The Jewish Link

The Orthodox Jewish Chaplaincy Board (OJCB) conducted Sukkos programs for Jewish Inmates at Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail and Twin Tower Correctional Facility during Chol Hamoed Sukkos.

The Jewish Inmates were able to participate in the Mitzvah of Lulov and Esrog.  They heard divrei Torah from the OJCB Chaplains and they sang and recited tefilos and Tehilim.  The Chaplains also distributed Jewish reading material to them.  It was an uplifting experience for those who are experiencing difficult times.

During Rosh Hashono the Aleph Institute through Rabbi Zvi Bojarsky in Los Angeles and Rabbi Berel Paltiel in Surfside, Florida arranged to have 2 bochurim visit, blow Shofar and daven with Jewish Inmates in all the downtown L.A. Jails and prisons.

The L.A. County Jail System is not a ‘long term’ prison but a ‘temporary’ detention facility for those awaiting trial for violating the law.  It is not uncommon to find an inmate ‘locked up’ for thirty, sixty or ninety days for a traffic violation!  Many inmates are there for more egregious crimes and when convicted they will go to State Prison.

Sheriff Lee Baca and the LASD Religious & Volunteer Services Unit have always been extremely supportive of Inmates of all religions and their right to participate in religious services.  The OJCB visits all Jewish Inmates and is there to help these unfortunate souls during this dark time of their lives and help rehabilitate them physically and spiritually.

The OJCB is in need of soft cover Siddurim, Chumoshim, Tehillim and reading materials in Hebrew, Farsi, Russian and English.  All books must be new or in good condition. A tax deductible receipt will be sent to all contributors.  Please send your tax-deductible contributions to:  Orthodox Jewish Chaplaincy Board, P.O. Box 480454, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Chabad of North Hollywood and Young Chevra of Southern California once again brought both Anash and the broader Los Angeles and Valley communities together en masse for a Grand Community Simchas Beis Hashoeva.

An estimated 2,000 people showed up from across L.A.’s Jewish communities to join in the festivities in the streets of Los Angeles.

PIAMENTA – “The Next Generation” captivated participants with a dynamic full length street-concert. As one onlooker commented “the energy emanating from the stage was amazing”. They were joined by rising star Boruch Sholom Blesofsky.

The MC and Host of the event, Rabbi Nachman Abend offered special thanks to event producer Jonathan Herzog. He also paid tribute to Chabad of North Hollywood’s Executive Director and Spiritual Leader Rabbi Aaron Abend, who shared divrei Torah with the diverse crowd.

Chabad of the Valley’s Executive Director, Rabbi Yehoshua Binyomin Gordon addressed everyone with words of inspiration and Rabbi Mendel Duchman, of Kol Yaakov Yehuda Jr Congregation led a children’s rally and the recital of the 12 Pesukim.

The Family Sukkot Festival and Concert also featured an array of street performers from Hollywood. Jugglers, balloon artists, stilt walkers and other characters together with a variety of food vendors and an Arts and Crafts pavilion organized by Elkie Abend kept the streets of Hollywood buzzing with excitement throughout the evening.

Organizers expressed appreciation and acknowledged official corporate sponsors Milano Collection Wigs and the Southern California Community Links, and Cambridge Farms/Glatt Mart.

Residents from OHEL Bais Ezra in NY and Etta at OHEL in CA Meet in Los Angeles

Twenty women from four of OHEL Bais Ezra’s New York group homes spent a week-long vacation in Los Angeles. The highlight of their trip was not the typical visit to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor or Universal Studios. Rather it was the first-in-a-lifetime meeting and socializing with peers from Etta at OHEL group homes in the Valley and a never-to-forget Shabbaton at Congregation Shaarey Zedek.

OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services recently merged with the Etta to form Etta at OHEL – an agency founded in 1993 in Los Angeles, and a leader in the provision of residential services to Jewish adults with developmental disabilities in California.

On Wednesday evening August 28th OHEL Bais Ezra individuals were warmly welcomed into the Etta at OHEL Ryzman Family Group Home in the Valley. Dr. Michael Held, Executive Director of Etta, commented, “the evening was one of non-stop dancing and singing but most importantly one of new connections as residents from N.Y. and L.A. shared life stories and experiences with one another.” The evening lasted late into the night and everyone looked forward to the upcoming Shabbaton. Mrs. Stein, a parent of an Etta resident who was in attendance, said the evening “epitomized the new opportunities, the extended family and support we have found in the union with OHEL.”

Friday evening, Rabbi Jonathan Rosenberg of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, and his community warmly welcomed over 100 individuals and staff from OHEL and Etta for the first ever national shabbaton of its kind. At the Friday night seudah, Tali Hill, challenged with cerebral palsy, spoke emotively of the importance in “ensuring that no one is ever alone.” Her eloquence and courage struck all and many a tear of joy was shed in the room.

After Shabbos morning davening, Etta friend Moshe Beinenfeld addressed the entire kehilla and speaking with much humor and poise shared his experiences of growing up with autism and reflected on the importance of inclusiveness in a community “where differences are embraced and appreciated.”

 SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 BY AARON CLAVERIE

Rabbi Yitzchok Hurwitz, executive director of the Chabad Jewish Center in Temecula, was honored on Tuesday night by the City Council, which proclaimed Sept. 24 as Rabbi Hurwitz Day.

Hurwitz, who moved to the area with his wife Dina in the late 1990?s, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in February.

“We admire Rabbi Hurwitz for his willingness to share with the community his courageous fight against ALS, and as a City Council, we thank him for his service and pledge our support to stand by him, as he fights this life-threatening disease,” states the city’s proclamation.

Two weeks ago, the Hurwitzes appeared at the start of the council’s regular meeting to provide the invocation and Dina announced the arrival of a new rabbi, Rabbi Sholom Katz, who is helping out at the chabad in the capacity of co-program director.

At that same meeting, Mayor Mike Naggar told the audience about Hurwitz’s fight against ALS, a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, and told him to come back in two weeks.

On Tuesday, the Hurwitzes appeared as directed, bringing along their seven children, ages 16 through 7, and they thanked the city for the honor.

“We are not done doing for the community,” Dina Hurwitz said.

Naggar, tears in his eyes, said the city is replete with stories of people who have been positively affected by the “good rabbi” and he asked anyone in the audience who wanted to speak to step to the podium in the center of the council’s chambers.

A tall young man who said he used to live by the rabbi was one of the first to approach and he said he had great memories of backyard conversations.

The rabbi, who didn’t say anything during the ceremony, made a symbol with his hand in what appeared to be a message to the young man, telling him that he remembered him when he was much smaller.

Others provided funny stories of the rabbi’s time in Temecula — the menorahs that grew larger each year during the city’s holiday season — and wished him well in his battle.

“We know this disease he is fighting, he will overcome it,” said Dan Phillips, who identified himself as a member of the chabad.

On the chabad’s website, there’s a link to a site where donations are being accepted to help keep afloat the community the Hurwitzes helped form in the Temecula Valley.

By giving and encouraging your friends to give, only one dollar a day, we can keep our doors open and continue to grow as we have been.

This community is the heart and soul of our Rabbi, as he is the heart and soul of our community.

In 2011, the chabad moved from the Hurwitzes’ home into a shopping center on Nicole Lane. At the time, the Hurwitzes said they hoped the move would allow the chabad to grow and flourish.