Inside This Issue
Community Outreach News
Helping Local Community Businesses
A Facebook Mitzvah
A Bar Mitzvah at Age 91
CJC Wish List
Events
· E-Waste Event To Help Scholarship Fund
· Rosh Hashana Community Dinner
· High Holidays Sep. 8-10 & Sep. 17-18
· JBC Business Networking Event
· CJC’s Gala Fundraiser; “8 Points of Light”
Education News
Coming Back to Hebrew School at 17
What is The Circle? Click Here to find out more.
Community Outreach News:
Helping Local Community Businesses
CJC and JBC are partnering together to help local Jewish businesses but they need your help. In these difficult times we need to reach out and look after each other. The partnership works as follows; JBC members, which is made up of local businesses, would like to reach out to the community for support. In exchange for your support they will give back to the community by donating a percentage of the profit to The Circle.
Please support our local JBC businesses. Click here to see our JBC business directory.
If you would like to become a member of JBC and join the JBC business directory click here
A Facebook Mitzvah
Are you a Facebook user? If yes, I have a small favor to ask of you, something small that you can do that can have a huge impact.
Kohl's is celebrating its 10th anniversary by donating $500,000.00 to the top 20 schools voted for in the country (the “Kohl’s Cares Facebook Contest”). The Hebrew Academy of Huntington Beach has reached the top twenty list, but it desparately needs to retain its ground until the September 3rd deadline.
Please go to votelaschools.com and vote five times for Hebrew Academy Huntington Beach and the other 2 schools. Then invite your friends, and anyone at home or the office to do the same.
Your vote can help keep the Hebrew Academy open in these difficult financial times. The Hebrew Academy is a local Jewish day school and agency of the Jewish Federation that has serviced our OC and broader community since 1969! It is a Jewish school that welcomes children from all sectors of the community, from all financial backgrounds. A school that in addition to providing excellent academics also helps to perpetuate our heritage on to the next generation with warmth, love, principles and pride. And yes, a school that my own children attend.
Besides for the mitzvah, all HAHB voters get entered into a raffle to win an Ipad!
A Bar Mitzvah at Age 91
This past week a 91 year old man with a terminal illness celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. Due to his difficult childhood he was never given the chance to celebrate his becoming a Jewish man. He always thought it was too late and gave up on ever being able to celebrate it. Rabbi Marcus visited him and his family and after finding out that he had not celebrated his Bar Mitzvah explained that it is never too late and right there and then proceeded to make a Bar Mitzvah celebration. It was a very emotional experience and a very joyful one.
Here is part of an email that was received in response to this very special occasion. “Dear Rabbi Marcus, You have gone way beyond what I would have expected. Your visit brought G-d back into my family.
Thank You”
CJC Wish List
100 59 Folding Chairs at Costco, $14.79 each
2 computers (windows xp, vista or 7, 2gig memory minimum) no monitors needed
Paint interior of CJC, sponsor the paint, $250 or the actual painting job $2,500, $1,000 or both
Commercial Vacuum Cleaner
New receptionist area, $1,500
Events:
E-Waste Fundraising Event To Help Scholarship Fund & Environment
CJC is partnering with A&D Recycling to raise much needed funds for CJC’s Hebrew School and other educational programs.
On August 29, 9:30 am – 2:00 pm, we will be collecting any and all old and even broken electronic devices. From tv’s to cell phone and anything in between, batteries also accepted. If it plugs in to an electrical socket we’ll take it.
All this E-waste will be recycled so you will be helping the environment, CJC will get $ for every pound we collect. (sorry fridges, freezers and other large appliances not accepted). You can even drop them off before the 29th. Make sure to call in advance so we can properly process you drop off.
Let us know by email if you are joining and what you are bringing so we can prepare.
Rosh Hashana Community Dinner
This year you can join family and friends at our community Rosh Hashana Dinner. Wednesday, September 8th at 8pm (after services). Catered by Analia of K-Kosher Catering it promises to be a scrumptious and uplifting experience. Only $25 per adult and $15 per child. RSVP today while there is still space available. Click here for online reservations.
High Holidays Sep. 8-10 & Sep. 17-18
This is only meant for those who are not currently members in a synagogue or temple. If you are a member please skip this part.
CJC is offering all different types of services and programs for the High Holidays to meet the diverse needs of the community.
A Learners Service for inquiring minds
A holiday dinner for your taste buds
A Family Experience so the whole family can celebrate together
Traditional Services filled with soul and meaning
Join us for one or all of the above.
For schedule and reservations click here
JBC Business Networking Event
Wednesday September 15, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
At the Chabad Jewish Center of Mission Viejo
24041 Marguerite Pkwy , Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Grow your business and find new opportunities and connections
Network within a safe and friendly community
Connect with business owners and professionals
Featuring
* The “Kaballah of Business” by Rabbi Marcus
* Circle Networking
* Special Presentation:
The Insider’s Guide to In-Person and Social Networking by Manal Richa of The MarCom Network
$10.00 in advance ~ $15.00 at the door ~ JBC Members $50% off
For more information or to RSVP e-mail Alexandra Kaplan at [email protected]
To register online use this link http://www.chabadofmv.com/tools/events/register_cdo/eventid/1020
or send in your check to: CJC of MV, 24041 Marguerite Parkway, MV, CA 92692
CJC’s Gala Fundraiser; “8 Points of Light”
Save the Date!
CJC’s Gala Fundraiser “8 Points of Light”, will take place on November 14th. Stay tuned for details.
Education News
Coming Back to Hebrew School at 17
It is every Hebrew School directors dream that when students graduate from Hebrew School that they would want to stay connected somehow with their Judaism, their community and with Hebrew School. Today there is a waiting list of former students who want to be part of the Hebrew School team. There are even students who are off in college and want to use their break time to come and speak to the Hebrew School students about their experience. Many Hebrew school graduates make sure to stop by CJC to say goodbye before they go off to college, the navy or Israel.
Below is an excerpt of a college application essay written by one of our former Hebrew School students about her experience of being a part of the Hebrew School staff.
Eager, disinterested, anxious, confident. I read the faces gazing up at me. I wondered what they read in my face. Hopefully I projected my own excitement to teach them, and concealed my nervousness for running my own class. It was the first day of Hebrew school and these third graders waited for me, their teacher. I could not believe I now stood before them – after all, it seemed like yesterday when I filled their shoes. I once struggled to learn this new language, to read with fluency, to write with distinction. From a five year old girl to a young teen I worked my way through Hebrew school; as I neared the end I thought I would never return. Now, I stood here, yet again. I am fortunate I did. The more I taught, the more I yearned to return to my days as a Hebrew school student. I missed Judaic studies, Hebrew class, group prayers. Shame burnt my face when I recalled my lack of appreciation as a student. However through educating these children, I could understand how to educate myself. I channeled my revived fervor towards their learning experience. We reviewed the Hebrew alphabet – aleph, bet, vet, gimmel, they repeated. Simple words gradually lengthened. Some students fell behind; some lost the glow they once possessed. I encouraged them with new challenges, raising them to the top. We prevailed together. As the year progressed, I saw improvement in my students. Each child drew from his own source of inspiration to get through the class. Pride swelled inside of me as their once frustrated, stern looks transformed into looks of confidence and joy. The year soon came to an end. My first out of three more years of teaching.
Reflecting back, I realize how many valuable qualities I gained. My own responsibility increased because – whether they admitted it or not - these children looked up to me as a role model, a mentor. I had to lead by example. My once quiet attitude seemed to melt off the more I worked with these children. Conversing with adults and peers became more comfortable. When a child refused to read, or had uncontrollable fits of laughter, patience emerged as my hero. I remained calm; waited out the storm until opportunity arose to continue my efforts. If a child failed, then I failed. If a child excelled, then I excelled. The result of my work will always reflect how much I put into it. I must always put my passion, my determination, my little piece of history into what matters the most. Through my own experience and knowledge, I embrace the opportunity to pass down these meaningful traditions. Teaching such a rich, ancient language has been a great honor. I am even more grateful that I have been able to make a difference in these kids’ lives – whether by helping them conquer a tough word, or guiding them through a personal problem. This experience has transformed my face; it now reads capable, determined, confident, and eager.
For more information about our Hebrew school click here.
For information on our Hebrew High program click here.