JWC Recap I still hear the music bouncing around in my brain from Wednesday nights delightful Jewish Women's Circle event - ' Tu B' Shevat Israeli Dancing'. Forty fab females came to Chabad Jewish Center of M.V. to participate in the year's 3rd community sisterhood happening! As with each event, lots of new faces along with many familiar ones came together from every spectrum of O.C.'s Jewish landscape, united through our hamish hearts :-) In the shimmering glow of candlelight, the CJC transformed into a flowing fantasy of fiery fabrics and spectacular towering bird of paradise centerpieces, crafted by the talented Batsheva Bolinger. Batsheva, along with Joanne Bank brought the fun mood of the night to life with all the room's festive furbishings. Besides the lovely visual displays, the deliciously aromatic Mediterranean dinner of homemade falafel with all the fixin's drew us to the bountiful buffet tables. Colorful Israeli salad, hummus, a mixed greens citrus salad along with the falafel & fresh pita were all lovingly prepared by our hardworking chef Analia Laroca, assisted by Marlene Taylor, Roz Gantman and Barbara Wolinsky. After our initial noshing and schmoozing, Siri Smith began the evenings program by warmly welcoming everyone and thanking the many ladies who make these JWC experiences come to life. She then turned the spotlight over to our amazing Rebbitzen, Bassie Marcus. Bassie is ever gracious in giving tribute to all in attendance and making us feel great about being part of this group. Her talk for the evening centered on two dates in this Jewish month of Shevat and how they are interconnected. The first date is of important historical significance to Chasidic Jews. It's the 60th anniversary both of the death of the previous Chabad Rebbe and of the start of Menachem Mendel Schneersohn's reign as the Lubavich leader. The Rebbe, of blessed memory, believed that the world is G-d's garden and that we all are born with a purpose and capability to make this garden more beautiful. We can do this by contributing our talents, our creativity, our desire to better ourselves and the world around us - by consciously giving of ourselves to make this life, this world a place where Godliness can dwell. The second date Bassie referred to is the 15th of Shevat, also known as Tu B'Shevat, the holiday of the New Year for Trees, this year on Jan. 29th. The Rebbe taught that G-d's desire for us to tend to his garden isn't just referring to the physical beauty of the world, but just as trees reach up toward the heavens, so should we reflect on our greater purpose and rise up to our spiritual potential, revealing our better 'nature'. An important feature of accomplishing this exercise of personal growth is cultivating JOY! Joy (simcha) is an attitude that has pervaded Judaism even through our darkest history. The Rebbe inspired thousands of emissaries of Judaism, including the Marcus and Kantor families to reach out and offer Judaism in a joyful way, helping (re)connect all Jews to their special neshama. Joy shouldn't be reserved just for special occasions but rather employed generously with mindfulness at every opportunity all the days of the year. Cultivating joy is both a spiritual and emotional discipline that rewards with flowering achievements and plentiful fruits sown from uplifting labor. As a reminder of the upcoming holiday, everyone in attendance received a small plant to take home and tend:-) Another great way to express joy is through dance, and as our guest instructor Yoni Carr explained, Israeli dancing really revs up our Jewish souls, connecting us through joyous movement with our heritage. Yoni, a professional dancer has over 20 years experience teaching Israeli folk and ballroom dancing and currently teaches in Newport Beach and San Diego. It was great fun when Yoni cranked up the music and began teaching us some easy to follow choreography. We did traditional Israeli circle dances as well as learning a few lines dances, with an Israeli oomph:-) While many of us participated in the dancing, others sat around the outer circle to watch or chat with friends with a nice glass of wine. When the dancing stopped the dessert bar opened with refreshing lemon sorbet and delicious Israeli 'creme-bo' chocolate covered concoctions that were gobbled down with gusto! Additional thank you's to our gregarious greeter, Barbara Rosenthal, to JWC committee member and all around wonder worker, Gay Rams, to Joelle Quinn who takes rsvp's & acts as treasurer, and to Barbara Wolinsky who so kindly stayed to help with cleaning up (after coming early to help in the kitchen!) Our next JWC event is coming up on March 10th - stay tuned to your email channel to get details about this fantastic evening that will enhance your immune system, lower blood pressure, reduce stress and where you'll come to feel a visceral connection to pure joy! Until then, Happy Tu B'Shevat and Happy Purim too...with an emphasis on the HAPPY! Respectfully submitted for your pleasure - Dara Linson
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