Click on the picture to open the site where you can unscramble the pieces.
The fundraiser was a great success! It's time to thank ourselves and each other for ensuring our survival as a community and as a special way to celebrate Shabbat. The generousity of all of our members, friends, friends of friends, and new friends who were strangers, sustains us.
Our gratitude goes to our members and donors for their additional support of Lev Eisha:
Donations
- Marlene Rofe
- Toni Glick, in loving memory of Mildred and James Trepeck
- Janis Cohen, in Memory of Libby Sklamberg
I wrote 28 thank you notes by hand immediately after our astoundingly fabulous "Laugh with Lev" fundraiser. In all my years of writing notes, never did I joyfully write so many as I did on March 14th. It made me think about all the women, and their husbands and partners who participated with generous, open hearts to create a welcoming ambiance and an extraordinary experience. Kol HaKovod! I extend heartfelt acknowledgement for all your time and efforts on our behalf!
At Lev Eisha, there is a desire to get involved, to be a part of what we are continuing to create: "A joyous community of women engaged in prayer, study and spiritual growth." The operative word is "community" and what it means to have friends who share thoughtful, meaningful times together.
In April's O -- Oprah's magazine -- there was a little piece about the effect of friendship. In a study, researchers asked participants to stand at the base of a steep hill and estimate how tough it would be to climb. Those standing with a friend gauged the ascent to be less steep compared with those who were alone.
This friendship effect is called "Mountains Can Become Molehills." In fact, the longer the study participants had known their friends, the more gentle they estimated the incline to be!
We all know intuitively the importance of friendship, and now that knowing is bolstered by science. The power of friendship is the underpins the spiritual strength that we find at Lev Eisha.
Our tradition has a lot to say regarding friendship. A 13th century Jewish poet wrote, "Friendship: one heart in two bodies."
The 11th century Torah commentator Rashi wrote, "A person may hide herself from her enemies, but not from her friends."
And in the Apocrypha book of proverbs Ben Sira writes, "A faithful friend is the medicine of life," and "A faithful friend is a powerful defense; s/he that has found such a one has found a treasure."
The Oprah piece had two more examples of the "friendship effect."
"Disease becomes less Deadly" the research asserts in a study from Harvard. Breast cancer patients with no friendship network are four times more likely to die from disease than those with ten or more close friends!
Additionally, the study noted, social support can lower blood pressure, protect against dementia, and reduce the risk of depression.
Not only will we be spiritually uplifted, but attending Lev Eisha services, events and learning opportunities will also keep you healthier!
We knew that!
Lastly, from a professor of psychology at the University of Cambridge, the news is that friendships make stress more manageable, and womens' cravings for close friendships help them live longer.
Sophie Tucker wrote, "Anything for a friend."
And Dorothy Parker exclaimed, "Constant use had not worn ragged the fabric of their friendship."
May we, the women at Lev Eisha, treasure our friendships, wear them well, and continue to value and grow our community for years to come. AMEN
Laugh with Lev was an outrageous success! Our annual fundraiser brought together ladies and gents from all over Los Angeles to celebrate the hilarious women of our comedic history. Molly Picon, Sophie Tucker, Fanny Brice, Gilda Radner, Wendy Wasserstein and Joan Rivers entertained us from the silver screen. In person, the mistresses of mirth themselves--Monica Piper, Betsy Salkind, Ellen Sandler and Cathy Ladman--joined us on the bimah of Congregation Beth Israel for a scintillating discussion on finding the funny in our own lives and Jewish humor. (And, of course, our own Mollie Wine gave a delightfully skillful performance as emcee. She put the panel at ease, bridged the distance to the audience, and asked well thought out questions, which helped to elicit some hilarious anecdotes.)
In this day and age, we all need to search just a little harder each day to find a way to make ourselves laugh. Sunday offered each of us a break from the situations of our own lives and a few hours to connect with each other. Loved the film! Loved the snacks! Loved getting together and sharing the laughter and love of Lev Eisha!
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Happy anniversary to Joy Krauthammer, who is celebrating her 30th year publishing Chai Lights, a Jewish newsletter for LA's Jewish community.
If you have a milestone to share please send it to: editor@leveisha.org. Our
newsletter gets printed about a week before each service. Please send the info ASAP.
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CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS
Some of us feel not quite dressed without our signature scent. Please be considerate of people with allergies when you reach for your atomizer. It makes you smell lovely and elegant, but if you're sitting near someone with allergies, she'll feel like she's coming down with the flu. Headaches, sneezing, coughing, runny nose and rheumy eyes aren't attractive or pleasant! So do please save your scent for a place where people can move around more readily, and your neighbors will thank you.
PASSOVER BOOKS
If you would like to obtain copies of our Lev Eisha women's Haggadah, Journey of the Heart, and/or our Pesach Cookbook, Passover Recipes from the Heart, please get in touch with Janis.
FACEBOOK
Are you on Facebook? You can help us grow. Become a fan of Lev Eisha of Los
Angeles and invite your friends to become fans as well. Our unique URL is
www.facebook.com/losangeles.jewish.spirituality. If you need help finding
the site or understanding how to invite your Facebook friends, e-mail
Lynda@leveisha.org for further instructions.
INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITES
Lev Eisha isn't a show that we put on for you--it's a service that we all put on for each other. The more you get involved and participate, the richer your experience will be. There are so many different things you can do to broaden your Lev Eisha experience: Go up for an aliyah. Accept an honor such as opening the ark or carrying the Torah. Lend a hand in setting up or cleaning up the kiddush. Greet people at the door and help them get into the feel of Lev Eisha. Want to do more? Assume a leadership role and become a board member. Lev Eisha has the nicest board you'll find. It's true! It's an organization where people look forward to attending board meetings! And there's nothing more satisfying than working during the month to make sure that our very special service continues.
FLYER AND ANNOUNCEMENT POLICY
Many women in the Lev Eisha community are involved with wonderful activities and causes. We simply cannot announce and promote them all. So, we must limit our announcements to activities specifically tied to Lev Eisha. If you have flyers, cards or materials pertaining to other events, please feel free to leave them on the table in our foyer and/or speak about them during Kiddush. Thanks for your understanding!
CATERING
Let's come together as a community to sponsor a Breakfast or a Kiddush. Think about celebrating your milestone with other Lev Eisha members also honoring a significant event. Contributions of $18, $25 or $36 can add up to hosting a specific month. Celebrate the good in your life such as a birthday, an anniversary, a special friend, memory of a loved one, a promotion or reaching your goal weight. What would you like to commemorate at Lev Eisha? Get a group together and sponsor a party! Please contact catering@leveisha.org to make arrangements.
MAP
Click Map for a larger image and directions
Many women have expressed an interest in carpooling to Lev Eisha services. If you need a ride, or can offer one (especially from distant neighborhoods), please contact us at info@leveisha.org or leave a message on our phone line, (310) 575-0985.
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