Events In The West: This Shabbos the Pacific Jewish Center in Venice is hosting a Shabbaton to celebrate Shabbat Across America… On March 10, Eliot Goldstein, deputy executive director of the Jewish Distribution Committee’s Global Resource Development Department, will speak on “GPS: Navigating the Jewish World” at Young Israel of Century City… On Sunday March 11 at 5 p.m., the Special Maccabees, a Jewish special-needs basketball program, will play at L.A.’s Westside Jewish Community Center against the Special Olympics basketball team.
Shul Trends: Some California shuls are starting new trends that may work in other shuls. Adas Israel in San Francisco has communitywide Hachnasas Orchim Shabbos programs. The shul asks their members to invite someone for the first time to their homes for Shabbos lunch in order to help build community spirit… L.A.’s Link Kollel Shul in the Pico-Robertson area has started a Shabbos morning minyan with explanations and discussions of the meanings of the prayers and the Torah reading. It is accompanied by plenty of singing, spirit and warmth, and a Kiddush follows the davening. Depending on the response to this type of minyan, it could be weekly, bi-weekly or monthly… Adat Yeshurun in La Jolla is bringing back the “Purim Spiel” to their Purim seudah.
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Birth: Eytan and Victoria Geft, a son.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Shloimy and Daniella Mosbacher, a son… Aaron and Carli Becker, a son (Grandparents Victor and Debbie Sacks)… Rabbi Dovid and Shifra Revah, a daughter… Mendy and Dini Avzton, a daughter… Avrohom and Levana Greenstein, a daughter… Bentzy and Aleeza Sherman of NY, a son (Grandparents Jimmy and Jeanne Salamon)… Dovid and Daphna Levine, a daughter (Grandfather Dubby Teichman; Great-grandparents Sol and Ruth Teichman)… Dr. Michael and Sarah Helfand, a son… Avi and Devorah Weiss, a son (Grandparents Dr. Steven and Rivky Weiss; Great-grandmother Bessie Weiss)… Eytan and Victoria Geft, a son (Grandparents Dr. Ivor and Liebe Geft)… Rabbi Mordechai and Jennifer Pollock, a daughter (Grandmother Sonia Slavin)… Rabbi Moshe and Basya Samuels, a daughter (Grandparents Julia Hellman Gindi; Cary and Joyce Samuels)… Baruch and Dini Friedman, a son (Grandparents Mendel and Shoshana Dubinsky)… Eric and Debbie Schames, a son (Grandparents Dr. Joseph and June Schames; Great-grandmother Esther Schames)… Yoel and Chana Zuman of Lakewood, NJ, a daughter (Grandparents Dr. Bezalel and Devorah Zuman; Great-grandparents David and Sheila Thumim)… Rabbi Adir and Dr. Hindi Posy, a son (Grandparents Billy and Avivya Stohl; Carl and Feige Posy of Yerushalayim)… Dr. Yakov and Ariella Agatstein, a daughter (Grandparents Dr. Ernie and Suzanne Agatstein; Great-grandparents Ben and Leah Lax… Duvie and Esther Malka Maryles, a son (Grandparents Heshy and Shaindy Maryles… Mendel and Sara Fishman of Toronto, a daughter (Grandparents Marty and Miriam Fishman)… Jonathan and Lynn Abesera, a daughter (Grandparents Henri and Danielle Abesera).
Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvahs: Menny Kagan, son of Dovid and Judy Kagan… Ben Harel, son of Gil and Iris Harel… Yaakov Nachimson, son of Irwin and Sharon Nachimson.
Mazel Tov – Engagements: Rachel Schultz, daughter of David and Debbie Schultz, to Daniel Small of Teaneck, NJ… Nicolo Nourafchan to Chaya Barber of Crown Heights, NY… Chaim Katz, son of Harold and Magda Katz, to Dena Shandalov of Chicago, IL… Philip Marcus to Pamela Kleinman… Yaakov Gindi, son of Dr. Joseph Gindi, to Sheina Feigelstock, son of Ephraim and Suzanne Feigelstock… Eli Weiner, son of Rabbi Avraham and Frumie Weiner, to Bracha Kleinman of Flatbush, NY… Ariella Borman, daughter of Howard and Nava Borman of Woodland Hills, to Gavriel Weiss… Zev Levinson, son of Yehoshua and Minna Levinson, to Devorah Herenstein… Batya Rotter, daughter of Dr. Arnold and Leah Rotter, to Dr. Gidon Winter of Melbourne, Australia… Yechiel Weinfeld, son of Shimon and Eva Weinfeld, to Sara Borne… Sara Brummer, daughter of George and Harriet Brummer, to Nathaniel Goldstein, son of Jeff and Wendy Goldstein of Agoura Hills, CA… Dovid Moshe Einstein, son of Shmuel and Karen Einstein, to Eidel Mocanu of NY.
Mazel Tov – Wedding: Lisa Guzik, daughter of Sam and Jeanette Guzik, to Mark Blum.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Aaron and Helen Baskin, a daughter… Ronen and Liat Vaisenberg, a daughter. Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvah: Naomi Moskowitz, daughter of Alan and Michelle Moskowitz.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvah: Seiji Shaw, son of Robin and Julie Shaw.
VALLEY VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Yisroel and Sima Semmel of Kew Gardens Hills, NY, a daughter (Grandparents David and Miriam Striks)… Elly and Deena Fireman, a son (Grandparents David and Kathy Dardashty)… Rabbi Moshe and Basya Samuels, a daughter (Grandparents Cary and Joyce Samuels; Julia Hellman Gindi).
Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvah: Ryan Turrell, son of Brad and Laurel Turrell.
Mazel Tov – Engagements: Dina Ackerman, daughter of Zoltan and Martha Ackerman, to Moshe Franklin of St. Louis, MO… Sheina Feigelstock, son of Ephraim and Suzanne Feigelstock, to Yaakov Gindi, son of Dr. Joseph Gindi.