I need some help with this one. lukeisback@gmail.com

* Rabbi Gershon Bess
* Rabbi Avrohom Union
* Rabbi Daniel Korobkin
* Rabbi Yitzhok Adlerstein
* David Rubin
* Baruch Cohen
* Yehuda Faigin
* Barry Weiss
* Chaim Manela
* Zev Wolmark
* Benzion Westreich
* Andrew Freedman

I'm also trying to compile a list of the most prestigious Shabbos invites in Valley Village. A source emails: "Valley Village lunches? If you are there during the summer, you are a loser, pure and simple."

Where do the winners go during the summer?

My source says: "There are no winners in Valley Village."

I got these names suggested for the Valley:

* Steve Mazlin
* Adam Cohen
* David Striks
* Rabbi Zoltan Stulberger
* George Lintz
* Rabbi Paysach Wachsman
* Rabbi Eidlitz
* Rabbi Zvi Block

You know you've arrived if you get invited to any of these homes:

* Rabbi Marvin Hier Great conversation, fascinating guests
* Rabbi Ari Hier Charming erudite host
* Rabbi Elazar Muskin Great food, great Torah, a great long seder
* Rabbi Kalman Topp Understated rabbi who allows room for others
* Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky Gracious, stimulating
* Rabbi Robert Wexler Erudite, gracious, hospitable
* Rabbi Mimi Feigelson Great food, fascinating conversation
* Rabbi Dov Heller Great food, masters of hospitality
* Rabbi Nachum Braverman Understated empathic rabbi
* Rabbi Moshe Cohen Learned, funny
* Rabbi Boruch Sufrin Smart, funny
* Morey Levovitz Accomplished, generous
* Rabbi Yaacov Pinto
* Richard Horowitz Masters of hospitality, stimulating conversation
* Marc Firestone Masters of hospitality, low key, interested in others
* Peter Lowy – rich, generous, Australian
* David Sacks Funny, smart, unexpected
* Stuart & Enny Wax The gold standard for hospitality
* Sam Glaser Not your typical Orthodox home, this one is a lot of fun!
* David Suissa
* Monica Osborne
* Selwyn & Glynis Gerber Good Israeli wine, good food, Glynis owned Serravalle – the original gourmet Kosher meat restaurant in town
* Rabbi Marc Mandel
* Rabbi Uri Pilichowski
* Rabbi Lisbon (Chabad Bais Bezalel)
* Chazzan Netanel Baram
* Rabbi Sharon Brous
* Rabbi Bradley Shavit-Artson
* Don Etra
* Mark & Debbie Goldenberg
* Robert J. Avrech
* Mitch Julis
* Professor Aryeh Cohen
* Bob & Judy Millman
* Rabbi Aryeh Markman
* Rabbi Yitz Jacobs
* Rabbi Motti Shenker
* Fred and Susie Toczek
* Harold and Brenda Walt (Catering by Brenda!)
* Billie & Jenny Gelb
* Larry and Andrea Gill
* Jeff Fishman
* Richard Kellner
* David Nimmer
* Etan Cohen
* Steve Tabak
* David Nagel
* Ian & Lisa Tofler
* Steve & Daisy Cohn: Healthy food, hearty conversation

I simply posted this list because my soul is so in love with truth. Who knew that it would score me invites? I am not worthy. I just want to cover myself in dust and ashes, sit at the feet of the sages, and blog all day (except for Shabbos and holidays).

Scott emails: Israel is under attack—not only by terrorists who deny its basic right to exist, but also in the court of world opinion, which seeks to marginalize Israel as a human rights pariah that sanctions apartheid.

Rising in vigorous defense of the Jewish homeland in this landmark
documentary, Alan Dershowitz, distinguished Harvard Law School
professor and outspoken champion of human rights, presents evidence
from leading diplomats, historians, legal experts and government
officials on both sides of the political spectrum to make the
definitive case for Israel’s legitimacy and right to self-defense.

Come see a free screening of "The Case for Israel", this Sunday 7/18 at:

8:15 PM:
Bais Midrash Toras Hashem
12422 Chandler Boulevard
The public is invited at no charge
For more info, call 818-980-6934

An Orthodox rabbi calls me Sunday afternoon. "I'm watching Analyze This on channel 5. I met somebody last night who's a gay ex-Mormon. Very nice guy. He really liked me a lot. He's going to UCLA and is studying to be a psychiatrist.

"There's a commercial now. We have something in common. I'm dying for lack of an intellectual person to talk to. Sometimes the best person is ex-religious. When you're ex-religious, religion still has a formative impact on your life. Sometimes the best person to talk to is someone who knows what religion is but he got turned off to it by all the idiots and wanted to be more rational.

"You go to Bnai David. I don't care if someone is Modern Orthodox or Reform either. I just need intellectual people. You know Sam Harris? I prefer him to Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. I saw all three of them at the library."

Eric Rosen writes: If you don't have plans yet for the 4'th, join us in Malibu for an amazing time.

Tickets are now available for some awesome events, so get yours while you can.

Here are a few of the upcoming JConnectLA events you'll want to put on your calendar or iPhone:

1.) Fourth Of July Malibu Mansion BBQ Party–***THIS SUNDAY!!!**** You can't beat a BBQ, beer and hanging out with friends at a mansion in Malibu overlooking the ocean in the middle of the summer. Top notch DJ will be playing live music poolside for your listening pleasure. $15 presale/$20 door all-you-can-eat BBQ w/hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, etc.

http://tinyurl.com/4-thbbq

2.) LoveFest 2010— Celebrate Love, Jews & Music at our annual Tu'B'Av massive at a brand new plush Beverly Hills location. DJ Eric Rosen & Co on the turntables inside, Acoustic performances outside. LIMITED PRE-SALE Tickets now available– $10 while supplies last, $15/door. The buzz is building, and we would love to have you join us. 7/25/20108

http://jconnectlovefest.eventbrite.com/

3.) JConnectLA goes to the theater– Join us as we see Jewtopia, a hilarious off-Broadway play which tells the story of two 30 year old single men, Chris O’Connell and Adam Lipschitz. Chris, a gentile, wants to marry a Jewish girl so he’ll never have to make another decision. Special JConnect pricing—stay tuned for more details. 8/5/2010

4.) Festival Torah Project (F.T.P.)– You have a car, you have an apartment, or a house, you might even have a dog, but do you have your own chapter in a Torah? Even a letter? Help sponsor a New Torah to be used at Shabbat Tent, Jewlicious Festival, JConnectLA High Holidays, and other programs. Be a part of writing this Torah just for the mitzvah, or in memory of a loved one:

http://tinyurl.com/festivaltorahproject

5.) Marcus J Freed goes deep and teaches us about leaving our legacy through self-mastery and spiritual growth in his latest Kosher Sutra, 'Loegacy'

http://tinyurl.com/legacypinchas

***************************************************************

6.) CAMP JEWLICIOUS—-One of the main complaints every year after Jewlicious Festival is, "Why is Jewlicious only once a year!?"

The folks behind Jewlicious Festival are proud to announce our first ever summer festival, Camp Jewlicious. It's a Jewlicious Festival, but in the summer, and at camp.

But wait there's more. This summer, you can also learn tools to help promote and empower your cause at our Grassroots Organizing Summit. Participants may qualify for scholarship to Camp Jewlicious!

Camp Jewlicious Activities for 2010 include music, sports, swimming, arts & crafts, horseback riding, climbing, gardening, yoga, hiking, shabbat programs, bonfire, kumzits and much more.

Grassroots Organizing Summit programs includes speakers and sessions teaching skills to build grassroots support for your cause both on and offline. Participants may qualify for scholarships to attend. See website for more details.

http://tinyurl.com/campjewlicious

***************************************************************

7.) Save the date: Sun 10/10 New Moon Century Bike Ride 2010

http://www.newmooncentury.com/

8.) Get High on the Holidays—-Join JConnectLA for a riveting Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur experience. 9/8-9/18

9.) Jewlicious TikkunFest: Harvest and Social action Festival Oct 2010

That about wraps it up—–Shabbat Shalom!!

All the best,

Eric Rosen
Marketing Director | JConnectLA | Jewlicious Festivals

Back story.

Read and watch Luke Ford's complete interview with Rabbi Rabbs.

6 p.m. We walk towards Pico Blvd and head west. He’s lived in this hood since 1987. “No other place has so many kosher restaurants in one place,” he says. “People get along better here than anywhere else I’ve ever been. The other side of town [Fairfax/La Brea] is more icky, sticky, stuffy.

“I go surfing. I put my surfboard on my car and I’m off. Nobody cares. I’m not sure I could get away with that on the other side of town. I’d get a speech from some yenta. ‘What are you doing? Rabbis don’t go surfing.’

“In New York, I don’t know what people would say about me. Ashkenazi Jews can’t handle people who are different.”

Luke: “This is a tolerant Orthodox community.”

Rabbi: “Oh yeah. Pico-Robertson is a magnet for misfits so naturally they don’t have a problem with me. They couldn’t stand the poison and the venom of New York and New Jersey… They tend to be more laid back and open-minded and understanding of people who are different. Plus, there are a lot of Sephardim and Persians and they don’t give a crap.”

“The older I get, the more young chicks dig me.”

“For the life of me, I don’t understand why anyone would want to be Jewish. But you can’t talk to these people. They feel that Torah is truth, they were born with a Jewish soul.”

“If I woke up one day and somebody told me, ‘Rabbs, we discovered that your grandmother is not a Jew.’ I’d say, ‘Thank God, I’m out.’ I don’t want to be part of this. I hate this. Non-Jews think it is the greatest thing ever. They all want to be Jewish. I don’t understand it.”

“I get the BT (baal teshuva) thing. I’m born Jewish, I’m stuck. I better do what I am supposed to do.”

Event: TODAY: Pro-Israel Rally in front of the Turkish Consulate General.
Start Time: Today, June 1 at 5:00pm
End Time: Today, June 1 at 7:00pm
Where: 6300 Wilshire Blvd. LA

From Israel's Consul General in Los Angeles:

Israel regrets all loss of human life and injuries which came as result of the unfortunate events aboard the vessel Mavi Marmara on Monday, May 31.

The responsibility for the consequences of this politically motivated publicity stunt aimed at capturing the attention of the international media, rests on the organizers of the flotilla, which included elements with links to Hamas – a murderous terrorist organization which smuggles arms aimed at killing Israeli citizens.

Background

Since Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, more than 10,000 rockets and mortars have been fired on our civilian population. As a result, Israel had no other option but to impose a naval blockade in order to stem the flow of such munitions.

Israel appealed to the convoys of ships to dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod so that humanitarian supplies could be delivered to Gaza via land through existing crossings after being checked for dangerous materials. The flotilla rejected the offer, and one of the organizers themselves said that issue was not about the delivery of humanitarian aid, but rather about breaking the 'siege'. All attempts at dialogue and reaching an understanding were rejected, leaving no doubt that this was as an act of provocation having nothing to do with a genuine concert for the wellbeing of Gazans. Ships forcing their way into Gaza will do nothing to aid the people there.

International Maritime Law

Israel said that it would use all means at its disposal to prevent the vessels from violating Israeli and international law.

Under international law, a maritime blockage is recognized as a legitimate tool during a time of armed conflict. A blockade may be imposed at sea, including international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral states. International maritime law clearly states that when a maritime blockade is in effect, no boats – including both civilian and enemy – can enter the blockaded area. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured over even attacked under international law.

Israeli response

When it became clear that the flotilla of 6 vessels intended to break the blockade, Israel attempted to intercept the boats and then boarded the vessels to escort them to Ashdod. Due to the large number of vessels, there was an operational need to undertake measures to enforce the blockade a certain distance from our shores.

Five of boats proceeded to Ashdod without incident, while active resistance was encountered on the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara. Aboard the ship, Israeli forces were savagely beaten with lead pipes, knives and pistols prepared in advanced by the crew. Several Israeli soldiers were wounded as result of the confrontations, including one who is in critical condition.

Israel will continue to act decisively to protect its sovereignty and right to protect itself. No other nation would accept a violation of this sort.

Humanitarian situation in Gaza

There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Thousands of tons of food, goods and equipment are transferred to residents daily by Israel and international organizations such as the United Nations.

Since January 2009, more than 1 million tons of humanitarian aid have been transferred. That is approximately one ton of aid for each man, woman and child in Gaza.

During the first quarter of 2010 alone, almost 100,000 tons of supplies have been provided, including: 48,000 tons of food products; approximately 550 of milk powder and baby food; 2,700 tons of rice; 40,000 tons of wheat; 185 tons of aggregates; 2,000 tons of clothing and footwear; 20 tons of iron; 25 tons of cement; and more than 1,000 tons of medicine and medical equipment.

In a typical week, 15,000 tons of supplies enter Gaza including truckloads of meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, fish, vegetables, milk powder, baby food, wheat and other essential goods.

Similarly, fuel and electricity needs are being met, and hundreds of Gazans receive medical treatment in Israel.

You are invited to the "The Debut Concert of the Los Angeles Women's Choir" on Wednesday, June 9 at 7:30pm.

Event: The Debut Concert of the Los Angeles Women's Choir
Start Time: Wednesday, June 9 at 7:30pm
End Time: Wednesday, June 9 at 9:30pm
Where: YULA Girls School

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=123307247693661&mid=25d3265G2277084eG5aae08cG7&n_m=lukeisback%40gmail.com

A fun, casual evening of music with Sam Glaser as your host. $25 includes the show, top notch La Gondola dinner and drinks…such a deal! Dinner at 7pm, show at 8:30. Limited to fifty people so feel free to buy your tickets in advance at:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/103965

Date:
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Time:
8:30pm – 10:00pm
Location:
La Gondola
Street:
9025 Wilshire Blvd