Police guard the site of a mass shooting at a bar in Thousand Oaks. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu
It’s 4:37 a.m.
And I’m lying awake.
I’m aghast with what happened,
And what’s really at stake.
That this there gunman went a-shooting,
In a country western dance bar,
And I knew that our temple’s kid
Would not have been far
From the raucous line dancing
Choreographed arms swinging, those leg bends
For an evening of release
He’d be there dancing with his friends
Oy, I worried about my congregant,
So I jumped on Facebook to check
Yes he survived this here shooting –
Then I realized, what the heck!?
Just last week we were in my office
After that synagogue shooting in Squirrel Hill
He asked me, “Rabbi, how do we deal with it all,”
He was frightened and sad, not shrill.
He was despondent, he was angry
He was sick of it all,
He came by to think it through
With his own Rabbi Paul
Who sat there thinking to myself,
You know he ain’t really that wrong,
Because it’s long been out of hand
And we’re just scraping along
So muttering phrases of comfort,
Listening, and offering him hope,
Staying away from meaningless “thoughts and prayers”
Oy, it feels like a sick joke.
I told him to speak up,
Since he had an objection
Go out, get involved
In this upcoming election
Because the randomness of this violence
And the pervasiveness of it all:
It’s in churches and synagogues, kids’ schools, concerts, movie theaters, supermarkets, restaurants, discos…
(INSERT the latest shooting location),
And the local shopping mall.
Still I told him, “While there’s no guarantee of safety
The odds are quite slim”
That he’d face such a shooting
That it could happen to him.
Now not a week later,
He was in that shooting melee…
Thankfully he survived that there horror
And he will live on another day.
So I sent him a message,
Included the Birkat HaGomel prayer
I let him and his parents know
That I’m available, I am here
Yet, how do I counsel
The next one who comes by for support
Whose fears they want me to allay
Whose worry they want me to thwart?
Do I tell them, “Don’t worry”
Do I tell them, “No, not you,”
Rather I’ll tell them the truth:
“No one knows… now whatcha gonna do?”
And to the rest of you dear ones,
Watching from afar, here’s my plea
Remember that last week at this time,
It was about someone else, not him (and not we)
‘Course don’t lose perspective
No, don’t lose your head,
‘Except that tomorrow it just might be
Your loved ones who are dead
And we’d cry there together
Mourning what could have been
If our leaders had just done their jobs
Making hard decisions, like adult women and men.
Yes I’m here if you need me
To cry, listen, and hold you,
But none of that’s gonna stop shooting
So let’s find something else that we can do.
‘Cause it’s our kids, it’s our friends
It’s our dance clubs in our city
So stand up and speak out,
Then go join an anti-gun-violence political action committee.
So many of us are trying to seek balance in our lives.
Work and leisure.
Friends and family.
Carbs and, well …. low-carbs!
The world as a whole is a finely balanced scale. Judaism teaches that in every generation there are an equal number of good people as there are bad people. The ultimate fate of the world will be judged accordingly.
And so … We do whatever we can to tip the scale out of balance, toward goodness.
When we smile, we tip the scale.
When we share a kind word, we tip the scale.
When we give to a charitable cause, we tip the scale.
When we stand up for justice, we tip the scale.
And when we invest a moment in time to harness peace, we tip the scale.
Balance is overrated! We want to weigh the scale down with our spiritual shekels of justice!
With love and shalom,
Rabbi Zach Shapiro
A change in perspective can shift the focus of our day – and even our lives. We have an opportunity to harness “a moment in time,” allowing our souls to be both grounded and lifted. This blog shows how the simplest of daily experiences can become the most meaningful of life’s blessings. All it takes is a moment in time.
Rabbi Zach Shapiro is the Spiritual Leader of Temple Akiba of Culver City, a Reform Jewish Congregation in California. He earned his B.A. in Spanish from Colby College in 1992, and his M.A.H.L. from HUC-JIR in 1996. He was ordained from HUC-JIR – Cincinnati, in 1997. He was appointed to the HUC-JIR Board of Governors in 2018.
Marilyn Baer died Oct. 17 at 94. Survived by daughters Linda, Rochelle; 3 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren. Hillside
Lauren Harold Colloff died Oct. 25 at 77. Survived by wife Cathy; brother Edwin (Edna); brother-in-law, David (June) Braun. Mount Sinai
Frank Di Sabatino died on Oct. 18 at 80. Survived by wife Shelley; daughter Natalie; sons Mark, Nicholas; stepdaughters Stephanie Kales, Courtney Kales; 6 grandchildren; sister Phylomena Hodopp. Mount Sinai
Daniel Fuss died on Oct. 24 at 98. Survived by son Marshall (Joan Yacenda); daughter Sharon Faye Anne (George) Genel; 2 grandchildren. Mount Sinai
Selma Freeman died Oct. 12 at 92. Survived by daughter Andrea (Gary) Jones; sons Alan, Glenn (Linda); 10 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; brother Mel (Betty) Davidwitz. Mount Sinai
William “Bill” Phillip Gertler died Sept. 1 at 82. Survived by wife Linda; daughter Elissa; son Joshua; stepdaughter Sara; stepson Matthew; 5 grandchildren.
Myra Maxine Hersh died Oct. 17 at 95. Survived by daughter Patrice “Pat” Gallagher; son Rick (Jeanne) Hersh; 4 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai
Ruth Hochberg died Oct. 11 at 94. Survived by daughter Phyllis; 1 grandchild; sister Nettie. Hillside
Frances Kaplan died Oct. 17 at 97. Hillside
Louise Kessler died Oct. 17 at 94. Survived by sons Bruce (Sandra) Kessler, Steve (Sharon) Kessler; 4 grandchildren. Mount Sinai
David Ira Kussin died Oct. 19 at 53. Survived by wife Meredith; daughter Sarah; son Michael; mother Sandra; father Larry; sisters Susan (Greg) Kussin-Bordo, Jody (Steve) Kussin-Shoptow, Leslie (Edward) Kussin-Gika; mother-in-law Tori Adler. Mount Sinai
Jody-Cyd Labov died Oct. 14 at 65. Survived by husband Andrew; son Zachary; mother Jeanette Cooper; mother-in-law Linda; father-in-law Ted; brother-in-law Matthew (Jamie). Mount Sinai
Agnes Loewy died Oct. 20 at 92. Survived by son Joseph (Yanna); 3 grandchildren; sisters Alice Horowitz, Cireta Trent; brother Martin Lichtenstein. Mount Sinai
Claire Love died Oct. 25 at 91. Survived by daughter Robin (Ira) Pianko; son Michael (Carol); 3 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai
Dave Pink died Oct. 23 at 84. Survived by wife Cypora; daughter Sherri (Randy) Weinstein; sons Larry (JoAnn), Jeffrey (Laurie); 7 grandchildren; brother Zeve. Mount Sinai
Stephen Pollack died Oct. 18 at 74. Survived by wife Rosalind; son Marc (Suzanne); 1 grandchild. Mount Sinai
Dee Dee Quinn died Oct. 14 at 75. Survived by husband Michael; daughter Rachel (Samuel) Quinn-Allen; sons Gregory (Kelly) Vaughn, Scott (Rebecca) Vaughn; 6 grandchildren; brother David (Terri) Stanton. Mount Sinai
Barbara Rice died Oct. 15 at 83. Survived by daughter Denice; sons Daryl, Joe (Gabriella), Wayne (Leslie), Allan (Jamie); 8 grandchildren; sister Harriet (Howard) Rodman; brother Stan Freedman. Mount Sinai
Liesa Schiller died Oct. 14 at 80. Survived by husband Frank; daughter Vicki; son Gary (Maskit); 2 grandchildren. Mount Sinai
Lois Schneider died Oct. 20 at 88. Survived by daughter Leslie (Stephen) Adler; son Jerry (Lori); 3 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai
Sylvia Segal died Oct. 24 at 102. Survived by daughters Lois Ann (Ronald) Miller, Kathlene (Kenneth) Wyatt; 3 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; sister Barbara Binder. Mount Sinai
Howard Cyril Steinberg died Oct. 15 at 92. Survived by wife Harriet; daughter Stephanie Scheckner; 1 grandchild; brother Robert (Lenni). Mount Sinai
Helen Walter died Oct. 23 at 91. Survived by daughter Agnes Velicsany. Mount Sinai
Ralph Weidman died Oct. 16 at 98. Survived by wife Shirley; daughter Randi; son David; sister Lillian Zimberg. Mount Sinai
In the wake of the Pittsburgh shooting, Jewish educators have come together to discuss strategies to help students navigate this difficult period. On Nov. 1, The Jewish Education Project, a New-York based organization that empowers leaders and educators, hosted a webinar titled “Responding to Pittsburgh: Helping Jewish Children and Educators Feel Secure.”
Some 350 people logged on to watch the event, moderated by Rabbi Jen Goldsmith, managing director of Congregational Learning and Leadership Initiatives, and David Bryfman, chief innovation officer of The Jewish Education Project.
“We hosted this webinar because our Jewish educators are on the front lines, dealing with the confusion of emotions that our children experience,” Bryfman told the Journal in an email. “We owe it to our youth to provide frameworks for them to come together in times like these. And we believe that educators need to take the time to care for themselves so that they can be the best educators that they can possibly be.”
Also on the call were Liron Lipinsky, associate vice president of Jewish Enrichment at BBYO, which calls itself a pluralistic Jewish teen movement; Betsy Stone, psychologist and adjunct lecturer at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion; Meredith Lewis, director of content and engagement at PJ Library; and Shira Deener, director of Jewish education at Facing History and Ourselves.
“What’s interesting to see is how the different groups here are coping,” Lipinsky, who is based in Pittsburgh, said during the webinar. “Some are empowered to speak out and speak up about why they believe this tragedy took place and wanting answers and solutions so that this doesn’t happen again. And there are others who really would prefer to spend this time focusing on breathing.”
Stone spoke of the importance of being aware of “stress reactions — sleeplessness and fear” from children in the wake of the tragedy. “And everything we have to be prepared for in our children, we have to be prepared for in ourselves,” she said.
For students in fifth grade and above, Stone recommended they write condolence notes. “A condolence note has three lines: ‘I’m so sorry’; something nice about the person or the thing you’re writing the condolence note about; and ‘I’m so sorry.’”
“We owe it to our youth to provide frameworks for them to come together in times like these.” — David Bryfman
Stone also suggested placing large Post-it notes on the wall that state, “I feel” or “I want” and then giving students markers to fill in the blanks. “It gives kids the opportunity to see what other people are saying and to say what they feel anonymously. Don’t just do this once,” she said. “Do it again in a month, and maybe about something else. What it does is validate people’s emotional experiences.”
Lewis, who in her role at PJ Library connects parents and educators, said parents are looking for age-appropriate spaces where they can channel some of their hopelessness and despair into action. Since community vigils and conversations may be the only thing available for families, and are not right for a lot of young children, it’s a challenge.
“It’s OK for parents and children to do different things right now,” Lewis said. Instead of going to the community vigil as a family, Lewis suggested an adult say, “I’m going to a community vigil. As a family, we’re going to bake challah for our neighbors, because there’s a tradition of when we create and bake and share, we express love.”
Stone added it’s important to be careful to not project adult fears onto children. “Kids don’t need to hear how frightened you are,” she said. “That effectively makes it impossible for them to tell you how frightened they are or what else they might feel. It also tells the kids your feelings matter more than theirs.”
Lewis added, “Children are not little adults. They see the world differently. And they probably have a lot to teach us. Just remember, that all of the adult stuff we bring to the table we actually don’t need to bring to them. We can let our children lead.”
Update at 8:24 p.m.: Rabbi Chaim Bryski told the Journal he had been with the families and community at Los Robles Regional Medical Center since 6:15 a.m.
“I woke up at 6:15 a.m. and went over to the teen center where 1,500 people were and people from Chabad,” Bryski said. “We were all still in shock. So devastating. There was nothing to say. I was there all day in case someone needed a rabbi or someone to cope with.”
Bryski was shocked that something like this could happen in Thousand Oaks because “it’s one of the safest cities in the country.”
“We need to bring light where there is darkness… I was silliest, I had nothing to say, I could only be there for them and listen.”
Bryski thanked the first responders and the 60 police officers who guarded the area, shaking their hands and even praying with them.
The Chabad rabbi was moved by all the love and support that came rushing in. He mentioned that people who experienced other shootings came to speak and support those in Thousand Oaks.
“During times where there’s so much senseless evil, there’s so many good things happening too,” Bryski said.
THOUSAND OAKS, CA – NOVEMBER 08: Rabbi Chaim Bryski, of Chabad of Thousand Oaks, hugs Oxnard Police Officer Mike Wood after a morning prayer before the procession for Ventura County Sheriff Sgt. Ron Helus outside Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center in Thousand Oaks on Thursday morning, November 8, 2018. Helus died at the hospital after entering the scene of a mass shooting during college night at a Thousand Oaks nightclub. Authorities believe Ian David Long, a 28-year-old veteran, is the shooter and among the 13 dead. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz/Digital First Media/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
-Erin Ben-Moche contributed to this story.
Update at 5:14 p.m.: One more victim has been identified
Dan Manrique, a Marine Corp Veteran and Pacific Region GM for Team RWB (Red, White and Blue)
Update at 4:27 p.m.: Two more victims have been identified
Kristina Morisette, a graduate of Simi Valley High School, was working at the front door of Borderline
Telemachus Orfanos went to Moorpark College and lives in Thousand Oaks.
Update at 2:36 p.m.: Two more victims have been identified:
Blake Dingman, 21, of Newbury Park
Jake Dunham, 21, of Newbury Park
Update at 2:16 p.m.:City of Thousand Oaks says overflow parking for tonight’s vigil at the Civic Arts Plaza will be at the Lakes. Doors will open at 5.
Update at 1:33 p.m. Two more victims have been identified:
Noel Sparks, 21, a student at Moorpark College.
Sean Adler, who owned Rivalry Roasters Coffee in Simi Valley and a former wrestling coach at Royal High School in Simi Valley.
Update at 12:44 p.m.: Organizers of the blood drive at La Reina High School are overwhelmed by the number of people wanting to give and are asking donors who aren’t in line yet to return tomorrow or locate another donation site on the Vitalant website. There is another blood drive at the Thousand Oaks Inn Best Western 75 West, Thousand Oaks.
Update at 11:56 a.m.: Two more victims have been identified.:
Justin Meek, 23, a Cal Lutheran grad who was a bouncer at Borderline.
Alaina Housley, 18, a freshman at Pepperdine University.
Update at 10:34 a.m.: One of the victims has been identified as Cody Coffman, 22 of Camarillo by his father, Jason Coffman. He was preparing to join the military.
A mass shooting during College Night at Borderline Bar & Grill, a Country Western dance bar in Thousand Oaks, left 12 dead, including a Ventura County Sheriff Sergeant. The gunman, identified as Ian David Long, 28, a former Marine, was also killed. Authorities estimate there were hundreds of people inside at the time of the shooting, most of them under the age of 25.
Students from Cal State Channel Islands, Pepperdine University, Moorpark College, Cal Lutheran University and other schools in the area would regularly come Wednesday nights for Borderline’s College Night. The website advertised dance lessons would be given at 9:30 and 10:30 p.m.. The popular venue has been around for more than 20 years.
The shooting reportedly started at 11:20 p.m. when eyewitnesses told authorities that the shooter, who had been wearing all black, threw a smoke grenade into the bar before opening fire first on a security guard/bouncer at the door. Blood could be seen on the steps to the front entrance.
Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean identified the gunman as Long, a Marine veteran from nearby Newbury Park. The suspect was armed with a Glock 21 .45-caliber handgun, with an extended magazine, that he had purchased legally, Dean said. In April, Dean said his department was called to Long’s home for a “disturbance” where deputies found him acting irate, but he was not deemed mentally unfit. There is no motive at the time. Long’s body was reportedly found inside an office near the main entrance and it appeared that he died of what authorities say was likely a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Several people at the bar used stools and chairs to break windows and help others to safety. Reports indicated that several others had holed up in the bathroom and rafter of the large dance club, which its web site says measures more than 2,500 feet. Family and friends could be seen by news helicopters gathered in the parking lot of the nearby Janss Mall and at a gas station outside the perimeter to await news.
Dean reported at a press conference early Thursday morning that VC Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus, who was shot after he entered the building, died at a hospital around 2 a.m. Thursday. Helus, 54, and a passing highway patrolman were responding to several 911 calls when they arrived at the bar a little after 11:20 p.m., the sheriff said. They heard gunfire and went inside.
A procession will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday for Helus, whose body will be transported via motorcade from Los Robles Regional Hospital in Thousand Oaks.
Several people who were interviewed, either after escaping the bar or while waiting for loved ones, said that as country music fans, many were also at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas in October 2017, where a gunman killed 58 people outside the Mandalay Bay.
Security at local synagogues was ramped up Thursday morning and there are helicopters that can be seen and heard all over the area.
Rabbi Chaim Bryski of Chabad of Thousand Oaks spoke to KTLA 5: “When you have 12 lights extinguished – we have to become their hands and feet. We need to pick up the phone, and call someone — perhaps you don’t like — bring more goodness; bring more kindness. Bring more dance and joy. At such time of heart ache, there is nothing to say. Just be there. What can I do to make the world a better place, a more loving place?”
He also encouraged those who have tefillin to put them on today, and attend the Thursday night vigil at the Civic Center.
An email from Rabbi Bary Diamond at Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks included a reminder:
Let the emotions, born of our pain, lead us away from hatred
Passions are a flame. If placed well, they can warm us and urge us to act; if allowed to roam free, our passions can destroy our surroundings and ourselves. The senseless hatred that led to the destruction of the Second Temple was also born out of passions. Let our passions urge us to act, but let that first act be one of compassion and understanding, and, only if necessary, of confrontation and combat. Let our passions burn, but let them burn wisely.
The email ended by encouraging congregants to attend the Thursday night vigil and a healing Shabbat service on Friday evening at the temple.
President Trump tweeted Thursday morning that he has been “fully briefed on the terrible shooting.” He praised law enforcement, saying “great bravery shown by police” and “God bless all of the victims and families of the victims.”
Rep. Julia Brownley (D) who represents the of the 26th District, on Twitter:
I am deeply, deeply saddened by the horrific news of a mass shooting at Borderline Bar in Thousand Oaks. To the families of the 11 victims and Sgt. Ron Helus – I cannot even begin to fathom the pain you are experiencing, but please know that our community is here for you.
Our hearts break for @CityofTO and @VENTURASHERIFF for last night’s tragedy. @LAFD sent 5 engineer companies and a battalion chief to help at the request of our neighbors and we stand ready to help in any way you need. Wrapping our arms of love around you. EG
Our hearts ache today for the victims of this heinous act and our deepest condolences are with the Thousand Oaks community and those who lost friends and loved ones. We are grateful for law enforcement and others, including Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus, who took heroic actions to save lives last night.
According to the Ventura County Fire Department PIO, a Family Unification Center has been set up at 1375 E. Janss Rd in Thousand Oaks. For information please call the Hotline 1(805)465-6650.
Los Robles Hospital is looking for blood donors, especially those with O negative blood, for patients in critical condition. A blood drive is being held at La Reina High School, 106 W. Janss Road, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling 877-25-VITAL or on the Vitalant website. By noon on Thursday, the line was out the parking lot and down the sidewalk on Janss Road.
A community vigil will be held at the Fred Kavli Theater at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Thousand Oaks Civic Center at the intersection of Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Dallas Drive.
Alisa Weilerstein Acclaimed cellist Alisa Weilerstein performs all six of Bach’s solo cello suites in one evening. Weilerstein began playing the cello at the age of 4, debuted with the Cleveland Orchestra when she was 13, and received an esteemed MacArthur Fellowship “genius grant” in 2011. She has entertained on four continents and performs on occasion with her parents — her father, a violinist and her mother, a pianist. 7:30 p.m. $45–$95. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater. 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 746-4000.
SUN NOV 11
IKAR Senior Rabbi Sharon Brous
“Judaism in an Age of Truthiness” In the era of so-called fake news, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Symposium 2 explores the various ways that contemporary Jews, particularly liberal Jews, grapple with the concept of the truth. “These Truths We Hold: Judaism in an Age of Truthiness” spans two days, through Nov. 12, and features 24 panelists, including academics, rabbis, screenwriters and journalists. The symposium poses challenging questions, including whether the truth, in any universal sense, remains a worthwhile concept in America; and if so, on what grounds might liberal Jews lay claim to the truth? Stephen Wise Temple Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, IKAR Senior Rabbi Sharon Brous and Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, president and dean of Valley Beit Midrash, are among the speakers. Glatt kosher meals served. Nov. 11: 8 a.m.–8:15 p.m. Nov. 12, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Early-bird registration for both days, $18–$200; for one day, $18–$100. Regular registration for two days, $36–$240; for one day $36–$130. Stephen Wise Temple, 15500 Stephen S. Wise Temple Drive, Los Angeles.
“Understanding the Pittsburgh Attack” British journalist and social conservative Melanie Philliconservative “Understanding the Pittsburgh Attack: Lessons of Europe and Britain,” a unity brunch reflecting on the recent massacre of 11 Jews at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue. Phillips, one of Europe’s most outspoken advocates for Israel, writes for the Jerusalem Post, the Jewish Chronicle of London and The Times of London. Organized by CAMERA, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Jewish Journal readers can receive a discounted ticket price of $30 by entering the promotional code “Journal” on the event’s registration website:lacamerabrunch.eventbrite.com. Regular price $125. Space is limited. Reservations requested. Intercontinental Los Angeles Century City, 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Century City. (617) 377-6898. RSVP to Tracey Miller at tracey@camera.org.
“Blessings of the Earth” Concert An interfaith concert of Jewish and Catholic musicians raises consciousness about global warming. Mixing Hebrew and Latin, the evening, called “Birkat Ha’Adamah/Beneficia Terrae,” features award-winning composer Maria Newman, Jewish songwriter Craig Taubman, Catholic composers Bob Hurd and Christopher Walker, and 250 choir members of the Catholic and Jewish faiths. Organized by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Doors 6:30 p.m. Free. Donations welcome. Parking $10. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. (213) 680-5200.
MON NOV 12
America and Jewish Citizenship “American Democracy and the Responsibility of Jewish Citizenship” — a panel discussion featuring Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane; Michael Avi Helfand, associate dean for faculty and research at Pepperdine University; Tamara Mann Tweel, an instructor at Columbia University’s American Studies Department; and Joseph Lipner, an intellectual property negotiator — addresses the obligations of a Jewish citizen of the United States in today’s political environment, and other topics. Organized by Shalhevet Institute and Shalhevet High School. 7:45–9:45 p.m. Free. Shalhevet High School, 910 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 930-9333.
TUE NOV 13
Dialogue with Israeli Navy Seal Stephen Wise Temple Rabbi David Woznica interviews an American who left college to join one of Israel’s most elite military units, Shayetet-13. Every year, 20,000 young men try out to be in the unit — which has been compared to the U.S. Navy SEAL special operations force — but only 40 or fewer are accepted. The man being interviewed, known as “M,” discusses his personal journey, what serving in the storied unit was like, and how he uses the skills learned in the unit in his daily civilian life. 7:30 p.m. $20 general public, $15 temple members. Stephen Wise Temple, 15500 Stephen Wise Temple Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 476-8561.
Gad Elmaleh
Gad Elmaleh Need a laugh? Gad Elmaleh, promoted as “the Jerry Seinfeld of French comedy” and “the Ben Stiller of France,” brings his Dream Tour to Los Angeles. The Casablanca native performs a show suitable for all ages and tells jokes in five languages: Hebrew, Arabic, Moroccan, French and English. 8 p.m. Doors open 7 p.m. $39.50–$49.50. Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. Eighth St., Los Angeles. (323) 931-1277.
WED NOV 14
Giving Voice to Biblical Women “Filling the Gaps: Giving Voice to Biblical Women Through Modern Midrash,” a University Women Lunch and Learn program, features author Michal Lemberger (“After Abel and Other Stories”), Jewish Journal book editor and author Jonathan Kirsch and author Paul Boorstin (“David and the Philistine Woman”). The three authors discuss writing fiction and nonfiction while using the Bible as their source material. Noon. $25 members, $36 general. American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. (310) 440-1283.
“American Jews and Israel” David Suissa, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Jewish Journal, discusses the relationship between Israel and American Jews during “American Jews and Israel: Why the Relationship Still Matters.” He appears in conversation with moderator Rick Entin, co-chair of Kehillat Israel’s Israel Matters Committee. Topics include internal Israeli politics, religious and civil rights, the peace process and the moving of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. 7 p.m. Free. Kehillat Israel, 16019 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (310) 459-2328.
Lesley Wolman Singer Lesley Wolman sings “The Great Canadian Songbook.” A Canadian native, she has been performing in local theater and television since she was a child. She was a featured soloist with the Tom DeMoraes Big Band. Her big break came when she was cast in the Toronto production of “Shenandoah” with Hal Linden. She has also acted on the soap operas “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” $35. 8 p.m. Also 8 p.m. Nov. 15 and Nov. 17, and 4 p.m. Nov. 18. Pico Playhouse, 10508 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (800) 838-3006.
THU NOV 15
Woman to Woman Conference JVS SoCal’s sixth annual Woman to Woman Conference celebrates “Resilience: The Strength of Women.” Drawing young professionals, philanthropists and executives from a range of industries, the event kicks off with a breakfast networking reception, followed by a program and luncheon. Speakers include Justine Siegal, the first woman to coach for a Major League Baseball team; Michaela Mendelsohn, an entrepreneur and transgender activist; and Susan Feniger, master chef, restaurateur and bestselling author. Proceeds benefit JVS programs serving women in need. 8 a.m.–1 p.m., $200. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 306-4127.
Spanish Jews Lecture Andrew Berns, assistant professor of history at the University of South Carolina, discusses “The Foundation of the World: The Ecological Ideas of Post-Expulsion Spanish Jews in Italy and the Ottoman Empire.” He examines how Jews in the wake of their banishment from Spain in 1492 developed ideas about the use and abuse of land. 4–5:30 p.m. Free. UCLA, Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies, 314 Royce Hall, Los Angeles. (310) 267-5327.
American Israel Gap Year Fair The American Israel Gap Year Fair, the only cross-denominational event of its kind in the country, prepares future high school graduates for a life-changing year before college. More than 50 different Israel programs appealing to students of all backgrounds participate. Fair attendees are exclusively eligible for the Rosina Korda Israel Gap Year Scholarship. 6:30–9:30 p.m. Free. YULA Girls High School, 1619 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles.
Gratitude for Judaism Sinai Temple Rabbi David Wolpe, who once wrote about the “Five Reasons Vampires Aren’t Jews,” discusses “The Top Five Reasons You Should Be Thankful for Judaism.” Organized for the young professionals of Atid. 7:30–9:30 p.m. Free. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 474-1518.
“Election 2018: It’s On!” Join the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State Los Angeles for analyses of the midterm election results. The “Election 2018: It’s On!” conference features nine experts examining and drawing conclusions about how people voted. Speakers include CNN analyst Ronald Brownstein; Carla Marinucci of Politico; Matt Barreto of Latino Decisions and UCLA; Janet Clayton of Southern California Edison; Warren
Olney of KCRW; Jessica Levinson of Loyola Law School; Darry Sragow of USC. 8:30 a.m.–2:15 p.m. $150 public. $50 Cal State L.A. faculty. Golden Eagle Ballroom, Cal State L.A., 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles.(323) 343-3770.
Have an event coming up? Send your information two weeks prior to the event to ryant@jewishjournal.com for consideration. For groups staging an event that requires an RSVP, please submit details about the event the week before the RSVP deadline.
Leaders in entertainment, business, health care and philanthropy came together for the 2018 Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Gala on Oct. 27 at the Beverly Hilton, which raised nearly $1.6 million for the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute.
At the gala, Richard Sinaiko, a member of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Directors, announced that the Board of Governors fulfilled its $30 million pledge to the Institute in just four years, setting a fundraising record in the Board of Governors’ history.
“The completion of the Board of Governors’ fundraising goal will help the Regenerative Medicine Institute continue its vital mission of restoring function in diseased or aged tissues by revitalizing existing cells or transplanting new ones,” a Cedars-Sinai statement said.
The Institute is led by Clive Svendsen, PhD, who is internationally recognized for his use of stem cell technology in an effort to create new treatments for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, Crohn’s disease and diabetes.
The event honored Todd Morgan,founder, chairman and CEO of Bel Air Investment Advisors, with the Philanthropic Leadership Award, which was presented by his wife, actress and honorary gala chair Rosanna Arquette
In his acceptance speech, Morgan spoke about his brother Tommy, who battled heart failure during a month-long hospital stay and surprised his family by recovering.
“My brother was on the brink many times, but those Cedars doctors and nurses never gave up,” he said. “I’ll remember them as long as I live.”
Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, and Bert Salke, president of Fox 21 Television Studios, received the Hollywood Humanitarian Award, which was presented by actor Rob Lowe
“Dr. Svendsen’s work with stem cell technology is mind blowing,” Jennifer Salke said. “They are ahead in treating some of the most common and debilitating diseases.”
Actor Sean Hayes emceed the event. Additional guests included actress and producer Roma Downey (“The Bible”); Mark Burnett, chairman of MGM Worldwide TV; actor Max Greenfield (“The Neighborhood”); actress Marin Hinkle (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”); filmmaker Reggie Hudlin; music legend Smokey Robinson and Saudi Arabian actress Dina Shihabi (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”)
The evening featured an acoustic set by Grammy-winning singer John Mayer.
Molly Soboroff, who was named executive director of Friends of Sheba Medical Center in Los Angeles. Courtesy of Friends of Sheba Medical Center
Friends of Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer has named Molly Soboroff its Los Angeles executive director.
In an Oct. 29 announcement, the organization highlighted Soboroff’s experience in Jewish nonprofits and fundraising and a passion for supporting Israel.
Since July, Soboroff has been serving as interim executive director for the organization, which raises funds and awareness to support the largest hospital in Israel and the Middle East.
Soboroff, 31, began working at Friends of Sheba Medical Center in August 2017 as associate director of development for the organization’s L.A. chapter. She previously served as regional director of the young leadership division of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF).
Prior to her role at FIDF, Soboroff spent three years at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles as a KOREH L.A. AmeriCorps Fellow, a volunteer literacy program pairing community members with students in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and as the Federation’s community engagement council coordinator.
“Molly Soboroff is a talented and dedicated individual, and I am confident that, as Friends of Sheba Medical Center executive director, she will take the organization to new heights,” Friends of Sheba Medical Center Board President Parham Zar said in a statement. “Her leadership and expertise are exactly what we need to continue to grow and provide instrumental support to Sheba Medical Center, Israel’s national hospital and the most comprehensive center for healthcare in the Middle East.”
Soboroff, who holds a master’s of business administration in nonprofit management from American Jewish University in Los Angeles and a bachelor of arts in marketing communication from Emerson College in Boston, said she is excited about her new role at the organization.
“It is an honor to work with Sheba Medical Center and Friends of Sheba Medical Center,” she said. “Because I have a true passion for tikkun olam, for health and for community building, this position is ideal. Sheba upholds all these values every day as the doctors at Sheba administer humanitarian aid and lifesaving care to patients across the world.”
Bone marrow recipient Tony Wolfe; his donor Alan Weinberg; Kim Kardashian West, Leah Mantel Krief and Gift of Life CEO and Founder Jay Feinberg attended the inaugural Gift of Life Marrow Registry gala in Los Angeles. Photo by Kara Frans Photography
The inaugural Gift of Life Marrow Registry gala on Oct. 29 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills honored reality star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian West for her support of Gift of Life and of the “Hope4Adam” campaign, which in 2016 sought to find a matching donor for a young Jewish father from Los Angeles named Adam Krief.
Krief, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer, died in 2017 at the age of 32 following complications from a bone marrow transplant.
During his illness, the Krief family launched a campaign to reach out to marrow donors and record Krief’s medical experiences. Kardashian West was among the celebrities who tweeted to her followers in the hope of finding a match for Krief, using the hashtag #Hope4Adam.
“It’s an honor to be here to accept the first-ever Gift of Life Impact Award,” Kardashian West said. “I was first introduced to Adam’s story by my best friend, Allison, whose son was in the same class as their boy. And once I heard his story, I just knew that I wanted to do something.”
“I made a simple tweet,” she added. “Knowing that it could change someone’s life, that’s the easiest thing that I could possibly do.”
Krief’s widow, Lia Mantel Krief, presented Kardashian West with the award.
Attendees included Gift of Life CEO and Founder Jay Feinberg, a survivor of leukemia; donor-recipient pair Tony Wolfe and Alan Weinberg; and event chairs Michal and Jeremie Braun of Los Angeles, and Norma and Mark Citron of Calabasas.
Wolfe received a life-saving stem cell transplant from Weinberg. They were connected during the “Hope 4Adam” campaign and learned each other’s identities at the gala.
Established in 1991, “Gift of Life has grown the registry to more than 310,000 individuals who have volunteered to donate blood stem cells or bone marrow to save a life,” the organization said in a statement.
Front left: Shari Safra, Rachel Cohn, Briana Benaron, Leslie Schapira, Dafna Landau and AMIT Western Region Director Liron Yadin celebrated the launch of Los Angeles AMIT NewGen. Courtesy of AMIT
Nearly 40 young professionals celebrated the launch of Los Angeles AMIT NewGen, on Oct. 24 on the SIXTY Beverly Hills Hotel rooftop, and learned about AMIT’s educational approaches and its national NewGen community.
Philanthropist Shari Safra, chair of New York City AMIT NewGen, was among the attendees.
Los Angeles AMIT NewGen is a network of local young professionals, ages 25-40, who support AMIT’s mission and seek opportunities to make a direct impact on Israel, network with others and inspire the next generation of Jewish philanthropic leaders.
AMIT Children, a nonprofit organization based in Israel, operates a network of 110 schools and programs, including surrogate homes and youth villages across 32 cities, and serves 34,000 Israeli students. With the message of “Building Israel, one child at a time,” the organization believes educating the next generation is key to ensuring Israel’s future.
“AMIT enables Israel’s youth to realize their potential and strengthens Israeli society by educating and nurturing children from diverse backgrounds within a framework of academic excellence, Jewish values and Zionist ideals,” an AMIT press release said.
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I’ll start off by saying I support the second amendment and law enforcement. Guns are an equal opportunity killer. No matter what race or color a bullet could have your name on it for no reason at all. A horrific topic to discuss may be the catalyst that brings our nation together.
The solution to mass shootings lies in software integration for law enforcement.
The signs and behavior of a mentally disturbed mass shooter are almost always present, but we ignore them.
California has the “Red Flag Law,” a gun-prevention law that permits police or family members to petition a state court to order the temporary removal of firearms from a person who may present a danger to others or themselves. A judge makes a determination based on statements or actions made by the gun owner.
The FBI’s National Data Exchange (N-DEX), NICB (Criminal Background Database) and NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistics Information Network) can be linked up and made available to all law enforcement to verify gun ownership. The gun ownership databases can easily be linked to DMV databases when officers run warrant checks on subjects. This can be made an easy and effortless protocol for law enforcement.
All modern law enforcement units are equipped with MDT’s (onboard computers).
When any police contact is made with subjects displaying “irrational or dangerous” behavior, officers have the discretion to run the subject through the integrated gun ownership database.
Once a “hit” comes back that the suspect is a gun owner and displays “dangerous” behavior, the police officer can activate his body cam (in 2018 most large departments mandated body cams be worn by all officers responding to crime calls).
The officer’s body cam can record any behavior in real time. A mental health unit can be dispatched to review the footage and further question the subject detained. A determination can then be made by the mental health unit and police officers whether to confiscate the gun or guns.
The subject may voluntarily relinquish the gun or guns to the police and be issued a citation to appear within 30 days before a state judge to determine disposition of the gun or guns.
If the subject refuses to voluntarily surrender the gun, police will “sit” on the residence or vehicle and obtain an emergency order to confiscate the gun. Most police departments have a 24-hour detective, who works every shift, who can request the order from a 24-hour on-call judge or magistrate.
During the 30-day period, detectives will interview family, coworkers, neighbors, friends and review social media. A report will be attached to the temporary order along with the body-cam footage of the incident.
If the subject fails to appear in court, they automatically lose their guns and the ability to own a gun for 10 years.
At the court date, the city attorney will submit a report, footage and call witnesses. The subject can hire an attorney and mental health expert and call witness to defend his gun ownership. The judge will determine if the subject is fit to own a gun within a limited one-hour hearing or mini-trial evaluating all the evidence under submission (much like a temporary restraining orders hearing). During any appeal, the guns will remain in police custody.
The state wins either way, as a gun was removed for 30 days (a cooling-off period) while law enforcement investigators have the ability to investigate the subject.
A lot changes from the time someone buys a gun in good faith for home protection, hunting or target practice to the time when someone becomes mentally stressed and this gives law enforcement the ability to determine if someone is safe to own a gun.
We have the ability to implement this program right now. Let’s prevent the next mass shooting today.
Michael Sapir is a real estate developer and the CEO to Sapir Real Estate Development.
