September-October 2023

Wishing you good health, inner peace and spiritual renewal.

Dear friends,

At this time of year, it is important to pause and reflect, to look back and look forward. Our work to “improve the quality of life for women, children and families and safeguard individual rights and freedoms” has never been more critical. The assault on women’s reproductive choices, the increase in racism and antisemitism, the continuing plight of refugees and the unhoused -- all cry out for a rededication to our values in the year ahead.

When we hear the sound of the shofar, may it remind us of the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “Fight for the things that you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to follow.” That clarion call will light the way for NCJW - Greater Long Beach & West Orange County in the year ahead. We hope you will continue to join us and bring others with you.

L’Shana Tova U'metuka,

from the Board of NCJW - Greater Long Beach and West Orange County

If you forgot to RSVP for our Abortion Comfort Kit packing tonight, contact Andrea Friedenthal ASAP at communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org or 657-235-2511! She has to give your name to the front desk so they'll let you in.

We need lots of help, and lots of dollars. Let’s help women get the help they need!

Did you know??

• Michelle Gordon is our superstar abortion comfort kit chair. She makes the kit packing run so smoothly! Check out her video on our Youtube channel.
• Long Beach Gives early giving starts tomorrow, Sept. 14! Go visit our special page tomorrow and see how we're doing!

This year, we are raising funds to provide Abortion Comfort Kits to several local clinics for the many women coming from out of state for abortion care!

Every dollar donated will be generously matched up to $10,000!! So take advantage of this chance to DOUBLE your donation!

You can make a difference in someone's life today:

• Donate at our website today and at any time! There you'll also find Michelle's video about the project and how it has helped women from out of state.
• Send a check (with Comfort Kits in the memo area) to NCJW - GLB & WOC, 3801 E. Willow St., Long Beach, CA 90815
• Starting tomorrow and going all week through September 21, donate via our Long Beach Gives page.

Thank you in advance for caring about women's struggles for the reproductive health care they deserve.

Let's get together at a member's home to socialize at 7 pm to watch Ushpizin and then discuss the movie!

In Jerusalem's orthodox neighborhoods, it's Succoth, seven days celebrating life's essentials in a sukkah, a temporary shack of both deprivation and hospitality. A devout couple, Moshe and Mali, married nearly five years and childless, are broke and praying for a miracle. Suddenly, miracles abound: a friend finds Moshe a sukkah he says is abandoned, Moshe is the beneficiary of local charitable fundraising, and two escaped convicts arrive on Moshe and Mali's doorstep in time to be their ushpizin - their guests. The miracles then become trials. Rabbinical advice, absolution, an effort to avoid anger, and a 1000-shekel citron figure in Moshe's dark night of the soul.

To register and receive the home address, please RSVP to (657) 235-2511 or email programs@ncjwlongbeach.org.

Please join NCJW as we present the latest changes in our treatment of dependent and delinquent children. These changes in Child Welfare as a whole make community involvement part of the solution. We will certainly hear how we can each make a difference in the lives of these kids!

We have four amazing speakers lined up!

Jennifer Lorson is a CARE Attorney for the Children’s Law Center of California, the largest nonprofit law firm in the nation. She will speak about dependency versus delinquency and how they are now handled in our Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice systems.

Mark C. Wynn is a resource attorney in the Los Angeles County Public Defender office helping youth with educational rights advocacy, developmental rights advocacy, and school discipline matters. He will talk about the changes in the philosophy of juvenile justice. 

Judge Terry T. Truong is currently assigned to the Superior Court of California's TAY (Transition Age Youth, 18 to 21) Court hearing cross-over juvenile dependency and juvenile justice cases. She will talk about what happens in the TAY Court.

Paul Freese has worked as a public interest attorney for more than 25 years developing programs to prevent and end homelessness and to protect and engage our most isolated and vulnerable youth – those experiencing homelessness, immigration distress, foster care, and the justice system. Paul will discuss the successful Simply Friends program and Sherri Sobel's amazing BEST initiative as our action agenda!

Our member, Retired Referee Sherri Sobel, is chairing this event, and will be happy to answer any questions. Contact her via advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org.

One of our favorite nonprofits is MOMS Orange County, on the front lines of supporting minority mothers in birthing and raising healthy babies. They run nursing and nutrition classes, refer doulas, and provide Mommy & Me classes for infants that are simply amazing. They also just started the first breast milk bank in OC!

We're headed back there soon. They still need snack donations, caps and gowns, and other items. If you're interested in helping out, contact our community service VP Andrea Friedenthal at (657) 235-2511 or communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org.

The City of Long Beach's Department of Health and Human Services is making cases of water available to individuals who are interested in handing out water bottles to people who are currently unsheltered wherever you think there's a need. If you would like to participate, please use this form to volunteer. The form is intended to gather some basic information about your group (NCJW) and where you intend to distribute water. Waters will be available to pick up from the Multi-Service Center at 1301 W. 12th. St., Long Beach, CA 90813.

Thursday, October 5: Board meeting, 6:45 pm, AJCC. All members are welcome! Call 657-235-2511 to RSVP.

HOW TO REACH US

Email us at info@ncjwlongbeach.org, call (657) 235-2511, or send mail to NCJW–Greater Long Beach & West Orange County, 3801 E. Willow St., Long Beach, CA 90815. Please add this contact information to your contacts list.