September/October 2022

In this issue...

Did You Renew Yet?

Support HugPacks with Long Beach Gives

Thursday Night Movie Club

Welcome Back, Return to the Tent

Preparing the the Propositions

LBCC Food Drive

Caring Corner Is Back

Join Working Groups for Abortion Justice and Voting Rights

Save the Date!

If as an annual member you haven't renewed yet, please renew now at this link: ncjwlongbeach.org/renewmembership -- or mail us a check at NCJW - GLB & WOC, 3801 E. Willow St., Long Beach, CA 90815.

NCJW – GLB & WOC is a 501(c)(3) organization which depends on your support to fulfill its mission to improve the lives of women, children, and families through advocacy, education, community service, and philanthropy.

September 22 is Long Beach Gives Day for our HugPacks Project! But giving is already going strong!

We’re raising funds through Long Beach Gives to help ease the needs of youth suddenly taken into the foster care system in our area. Can you imagine what these kids go through when they are taken from their families with few or no possessions?  Our costs to buy and fill the backpacks have greatly increased, while the case numbers -- over 3,000 last year in South LA County alone -- continue to grow. We’re the only organization doing this for our local foster kids, and we want to continue to give at least 600 HugPacks a year to the LA County Dept. of Children and Family Services.  If we’re successful, maybe we can give even more! 

Breaking News: We have secured extraordinary matching funds from the Jack and Binnie Berro Family: $10,000!!! 

Thank you SO much!

But that gift depends on ALL of us pulling together and raising matching dollars. All donations will be counted toward our match from today till midnight on September 22, so please don’t hesitate!  HELP MAKE our funds grow in real time at longbeachgives.org/ncjw.

More Community Service news:

NCJW keeps you connected! Because Community Services has its finger on the pulse of the community, we were able to refer a new member and her husband to the newly developing food garden at St Luke's. Her husband is taking over the whole project. St Luke's, one of our beneficiaries, runs the only shower program on Saturday mornings for the homeless and now the clients are learning about raising their own food!

On another note, we were able to refer a teacher to the women's GED program at Lydia House, the mission for women. These women are working on math and English in order to pass their GED and better their lives. Our efforts will enable that class to continue! 

To get involved, email us at communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org.

September 22, 7 pm, Zoom: Operation Mincemeat

In the context of WW2 narratives, the story of Operation Mincemeat is unique -- a bizarre and seductive cinematic blend of high-level espionage and ingenious fiction, where the stakes could hardly be higher. Michelle Ashford's script fuses multiple strands and moods: tense, romantic, thrilling, unexpectedly funny, and endlessly surprising. It tells a richly human story of the soldiers we seldom see, who fight a different kind of war in shadows and deception, haunted by the knowledge that certainty and guarantee of success are nowhere to be found.

October 27, 7 pm, Zoom: Finding Altamira

In 1879, a Spanish archaeologist (Antonio Banderas) and his daughter (Allegra Allen) cause worldwide controversy when they discover cave paintings that are 10,000 years old. Banderas beams as a man obsessed, and his onscreen daughter reflects his brilliance. This is an engaging tale of the ever-present arguments that take place between science and belief, ensuring heartache for all. Truth wins in the end, decades later, when the church and its faithful catch up to science through surrounding discoveries of other heritage artwork.

Register here for the Zoom discussions

In the spirit of Sukkot and welcoming the stranger, please join NCJW as it celebrates its first in-person membership gathering in 2 years. We will decorate the AJCC sukkah, meet the Afghan women the NCJW Welcome Circle has resettled in the community, reconnect with old friends, and meet our newest members. We look forward to seeing you and celebrating our NCJW community with food, fun, and entertainment!  Admission is free, but donations are always welcome to support our work!

RSVP by Friday, Sept. 30, to membership@ncjwlongbeach.org or call (657) 235-2511. Proof of vaccination and masks are requested.

Please join us to hear this important program, cosponsored by Temple Israel's Social Action Committee. Speakers from the League of Women Voters will cover what the ballot propositions really contain and who funded each one, so that you are prepared when you vote in the upcoming midterm election. NCJW's COVID protocols will be followed, and masks and vaccinations are required. The program will be both in person at Temple Israel, 269 Loma Ave., Long Beach 90803, and livestreamed at https://www.tilb.org/temple-israel-livestream/.  RSVPs are appreciated to advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org.

In honor of Sukkot, let’s share our harvest bounty with those less fortunate!  We are collecting packaged food for needy college students who are coming back to school at LBCC.

If you can volunteer for a 2-hour shift, please call us at (657) 235-2511 or email us at communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org.

Requested Donation Food Items (no glass please)

• Single-serving size of almost anything
• Canned/packaged protein (tuna, chicken, spam, etc)
• Beans, rice, pasta, tortillas
• Pasta sauce, oil, mayo (in plastic please)
• Canned fruit & veggies (corn)
• Grab & Go snacks, granola bars, protein bars, nuts

• Peanut butter, jelly
• Boxed milk (almond, soy, evaporated, etc)
• Soup -- cups or canned
• Baby food, formula
• Boxed/instant dinners      
• Mac & cheese, chili, etc.    
• Oatmeal, cereal                     
• Crackers, ramen, pancake mix
• Microwavable meals

Jeanne Halliday is our new chairperson, and she is waiting for your calls and emails! We strongly encourage you to let Jeanne know about such things as illnesses, deaths, simchas, honors, etc., in our community.

You can look up Jeanne's phone number or email in the Membership Directory, or you can call us at (657) 235-2511 or email us at info@ncjwlongbeach.org to request a card to be mailed.

Voting and elections are a top priority for our Section. We have formed a working group to help plan and lead Section voting and election efforts through the November 2022 election. Topics to be explored include voter registration, postcard and letter writing, partnering with organizations like the League of Women Voters, and voting access for marginalized communities.  

We need you and your ideas! Contact the chair Chana Ham-Rosebrock at  advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org or leave a message for her at

(657) 235-2511. 

For too long, the narrative in this country about abortion and religion belies the Jewish story: in Judaism, abortion is not only permitted, but sometimes required. National Council of Jewish Women, along with our allies and partners, has launched a new Jewish movement for abortion justice: 73 Forward. Our section has begun to explore programming options for this campaign, and our Advocacy Committee has formed a working group. 

If you’d like to help plan educational programs, advocate for legislation, and/or mobilize organized actions in support of reproductive rights, health, and justice for all, please email advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org. We’d love to have you join us in the fight! 

Thursday, October 6: Board Meeting, 7 pm, Zoom. RSVP here.

Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 5 & 6: Help Make Abortion After-Care Kits for Planned Parenthood, 10 am – 2 pm in front of the Alpert JCC. We've rescheduled our collection dates; please help us gather supplies for Abortion After-Care Kits which we'll be donating to Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties for their clients. If you can volunteer for a 2-hour shift, please email communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org or call us at (657) 235-2511.

Thursday, Nov. 10 – Sunday, Nov. 13: Winter Coat Drive, in front of JCC, Thursday 11 am – 2 pm, Fri. – Sun., 10 am – 2 pm. Bring ‘em one and all!  Any size, and blankets or caps too!  If you can volunteer for a 2-hour shift, email communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org or call us at (657) 235-2511.