The August Edition Includes:

Photos of JCC Maccabi Israel, John Paul Thornton's Art History Presentation,

Meet Donna Haas,Youth & Adult Basketball Leagues, Summer Sports Camp,

Learn About Elena & Igor Yasno's Visit to Ukraine,

Mah Jongg Tournament, Readers Club, Summer Recipe

Letter From Jeff Rubin

Executive Director, Valley JCC

This year's Maccabi experience was one for a lifetime!

Eight days of the games was followed by twelve days of touring throughout Israel.

Enjoy the photos.. they include the Boys 17U basketball team winning a bronze medal, camel rides, a Shabbat service, Bedouin tents, and Kfar Hanokdim.

Thank You,

Jeff

Save the Dates!

John Paul Thornton

will continue to present a series of art history classes with an emphasis on Jewish artists and Jewish history.

Please mark your calendars with the following class dates for 2023 - 2024:

August 23 (Flyer in this Newsletter)

October 11

January 10

February 21

All classes will be virtual on Zoom and take place on

Wednesdays, from 6:00-7:30pm.

See you then!

Message From Ollie Haas,

Valley JCC President, Board of Directors

At Valley Jewish Community Center (VJCC), we hope this Newsletter finds you and your family healthy.

As you know, VJCC is a 501c3 tax-exempt community service organization. Under the guidance of our Executive Director, Jeff Rubin, Valley JCC offers programs and activities for families and individuals of all ages. Our monthly calendar of activities continues to grow and we have online on our website valleyjcc.org descriptions of the happenings of our Center Without Walls as well as a monthly newsletter featuring the activities available and upcoming. 

This Newsletter includes feature stories about the activities and about our members. We strive to add new instructors and additional classes focused on art history, music, travel presentations, and fitness. And, as we get feedback from you, our members, we will strive to grow and change to meet your need and wants.

Your continued support will continue our quality community programs such as:

• The Wayne League Adult Basketball program which now has over 100 teams.

• The Wayne League Youth Division which has 16 teams. 

• Mah Jongg every Monday at the Village at Northridge.

• Two different sports camps for youth this summer.

• Senior Table Tennis for Mind and Body.

• Funds to expand our programs at Today’s Montessori, VJCC’s outstanding preschool.

• A variety of educational, recreational and social programs for all ages.

• A Health and Wellness Fair scheduled for October 15th. (Save the date!)

• Mah Jongg Tournament at The Village on October 22nd. (Save the date!)

We are excited to have just participated in the annual JCC Maccabi Games in Israel and looking forward to the Fort Lauderdale games! We sent the fifth largest delegation from the U.S. to Israel. All best wishes for success and fun to our athletes!

Our preschool, Today’s Montessori is near capacity with a waiting list for some of the age groups. 

We recently held a very successful Annual Gala event, honoring the renowned art historian, educator and artist, John Paul Thornton, with over 180 people in attendance.

As past members, your support has enabled us to continue to grow and change. 

Membership remains an essential requirement that allows us to offer programming, activities, sports, camps, community activities, and special interest clubs to all ages in the community. For us to cover our current and future expenses, your membership is more vital now than ever. 

Our mission as always is to serve you and the Jewish Community. 

The Center plays many roles in our community: roles that are vital to Jews who want to feel connected to a part of their Tradition and Heritage. We need your continued assistance to make that happen!

Please be sure to renew your membership. If you are not yet a member, please join in to help VJCC grow! 

Thank you for your support, your membership, and your commitment to sustaining the ONLY JCC in the San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley and Santa Clarita Valley.

Best wishes,

Ollie Haas

Elena & Igor Yasno

Visit Their Native Ukraine

Igor and Elena Yasno were born and raised in Kyiv (formerly Kiev), the capital of Ukraine. Both immigrated to the United States in 1977, married, had two sons and founded a software company in the 1980’s. 

When they arrived in New York with their parents, the Jewish community helped them get settled, and arranged for their continuing education. Elena studied accounting and Igor learned the computer business. They recall that their vocational school was located underneath the Brooklyn Bridge.

But, there’s much more to their story!

The Yasno’s have lived abroad, visited more than 120 countries, and are still traveling. The couple has visited Ukraine many times after 1999 and has witnessed the tremendous change in the Ukrainian society. They observed progress, westernization and the growing pride of the people of Ukraine.

Their most recent and significant trip to Ukraine took place in May of 2023. They spent a month during the full scale war, and had to run for cover and protection in the underground subway station more than once. Staying in the center of Kyiv was not safe, and they hardly slept, being awakened by anti-aircraft during the night.

Elena and Igor worked directly with local volunteers who personally helped wounded veterans, victims of war crimes, refugees, orphans and people who had lost their homes. They brought money, food, medicine and participated in humanitarian aid. They estimate that about 5,000 Jews are fighting in the armed forces. The clothes or uniforms they wear include a patch with a Jewish Star.

Igor explains, “The war in Ukraine has to be fought by the entire world. The Ukrainians are not just fighting for themselves, but for the world order as we know it.”

Elena and Igor have two immediate goals: to help Ukraine win the war, and to help Ukrainians heal and prosper. Their website includes photos, specific information, and ways to help in this effort: http://youkrainenow.com/

Valley JCC has invited the Yasnos to join us soon, so that we can learn more about their life experiences, first-hand. Stay tuned for details!

Music & Morsels: Classical Guitar Treasures

Wednesday, August 2

1-2pm (PT) on Zoom

Save! Get “Early Bird” pricing; purchase before July 31st.

For details & tickets, click here.

Exploring Opera: In Our Language

Two Thursdays, August 3 & 10

1-2:15pm (PT) on Zoom

Save! Get “Early Bird” ticket prices; register before August 1st!

For details & tickets, click here.

Basketball

The Wayne League

by

Jason Moser

Our summer session is humming along.

We are starting to take registrations for our fall youth and adult basketball leagues. And, we are excited to offer several youth girls divisions to our already established boys programs.

We are also now starting a 7/8 year old division. We have some amazing partnerships with gyms in the valley, allowing us the ability to grow and expand our programs.

The fall season will be bigger and better than ever due to all the gyms we have acquired.

Now that folks are back from vacations and kids are heading back to school, we can't wait for tip-off in mid September! 

Have a wonderful end of summer everyone!

Please join us - Shalom!

Wayne Girls Basketball

Girls league playing Sundays at A. E. Wright Middle School

Valley JCC sports leagues are named

in memory of beloved former

Executive Director Jerry Wayne

Meet: Donna Haas

Donna was born and raised in San Francisco, thus is one of those rather rare California natives! As a teenager, she and her family moved to the San Fernando Valley. where she graduated from Grant High School. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Psychology from California State University Northridge (CSUN), then called San Fernando Valley State College. Soon after, Donna began working as a Social Worker at the Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services. After several years in the field of social work, Donna returned to school full-time to get her Master’s of Social Work Degree (MSW) from the University of Southern California (USC). She then became a Supervisor at the Adoptions Division and later, worked in policy development, contract monitoring, auditing, senior management training and finally, as an Assistant Regional Administrator for the Department.

Donna met her future husband, Ollie, when she was still in high school. The Valley Cities JCC (VCJCC) was a place Donna took some guitar lessons. Years later, when Donna and Ollie became parents to twin girls, they turned to VCJCC for child care when their daughters entered kindergarten. Soon after, with encouragement from the Child Care Director, they became even more involved with the Center. They made lifelong friends there, and both Donna and Ollie served on the Board of Directors at VCJCC holding Board Officer positions. Donna served as a Vice President for a couple of terms. Ollie served as a VP and then as Board President at VCJCC when their daughters were in elementary school. 

Years passed, and all the three Centers in the Valley closed. However, Jerry Wayne, former Program Director at VCJCC and Executive Director at the North Valley JCC (and friend of Ollie’s since both played sports as teens at Westside Center together) called to say that he and several former members of the JCCs were working to set up a new grass roots JCC, a Center Without Walls, and needed help. They all worked together to start a new JCC in the San Fernando Valley and Donna and Ollie joined in the effort. Fast forward to today, and Ollie Haas serves as President of the Board of Directors at Valley JCC. Donna is an active volunteer and a member of the Fundraising Committee and Co-Chair of the Membership Committee at Valley JCC.

Ollie and Donna live in Sherman Oaks and recently celebrated their 56th Anniversary. Donna enjoys reading, the theater, art, political activism and socializing with dear friends. She also loves to travel, play Mah Jongg, and spend family time with her two adult daughters, their husbands and her 14-year old grandson as well as her two sisters and her extended family.

“The Valley Jewish Community Center is a major connection to my Jewish life,” explains Donna Haas. She appreciates that it’s a secular organization and that all branches of Judaism are welcome as are all members of the community at large. 

From Today's Montessori...

Valley JCC Men's Club

Meet and socialize

with other 55+ men in the Valley!

Past outings include special tours of Santa Anita Park, Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Pasadena, experiences at Dodger Stadium, the Getty Museum, and Axe Throwing at Lumberjack's in Northridge.

The Men's Club meets the first Monday of the month, unless there is

a national or religious holiday.

The Men's Club

Will Not Meet in August

Stay tuned for the next activity...

We are planning trips for 2023

For more information, contact steve@valleyjcc.org or call 818-360-2211

Skirball Cultural Center

Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare

On view through September 3, 2023

About the Exhibition

Explore the history and impact of the Hollywood Red Scare and its contemporary implications for civil liberties, propaganda, and shifting definitions of American patriotism.

In October 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee called on Hollywood figures to testify about allegations of Communist propaganda in American films. Although the committee never found evidence of this, the film industry responded by becoming the first mass employer to adopt a blacklist against employees whose political beliefs ran counter to prevailing ideals.

Making its West Coast debut at the Skirball Cultural Center with newly added artifacts, Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare shines a spotlight on the proceedings, investigations, motives, and choices of those caught in the crosshairs—including the many Jewish creatives and executives who suffered under and enforced the blacklist.

The result is an emotionally complex and compelling exhibition that demonstrates how the politics of Hollywood can shape the entire country.

https://www.skirball.org/museum/blacklist-hollywood-red-scare

Chocolate Raspberry Tiramisu

This Chocolate-Raspberry Icebox Cake is the answer to summer days when you want to serve a beautiful cake but it's too hot to turn on the oven. It's creamy, it's dreamy, and it's so simple to make. Crushed cookies, fresh raspberries, and layers of tart raspberry sorbet and vanilla ice cream transform into a gorgeous marbled layer cake in about 15 minutes — no frosting required. The raspberries sink into the milky, sweet layers of ice cream, adding a tart flavor and pops of color to the cake, and crunchy chocolate cookie crumble layers are the perfect sweet and salty counterpoint, adding satisfying texture and a hint of bittersweet flavor. Finally, after a deep chill in the freezer, the cake is topped with whipped cream and more raspberries. The finished cake slices beautifully, revealing deep pink, creamy white, and rich dark-chocolate cookie swirls.

For list of ingredients and Directions, go to:

https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chocolate-raspberry-icebox-cake

Book Recommendation

Lady Tan's Circle of Women

by Lisa See

According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations–looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.

From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose–despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it–and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles.  No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.

But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife–embroider bound-foot slippers, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.

How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions, go on to treat women and girls from every level of society, and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? Lady Tan’s Circle of Woman is a captivating story of women helping other women. It is also a triumphant reimagining of the life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.

www.https://lisasee.com/books/lady-tans-circle-of-women/

Tu B'Av

The 15th of Av

The 15th of Av is a most mysterious day. A search of the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) reveals no observances or customs for this date, except for the instruction that the tachanun (confession of sins) and similar portions should be omitted from the daily prayers (as is the case with all festive dates), and that one should increase one’s study of Torah, since the nights are beginning to grow longer, and “the night was created for study.”

The Talmud tells us that many years ago the “daughters of Jerusalem would go dance in the vineyards” on the 15th of Av, and “whoever did not have a wife would go there” to find himself a bride. And the Talmud considers this the greatest festival of the year, with Yom Kippur a close second!

As the “full moon” of the month of Av, it is the festival of the future Redemption, marking the end of the tragedy that marred the first part of the month. Until this day, we held siyumim and gave charity each day to mitigate our sadness and hasten the Redemption. But on the 15th of Av, this is no longer. Forty-five days before Rosh Hashanah , this is also the first day on which we begin to wish each other a ketivah vachatimah tovah, to be signed and sealed for a good year.

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/53680/jewish/15th-of-Av.htm

Valley JCC is looking forward to engaging in continuous outreach in the community.

Stay tuned for details...

Fundraising Opportunity

On Your Birthday!

"How To" Use Ralphs To Benefit Valley JCC

1. Go to: www.ralphs.com
2. Click on "Sign in" to the right of the search box. (If you don't have an online account, click on "Register")
3. Click on your name to the right of the search box at the top
4. You will now be on your Account Summary page
5. Scroll down to "Community Contributions" and click on "Enroll"
6. Complete the online form and Click on "Save"
7. Enter organization number SK677 and click on the "Search" button
8. "Valley Jewish Community Center" will be displayed. Click "Enroll"
9. You will see a confirmation at the top of the Account Summary page
10. A percentage of your purchases will be donated to Valley JCC