A friend just told me that he does not like to shop at the Walgreens on Pico and Robertson because he heard about hold-ups there in the parking lot. He prefers to shop at CVS Pharmacy on Doheny and Wilshire Blvds in Beverly Hills. And the girls are cuter in Beverly Hills. Unless you happen to like the rebbetzin look, which is popular in Pico-Robertson.
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Shalhevet News
Fifteen Shalhevet teachers and teaching assistants will not be back next year.
Shalhevet has hired five replacements. There may be a sixth.
Three teachers at Shalhevet have not been rehired for the new year because their classes are being consolidated. Five assistants are not getting rehired. Seven teachers are not getting rehired due to performance issues.
The Bureau of Jewish Education requires accredited Jewish schools to give notice to their teachers by May 15 about their status for the coming year.
Last year, Rabbi Meir Prengler received a late notice. He brought a lawsuit against the school and eventually settled it for about a month’s salary (another report said $40,000).
Shalhevet did a much better job this year in giving timely notice to its teachers.
There’s a full page ad on page two of this week’s Jewish Journal advertising Shalhevet’s Early Childhood Center which will offer care to kids down to two years of age. This should be a money-maker for the school.
Last year Shalhevet settled a claim by Rabbi Jawari for $80,000. He claimed that he had been fired from Shalhevet by Jerry Friedman (the founder and former head of the school) as retaliation for his telling the school board some negative things about the operation of the school.
There’s still a pending lawsuit against Shalhevet by a former art teacher.
Sculptor Simon Sananas says that over $100,000 worth of his sculptures at Shalhevet were destroyed in addition to the sculptures of many of his students who will not be able to get AP credit for the class.
I’m curious if Shalhevet’s new head of school, Rabbi Elchanan Weinbach, will follow in Jerry Friedman’s footsteps by hiring friends for multi-year contracts (Rabbi Tzabo, Sam Gomberg). It ticked people off that Jerry would spend money like that.
I hear Rabbi Weinbach was called to task a couple of weeks ago by a member of Shalhevet’s school board for making a three-year contract with a rabbi-friend who’s coming in from Montreal, Rabbi Feinerman (who’s highly qualified and would appear to be a responsible hire in any school). Rabbi Weinbach’s wife was going to teach first grade at Shalhevet but will be teaching elsewhere.
“That’s Shalhevet’s loss,” a Shalhevet teacher tells me, “because she’s an excellent teacher.”
Rabbi Elchanan Weinbach is not taking his scheduled pay raise for this year.
Jeff emails: “Is Ed Eiseman one of the poor performance firings? That would be a huge understatement if so. But he was a principal, not teacher. Also, are the two techies that were let go counted in this tally?”
Answer: All included in the count.
Read MoreBeth Jacob’s New Cantor
Cantor Nati Baram will be leading services at Beth Jacob Congregation for Shavuot. He plans to be in LA for a week or 10 days – and then to return to Israel. He will be moving here to take up his position over the summer.
Read MoreThe Week That Was At YICC
This past weekend at YICC is already being referred to as one of the year’s highlights by those who had the privilege of being in attendance. Our guest on Shabbat was Rabbi Marc Penner, the Rabbi of Young Israel of Holliswood Queens, and director of professional education and advisement at the Center for the Jewish Future of Yeshiva University. Rabbi Penner gave a powerfully moving drasha Shabbat morning on the importance of true kindness. Rabbi Penner’s stimulating afternoon shiur entitled, “Gedolim: wanted dead… or alive?” left the entire crowd buzzing. Rabbi Penner discussed with great passion the threats of misusing our great rabbis and the importance of relating to them, and God, correctly.
Sunday Morning Rabbi Penner returned to kickoff a most fascinating Yom Iyun entitled, “Leading the Jewish Future.” Rabbi Penner discussed the challenges facing contemporary Jewish leaders, some of his ideas for producing male and female Jewish leaders, and the innovative improvements being made in Yeshiva University’s rabbinical school’s professional development program. We then heard a fascinating, and entertaining, presentation by Dr. Bruce Powell, the head of school at the New Community Jewish High School. Dr. Powell explained how to raise our children to become future Jewish leaders. This was followed by a wonderful panel discussion titled, “Charting the Jewish Future” in which we were treated to a very wide variety of speakers and issues. Rosalie Zalis, Senior Vice President of Pacific Capitol Group, passionately explained the importance of making sure that Jewish Education is the highest priority of the community. David Suissa, of the Jewish Journal and Ads4Israel.com then made a powerful presentation on the importance of curiosity, both for Jews who are “connected” and those who are not, to search for meaning and excitement in the vast smorgasbord of Jewish life. Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug, the executive director of Jewish World Watch then gave us an intense and unforgettable first hand account of the horrors of contemporary genocide, and explained the importance of the Jewish community playing a leading role in fighting such evils around the world. Seth Berkowitz, our Shul’s President and Vice President of Edmunds.com concluded the morning with a brilliant discussion of specific Jewish values that can lead the way to a positive Jewish future, despite the grim realities facing much of our contemporary world and community.
The entire morning’s program will be available on our website, yicc.org under the “Torah on the Web” link by the end of the week, along with many of our other fascinating lectures and programs.
Beth Jacob Changes
With Rabbi Kalman Topp scheduled to replace Rabbi Weil late in the summer, the imminent arrival of Cantor Nati Baram whose visa petition was approved this past week, and the election of a new Shul President in the fall (likely candidate David West Esq) big changes are ahead for the largest Orthodox Shul west of Chicago.What is David West like? He’s a rock solid leader who will provide a steady hand at the wheel – and is a team player. Just what’s needed for the transitions of Rabbi and Chazzan.
Read MoreCar accident corner of Whitworth and Palm
This Week’s Highlights At YICC
RABBINIC EXCHANGE, Shabbat, May 16th at YICC
featuring Rabbi Marc Penner, YI of Queens, NY
* Shabbat Drasha
* Shabbat Afternoon Lecture 6:10 p.m.
“Gedolim: Wanted Dead…Or Alive?
***
YOM IYUN – “LEADING THE JEWISH FUTURE”
Sunday, May 17 th at YICC
Featuring: R. Marc Penner, Dr. Bruce Powell, Seth
Berkowitz, David Suissa, and Rosalie Zalis
Topics:
“Leadership: How Do We Produce Great Rabbis?”
“Raising Future Jewish Leaders”
“Charting the Jewish Future”
And Don’t forget to Sign up for the following upcoming events:
RZLA YOM YERUSHALAYIM CELEBRATION
THURSDAY, MAY 21st
Come sing, dance, and celebrate the 42nd Reunification of
Jerusalem at Sephardic Temple.
Honorees: Dr. Ivor & Liebe Geft, Shalom & Liat Ashkenazi,
Rabbi Karmi & Naomi Gross.
Keynote speaker: Prof. Moshe Kaveh, Pres., Bar Ilan Univ.
For information & reservations please call 310-274-6657.
SHAVUOT LUNCH FOR YOUNG ADULTS
There will be a community wide Shavuot Young
Adults Lunch at YICC, along with Beth Jacob, B’nai
David-Judea, and Mogen David for the 2nd day of
Shavuot, May 30th. $18 per person – children free & child care provided!
Please contact Rabbi Weiner for more
information – 310-273-7914
The State Of Shalhevet
The Shalhevet banquet is Sunday night.
On Shalhevet’s senior class trip to Poland this year, Steven Spielberg sent two professional videographers with the aim of producing a documentary for distribution on outlets such as HBO and the History Channel.
STATE OF THE SCHOOL ADDRESS
for all Shalhevet Parents
Presented by Rabbi Elchanan Weinbach, Head of School
Thursday, May 21
7:30pm – 8:30pm
Beit Midrash
The State of the School Address, given at the beginning and end of each school year, is intended to inform Shalhevet parents of the current state of the school and outline the agenda and priorities for the year to come.
This event is for Shalhevet parents only. In the interest of all parents attending, please refrain from bringing children.
We hope you will be able to join us as this information directly affects your child. Snacks and refreshments will be served.
Read MoreShalhevet Rumors & Realities
I heard a rumor that Shalhevet High School will drop its three year Hebrew language requirement. This is not true. This requirement is not changing. Spanish may be added as an elective.
I heard that a rumor that 14 teachers got fired. This is not true. Two teachers are not getting their contracts renewed because of inadequate performance.
I heard a rumor that the wife of Shalhevet’s head of school will be teaching second grade. That is not true. She will not be working at Shalhevet.
A Shalhevet source tells me: Lots of changes happening for next year. They were actually much earlier than previous years in letting us know if they’re renewing contracts, which was really helpful, especially for those who will be looking for work elsewhere.
Mr. Jonathan Gilbert will be the new assistant principal for general studies in the Middle and Elementary schools. Kind of replacing Ed Eiseman, but only assistant since head of school Rabbi Weinbach is bringing someone in who is head of education, both departments, for the entire school.
The number of actual teachers this source was aware of not having their contracts renewed for next year is 3 from elementary, none from middle and 3 from the high school. Only 6. 3 of those are not full-time. The source said that unfortunately, the financial situation is such that they have eliminated “extras” – not splitting small grades into 2 classes anymore in the lower school, not having TA’s above grade 2 or (maybe til 3rd?) and in the high school not retaining teachers who teach part time. It is still difficult that the coworkers whose contracts aren’t being renewed are not going to be working at Shalhevet – because they are phenomenal. They will be sorely missed, for sure.
Overall, the changes are part of the inner and outer renovation the school has undergone during this first year of leadership of Rabbi Weinbach. It seems to this source that Shalhevet students, families, and faculty (including them) are primarily happy with the changes.
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