating experiences with websites? KosherWoman.com, a website for Jewish women – from the least observant to the most observant – has, among their many pages, interesting material on Jewish lifestyle topics and a page that lists troublesome websites and the specific problems surrounding them. The website states that it will only remove an entry when the problems are fixed.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Boaz and Sara Esther Goldman of Romaima, Israel, a daughter (Grandparents Jeanne Litvin and Rabbi Mel Teitelbaum; Rabbi Dr. Simcha and Miriam Goldman; Rabbi Eliezer and Pnina Pflaster)… Shmuel and Felice (Gottlieb) Barak, a son (Grandparents Dr. Emmy and Jennie (Lewkowicz) Gottlieb; Kalev and Eileen Barak; Great-grandfather Joe Lewkowicz)… Aaron and Ita Tomaszewski, a daughter (Grandparents Joe and Gerda Tomaszewski)… Ariel and Sara Bluma Fine, a son… Ephraim and Michelle Nissenfeld of NY, a daughter (Grandparents Barry and Dena Gress)… Avi and Shuli Steinlauf, a son (Grandparents Peter and Liz Steinlauf)… Yitzchak and Sara Alyesh (Grandparents Ray and Shoshana Alyeshmerani; Binyamin and Gila Zaghi)… Avy and Sandra Azeroual, a daughter.
Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvahs: Josep Schnitzer, son of Avrumie and Maryjo Schnitzer… Dovid Witkin, son of Howard and Marnie Witkin.
Mazel Tov – Engagements: Frumie Goldberg, daughter of Rabbi Moshe and Devorah Goldberg, to Boruch Diskind of Montreal, Canada… Shayna Firestone, daughter of Marc and Beth Firestone, to Dovid Herzka of Flatbush, NY… Eli Hendeles, son of Moise and Angela Hendeles, and Sandy and Barry Goldman, to Sharon Feder of Englewood, NJ… Dr. Maurice Garfinkel, son of Joseph and Marlyn Garfinkel, to Tova Levin, daughter of Irv Levin… Dr. Tovy Haber Kamine, son of Bernard and Marcia Kamine, to Dr. Rebecca Barron, daughter of Drs. Alan and Ros Barron… Basya Gruman, daughter of Rabbi Dovid and Feige Gruman, to Chaim Zemel of Miami Beach.
Mazel Tov – Weddings: Moshe Stewart, son of Rabbi Eliyahu and Bryna Stewart, to Chani Richter of Monsey, NY… Robbie Silverman, son of Nachi and Hedy Silverman, to Ariella Winter, daughter of Jeff and Shaindy Winter… Eli Lehman, son of Kenneth and Libby Lehman, to Rivky Frankel of Lakewood, NJ.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Birth: Ash and Mindy Berla, a daughter. Mazel Tov – Engagement: Yael Friedkin, daughter of Gerald and Miriam Friedkin, to Matt Kovner. Mazel Tov – Wedding: Elana Jagoda, daughter of Jeff and Joanne Jagoda, to Saul Kaye.
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Birth: Aharon and Chana Kestenbaum in Yerushalayim, a daughter (Grandmother Esther Kestenbaum). Mazel Tov – Engagements: Jessica Light, daughter of Donald Light, to Evan Silverberg… Daniel Stahl, son of Willy and Jean Stahl, to Dr. Ariella Schwartz of Staten Island, NY.
VALLEY VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Aharon and Shelly Striks, a son (Grandparents David and Miriam Striks; Al Lebovic and Barbara Lebovic)… Boaz and Sara Esther Goldman of Romaima, Israel, a daughter (Grandparents Rabbi Eliezer and Pnina Pflaster; Jeanne Litvin and Rabbi Mel Teitelbaum; Rabbi Dr. Simcha and Miriam Goldman)… Netanel and Tova Chait, a daughter (Grandparents Rabbi George and Dr. Lisa Lintz).
Mazel Tov – Engagements: Rachel Goodfriend, daughter of Mark and Elaine Goodfriend, to Gabriel Saadat, son of Elias and Janet Saadat of Beverly Hills, CA… Benji Samet, son of Dr. Michael and Bracha Samet, to Raissa Sosnow of North Miami Beach, FL.