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Wendy J. Madnick

Wendy J. Madnick

Kiddush, Not Kaddish

Looking around the room at the recent tikkun leyl Shavuot held at Shomrei Torah in West Hills, it was hard to believe this synagogue was ever doomed to failure.

Stepping In

It\’s official: on June 11, representatives of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) announced the appointment of Amanda Susskind as the new Pacific Southwest regional director.

\”This has been a very energizing and close project between the leadership in Los Angeles and in the national office,\” said Ann Tourk, ADL associate director for regional operations. \”We are looking forward to her [Susskind] stepping into the role.\”

Too Big to Ignore

It was the first cool night in the midst of a heat wave and Rosalie Zalis, executive director of Winnick Family Foundation and former liaison to the Jewish community for ex-Gov. Pete Wilson, was preaching to the masses.

\”You should get involved with a political action committee,\” the longtime activist told the group of mostly women gathered in the chapel at Adat Ari El June 6. \”Even if it\’s only sending a small amount of money to AIPAC [The American Israel Public Affairs Committee] — they will teach you how to lobby.

\”You need to be aware of what everyone who you vote for thinks about Israel. Write letters to your congressperson and to your senators, thanking them when they do something for Israel. Make phone calls, send e-mails. You don\’t know how important your voice is.\”

Finishing the Foundation

As an experienced plastic surgeon, Dr. Joel Teplinsky knows how to fix a nose or perform a skin graft on a burn patient.

Caring Never Grows Old

In a corner of the brightly lit dining hall of the Eisenberg Village campus at the Jewish Home for the Aging sit The Three Wise Guys. These three men — Ellis Simon, 77; Hy \”Spike\” Spikell, 93, and Jules Berlinsky, 90 — have formed a friendship so strong that they rate having their own table, No. 56, and they are not the least bit shy about telling you why they love living at the Jewish Home.

Alzheimer’s Home

Imagine you are 90 years old and the world you once knew, even your own home, feels like a frightening and unfamiliar place. Sometimes you find it hard to recognize even your closest family members. You don\’t understand why people get angry when you wander away or when you cannot finish a sentence. You may be fit physically, but psychologically you are at a loss — and so are your family and friends. Imagine you move to a small, lovely village. There are strangers there, but they are gentle and caring. There are places to walk, and no one gets angry if you get a little lost. They just calmly lead you back to where you need to be. When you are in the mood, there is plenty to do, but no one gets angry when you just want to sit. Best of all, your family doesn\’t seem so worried anymore. This scenario is the aim of the new Goldenberg-Ziman Special Care Center located at the Jewish Home for the Aging\’s Eisenberg Campus in Tarzana.

Where We Were

Ten years ago, during the week of April 29, 1992, the city exploded in rioting.

Ten years after the fact, it is easy to remember the terror and the loss, but more difficult for community leaders to assess just how much repair has taken place since.

A Man of Honor

To say that Shimon Erem deserves to receive the Distinguished Community Service Award from the Council of Israeli Community (CIC) for his work on behalf of Israel seems, upon meeting him, like an understatement. This man has not just worked for but literally fought for, lobbied on behalf of and financially supported Israel for more than six decades. One would be hard-pressed to find such a devoted American-born Zionist.

Some Talk, Lots of Action

The Council of Israeli Community (CIC), an organization primarily known for planning the annual Israeli Independence Day Festival in Los Angeles, is moving in new directions in the wake of the current Middle East crisis.

According to Vice President Haim Linder, the CIC (originally called the Council of Israeli Organizations) came together in 1996 as one arm of a nonprofit umbrella organization called the Promoting Israel Education and Culture Fund. The group adopted its current title and mission statement on Sept. 10, 2001.

\”We got together at Valley Beth Shalom. At noon we went home, knowing we had a new organization, and then we all know what happened the next day,\” Linder said.

Solidarity to Mark Independence Day

Sometimes, a simple act can make an enormous impact. At this time in the history of our people, there can be no greater demonstration of solidarity with the state of Israel than to show up and be counted at this year\’s Israeli Independence Festival on April 21, organizers say.

\”This is the biggest support for Israel happening anywhere in the world, and if we cannot show we stand with Israel, who will?\” asked Yoram Gutman, executive director of this year\’s event. \”It is critical for people to come.\”

Haim Linder, former festival chairman, who now heads the event\’s security team, agreed, saying, \”It is a boost for our brothers and sisters in Israel, because they will know about the event.

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