Events In The West: This Shabbos, Young Israel of Century City hosts scholar-in-residence Rabbi Saul Berman.
Kosher Updates: Chapa Grill Restaurants – in Sherman Oaks and on Wilshire in L.A. – are no longer under kosher supervision.
Passover Kosher Alerts: There are new Haolam cheese products that are not kosher for Pesach. Please check each product carefully for Pesach certification… Kosher-for-Pesach Coca Cola is not allowed into California because it contains a banned ingredient. Thus, if you see it on the shelves, be aware that it is being brought in illegally… Schmerling’s sugarless and no-sugar-added chocolates are not kosher for Pesach.
Passover Quinoa: Unfortunately, there are a lot of conflicting stories circulating about quinoa for Passover. Ancient Harvest Quinoa is grown on an Andes mountaintop some 13,500 feet above sea level in Bolivia. Their quinoa is Kosher for Passover, with supervision provided by the Star K. The Star K provided supervision in Bolivia from planting through harvesting, and during the packing process. Nothing else grows on this mountaintop except cactus.
Quinoa is grown in many other locations. On the plains of Bolivia and in neighboring Peru, the quinoa is covered with barley in the field to keep the birds away. The barley gets wet when it rains, making it impossible to be approved for Passover use. This is not a problem at the higher elevation where Ancient Harvest grows their quinoa. Quinoa is also grown in northern Canada and has COR supervision during the year – but not for Passover.
In L.A., you can purchase Ancient Harvest at Western Kosher or Glatt Mart. If their stock is depleted, you can visit quinoa.net and order from them directly – with a minimum order of one case. You can pick up your order directly from the company in Carson, CA. Quinoa is available in 12 oz. boxes and 50 lb. Sacks.
Post-Pesach Events In The West: On Sunday, April 7, the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust will hold a day of commemoration at Pan Pacific Park. Activities include museum tours from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., an Intergenerational Walk with Holocaust Survivors at 11 a.m., and a 2 p.m. Ceremony of Commemoration featuring keynote speaker Ruth Luger, author of the best-selling book, Still Alive: A Holocaust Girl Remembered and professor emeritus of German at the University of California Irvine… On Shabbos, April 12-13, the chief rabbi of South Africa, Rabbi Warren Goldstein, will be the scholar-in-residence at Beth Jacob Beverly Hills… On Sunday, April 21, Celebrate Israel 65 will be held at Rancho Park… On Monday, April 22, The Jewish Press columnist Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, author of Life Is A Test and founder of the Hineni organization, will speak at Congregation Bais Naftoli.
Note: The West Coast Section will return on April 19. Chag kasher v’sameach to Jewish Press readers.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Mitch and Kimber Wrosch, a son… Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey and Elisheva Miller, a son (Grandparents Neil and Ruth Miller; Barry and Nancy Yarkoni)… Yehuda and Stephanie Kurtzer, a daughter (Grandparents Ed and Dolly Ives)… Mendy and Mickey Emmer, a son (Grandparents Dr. Israel and Marlene Rubenstein)… Motty and Meira Zisovitch, a daughter (Grandparents Simcha and Bina Weiss)… Amitai and Ortal Klyman, a daughter… Julian and Lauren Hammond, a daughter… Rabbi Kenny and Ilana Pollack of Cleveland, OH, a daughter (Grandparents Marty and Evelyn Pollack)… Dov and Srula Chaiton of South Africa, a son (Grandparents Mendel and Rochel Duchman)… Dan and Debbie Banafsheh, a daughter (Grandparents Sorrel and Judy Nemzer)… Ilan and Sanaz Kashanian, a daughter… Laurence and Sara Richards, a son… Dudi and Miri Levy, a daughter (Grandparents Moshe and Esther Ressler)… Rabbi Yosef and Deborah Saltzman of Yerushalayim a son (Grandparents Mark and Linda Abraham)… Simcha and Shoshana Feldman, a son (Grandparents Louis and Judy Michelson)… Motti and Esther Kin of Toronto, a daughter (Grandparents Rabbi Izchak and Yehudit Kin)… Zevi and Ita Deutsch, a daughter (Grandparents Ramy and Chaya Deutsch; Sam and Vera Menlo).
Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvahs: Brian Zargar, son of Joseph and Shabnam Zargar… Yaakov Weinberg, son of Ken and Leah Weinberg.
Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvah: Tammie Peled, daughter of Dr. Harry and Debi Peled.
Mazel Tov – Engagements: Moshe Katz, son of Dr. Steven Katz, to Shlomit Small of Chicago, IL… Adam Gottlieb, son of Rabbi Mel Gottlieb and Dr. Annette Gottlieb, to Valerie Steinfeld, daughter of Steven and Marsha Steinfeld of Orange County, CA… Gilli Schlussel, daughter of Nussan and Judy Schlussel, to Steven Davis… Devora Murik, daughter of Rabbi Abraham and Leah Murik, to Yona Berrish of Lakewood, NJ… David Hyam, son of Menashe and Sally Hyam, to Jessica Golriz, daughter of Steven and Esther Golriz.