We hope you enjoy reading about our Classes, Clubs,

October Wine & Cheese event, Fall Basketball Leagues, Self Defense class

Letter From Jeff Rubin

Executive Director, Valley JCC

VALLEY JCC MACCABI IS GOING TO ISRAEL IN 2023

SPOTS ARE LIMITED - CONTACT US TODAY!!!

JCC Maccabi®, a signature program of JCC Association of North America, is one of the continent’s preeminent Jewish youth-serving and community-building platforms and is crucial in inspiring Jewish identity building, strengthening communal connections, and serving as a key leadership development pipeline. 

Since 1982, each summer, the JCC Movement has engaged more than 3,000 Jewish teens from across the globe and an additional 11,000+ family members, spectators, and volunteers through the Olympic- style magic of JCC Maccabi, one of the greatest Jewish peoplehood projects of our time. For the majority of JCC Maccabi athletes, 63% of whom report being otherwise unaffiliated with any other Jewish youth organization, JCC Maccabi remains their primary connection to the Jewish community, global Jewish life, and Israel - creating a remarkable and unmatched opportunity to engage them, support their efforts to build their Jewish identity, and have a significant and lasting impact on their lives. 

Thousands of Jewish teen athletes, ages 12-17, and coaches/chaperones who represent communities across the globe, will come together at the 2023 events in Israel and Fort Lauderdale to experience the magic of JCC Maccabi, the world’s largest Jewish youth sports event. This unique, Olympic-style Jewish experience will include sports competitions, opening and closing ceremonies, travel, community service; “Hang Time” for Jewish and Israeli programming, social and cultural events, and opportunities to create Jewish connections, friendships, and memories to last a lifetime. 

In 2023 JCC Maccabi Games will be held in both Israel and Fort Lauderdale. Valley JCC has been allocated 50 spots for Israel and 20 spots for Florida in 2023. If you are interested in this once in a lifetime experience, contact us today for more information. Sponsorship opportunities are available. 

ISRAEL JULY 5-25 (All Inclusive $4,500, athletes must participate in the entire 20 day program)

• Ages 14-17 as of July 25, 2023
• Sports Offered: baseball, basketball, ice hockey, girls volleyball, flag football, soccer, tennis, and swimming
• Highlights include: 

Week-long JCC Maccabi Games in Haifa in partnership with Maccabi World Union. Olympic- style sporting events, including competitions, opening and closing ceremonies, large cultural events, and more. 

An unforgettable 12 day tour of Israel’s most culturally, religiously, and historically significant sites. Exploring Israel through a sports lens, including opportunities to meet with influential Israeli speakers, coaches, and professional athletes. 

Participating in volunteer service projects. 

FORT LAUDERDALE FLORIDA AUGUST 6-11 (Cost has yet to be determined)

• Ages 12-16 as of July 23, 2023
• Sports Offered: baseball, basketball, ice hockey, girls volleyball, flag football, soccer, table tennis, tennis, and swimming
• Highlights include: 
• Olympic-style sport competitions, including opening and closing ceremonies, and a tribute to the Munich 11.
• Home hospitality with local Jewish host families.
• JCC Cares community service projects. 
• Hangtime programming with Israeli schlichim. 
• Evening social events. 
• JCC Maccabi Access is for athletes with cognitive and developmental disabilities who will be competing in their own tournament parallel to the Games athletes. 

JOIN OUR DELEGATION TODAY BY CONTACTING US AT 818-360-2211 OR 

BY EMAIL AT INFO@VALLEYJCC.ORG

Flyer with details in this newsletter.

Thank You,

Jeff

Message From Ollie Haas,

Valley JCC President, Board of Directors

While giving and receiving Rosh Hashanah messages to friends and family, I started thinking about Valley JCC, and what we might wish for in the coming year. This train of thought prompted consideration of some of the things that Valley JCC has accomplished in the past twelve months:

Our Jerry Wayne Adult Basketball League has grown to over 50 teams. Our Youth League has increased in size, and we’ve added summer basketball camps and clinics to the program. Valley JCC now has a monthly newsletter (you’re reading it now) and a broader social media presence. We have formed partnerships with temples, synagogues and retirement communities where we can share programming and events.

So, what will VJCC offer our members and the community this coming year? 

We plan to schedule more in-person presentations, like the recent David Labkovski Project held at Temple Aliyah (it was fantastic by the way), where participants can be together and interact with one another. We are considering adding more Mah Jongg, Table Tennis, and other special interest clubs that meet weekly or monthly. 

Our annual “Wine and Cheese Garden Party” is our next opportunity to gather together. Please join us in the beautiful setting of one of our members’ backyards on Sunday, October 23rd. You can easily RSVP at valleyjcc.org/wine or call us at (818) 360-2211 and have a nosh while meeting with old friends and making new ones.

We invite you to join us on Thursday, October 27th at the restaurant Lemonade, located in Studio City, for lunch and conversation. This fundraiser provides a percentage of the proceeds for the day to be donated to Valley JCC. A flyer with all details is in this newsletter. 

If you have a suggestion for a class, lecture, activity, special interest club, or any other event that you would enjoy, please call or drop us an email with your idea. Find out more about Valley JCC on the website.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Best wishes,

Ollie Haas

Meet Ellen Cohen,

Adult Program Director, Valley JCC

Ellen Cohen’s family moved from New York to Los Angeles when Ellen was ten years old. When they settled in Northridge, her parents immediately joined the North Valley Jewish Community Center (NVJCC). Ellen became involved in the Center’s programs, eventually taking on several leadership positions. 

Through all her active participation, NVJCC truly became Ellen’s “home away from home” from elementary school through high school. She was a summer camp counselor-in-training and later, a counselor and unit head. She also served as a club leader for elementary-aged children.

Ellen also served in various positions at Westside JCC and Valley Cities JCC, including roles as club leader and day camp counselor. Eventually, she became the After-School Enrichment Director and Camp Director at North Valley JCC and Childcare and Day Camp Director at West Valley JCC. An additional career path took Ellen to the entertainment world, where she was an assistant to actor Anson Williams, well known for his continuing role in the television sitcom, “Happy Days”. 

Eventually, Ellen was asked by Jerry Wayne, previous Executive Director of NVJCC, to put together some programming for Valley JCC. Since the organization was “without walls”, Ellen arranged for the programs and classes to be held at Temple Ramat Zion in Northridge and later in a rented location in Woodland Hills. She continues to handle current programs, classes, calendaring events, weekly Mah Jongg, and Table Tennis, along with other critical responsibilities for Valley JCC.

Ellen enjoys acting as sous chef for husband Howard who is an Advanced Planning Representative for Mount Sinai Memorial Parks & Mortuaries, She also loves to work out and swim in her free time.

Thanks, Ellen, for all you do for Valley JCC. You’re indispensable!  

Basketball

The Jerry Wayne League

by

Jason Moser

We are happy to report that our Jerry Wayne Youth League increased by 120% after just one session. We now have teams in three different age divisions: 10U, 12U, and 14U. We are projecting even more growth for the winter session as we plan to add both 8U, and 6U divisions to our portfolio. 

We have managed to have 50 Jerry Wayne Adult League teams, even with limited available gym time due to high school sports. This is the third consecutive session that we have had 50 or more teams. As we continue to grow both the youth and adult leagues, we are excited that we now have the use of seven gyms to accommodate the athletes. They are located from Oak Park to Sherman Oaks to Santa Clarita. 

We still have available spots for teams so please sign up soon and have a great season!

Join us!

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.

October Meeting

Monday, October 3rd at 6:00PM

Bob's Big Boy

8876 Corbin Avenue

Northridge, CA 91324

Please RSVP - whether or not you plan to attend, to Steve Levine at: sandnl@verizon.net

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

a national or religious holiday.

Stay tuned for the next activity...

We are planning trips for November

For more information, contact sandnl@verizon.net call 818-360-2211

Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are the ultimate fall treat...

CLICK HERE for recipe

Enjoy!

...www.tasteofhome.com

The Cellist

by 

Daniel Silva

From Daniel Silva, the internationally acclaimed number one New York Times best-selling author, comes a timely and explosive new thriller featuring art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon.

Viktor Orlov had a longstanding appointment with death. Once Russia’s richest man, he now resides in splendid exile in London, where he has waged a tireless crusade against the authoritarian kleptocrats who have seized control of the Kremlin. His mansion in Chelsea’s exclusive Cheyne Walk is one of the most heavily protected private dwellings in London. Yet somehow, on a rainy summer evening, in the midst of a global pandemic, Russia’s vengeful president finally manages to cross Orlov’s name off his kill list.

Before him was the receiver from his landline telephone, a half-drunk glass of red wine, and a stack of documents....

The documents are contaminated with a deadly nerve agent. The Metropolitan Police determine that they were delivered to Orlov’s home by one of his employees, a prominent investigative reporter from the anti-Kremlin Moskovskaya Gazeta. And when the reporter slips from London hours after the killing, MI6 concludes she is a Moscow Center assassin who has cunningly penetrated Orlov’s formidable defenses.

But Gabriel Allon, who owes his very life to Viktor Orlov, believes his friends in British intelligence are dangerously mistaken. His desperate search for the truth will take him from London to Amsterdam and eventually to Geneva, where a private intelligence service controlled by a childhood friend of the Russian president is using KGB-style “active measures” to undermine the West from within. Known as the Haydn Group, the unit is plotting an unspeakable act of violence that will plunge an already divided America into chaos and leave Russia unchallenged. Only Gabriel Allon, with the help of a brilliant young woman employed by the world’s dirtiest bank, can stop it.

Elegant and sophisticated, provocative and daring, The Cellist explores one of the preeminent threats facing the West today—the corrupting influence of dirty money wielded by a revanchist and reckless Russia. It is at once a novel of hope and a stark warning about the fragile state of democracy. And it proves once again why Daniel Silva is regarded as his generation’s finest writer of suspense and international intrigue.

…Goodreads.com

Valley JCC is looking forward to engaging in ongoing 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