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Posted by on Dec 29, 2010 in JConnectLA |

Rabbi Yonah emails: 1) Unleash Your Inner Power: Yoga & Kabbalah
This evening, do something for your body and soul and join Marcus Freed and JConnectLA for a great yoga workout.
TONIGHT, Wed. 7.30pm-8.45pm @ Workmen’s Circle, 1525 S. Robertson Blvd., LA 90035 (Bring a mat if you have one!)

If you can’t make tonight – we are there every Wed. evening through January. Click here to register or just show up!

http://www.facebook.com/l/8cb98HCp9uudysPr5ew-YbmgOpg;j3w.it/1er

2) Volunteer @ Jewish Food Pantry
We all know that the economy has been bad. Do you know that there are hundreds of Jewish families that cannot afford food for basic needs, for Shabbat, for holidays? You can help!
Thursdays, 1/6 and – 1/13, 6pm SHARP til 7pm
Tomchei Shabbos, 915 La Brea, Corner of Willoughby
Click here for directions, info and to register: http://www.facebook.com/l/8cb983kauvBR0dgHjCc9LnbSN9A;j3w.it/1es

3) Freedom Shabbat Dinner in Honor of MLK Jan. 14th w/ Special Guest – details and registration soon!

4) A Night Of Unity – Thu. Feb. 24! An evening of music, food, games, and more. Our Second Annual Gala Benefit for JConnect & Jewlicious will sell-out. Stay tuned for tickets and details!

5) Jewlicious Festival 7, Fri. Feb. 25-27! An event unlike any other weekend in Jewish history.
Details at http://www.facebook.com/l/8cb98GVwFp63iFxM5XE6hi2vfFg;jewliciousfestivals.com

6) Purimpalooza VIII – Sat. Mar. 19. The largest rocking LA Purim celebration is back for our eighth year. New Venue for 2011! Mark the date!

7) Check out this cool video from Israel’s rising star Yoni Bloch – the video can be watched any ways, so cool. http://www.facebook.com/l/8cb984TeiHiIVqGA6K9m0bVdK8w;www.yonibloch.co.il/

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Rabbi Ari Kahn Speaks At Aish HaTorah Jan. 6

Posted by on Dec 25, 2010 in aish hatorah |

Time:
Thursday, January 6, 2011 · 8:00pm – 11:00pm
Location Aish Conference room 9100 West Pico Blvd
9100 West Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
Created By
Ari Kahn
More Info Have the Rabbis Ruined Judaism?
What is the nature scope and power of the Rabbis?

A class open to men and women

Thursday, January 6th @ 8pm @ Aish Conference room
9100 West Pico Blvd

Rabbi Kahn is Vice President of Migdal Ohr institutions in Israel, he is also Director of foreign student programs @Bar Ilan University where he is a senior lecturer, in addition he is a senior lecturer in MATAN, and Aish Hatorah Jerusalem

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Power Out For An Hour

Posted by on Dec 18, 2010 in Weather |

Power went out for much of zip code 90035 between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

It’s been raining steadily here since Friday morning. Sometimes it is heavy.

The one good thing about the rain is that it cuts down on the beggars.

Normally I hit a beggar about every 100 yards on Pico Blvd. Why so many? The problem is that Jews are so generous, it just encourages more begging.

I never give to beggars. It just encourages them. As I blow them off, they typically say to me, “God bless you!”

I am intrigued about that new restaurant 26 opening up across Pico Blvd from the Pinto Shul.

Then there’s the fancy new dairy Italian restaurant opening up next to Shiloh’s Steak House.

And on Thursday, I hit this great new Thai vegan restaurant next to Chick’n'Chow and YICC.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

A series of warm Pacific storms will continue to batter Southern California with strong winds, heavy downpours and snowfall Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

The wet weather is expected to last through midweek, in a pattern so unusual that it has forecasters scratching their heads — particularly because this is a La Niña year, when ocean temperatures near the equator cool. Such years often involve colder, drier conditions in Southern California, said Bill Patzert, a climatologist for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge.

“I call La Niña the diva of drought for Southern California,” Patzert said. “But the rainfall looks like El Niño.”

As a result, some areas might receive their highest one-week rainfall totals in recent years.

There were periods of heavy and light rain across the region Saturday.

“The storm system is like a symphony,” Patzert said. “Right now we’re in the overture; we’re getting the quiet part of the symphony.”

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Organization for Torah and Music Coming To Los Angeles

Posted by on Dec 15, 2010 in Music |

I got the email below forwarded to me. It is originally from Rabbi Breslauer, director of the upcoming musical Yeshiva in Israel (1 year program for American students after high school). This program could help the talented younger generation in the LA Orthodox Jewish community:

Neginat HaTorah, The Organization for Torah and Music, is dedicated to developing projects that impart Torah values and Jewish culture to young adults through Jewish music, the medium of the Neshama. The first project will be the establishment of a post high school Yeshiva in Israel for the musically inclined. The organization is also planning to open Jewish music camps in Israel and in the United States. Our goal is to reach out to Jews everywhere by connecting Torah and music. Music provides the day to day rhythms of Jewish life, shared music unites the people of Israel.

Our Rosh Yeshiva is Rabbi Moshe Simkovich. The location of the Yeshiva will be at the beautiful campus of Givat Washington (right across the street from Kerem B’Yavneh). The musical program will be provided by the Mizmor school of music located on campus.

Our goal is to help those young men to become into dedicated bnei Torah and at the same time, better musicians.

Please see our website www.neginathatorah.org Read More

Check Out LimmudLA.org

Posted by on Dec 15, 2010 in Limmud |

At LimmudLA you’ll make great connections, socialize to your heart’s content and learn a lot of pretty amazing things. You’ll also meet like-minded Jews with diverse interests and get a jump on different ways to get involved in Jewish LA. Did we mention the music and dancing? The late-night café? Don’t miss out on all the fun, learning and adventure that is LimmudLA.
Sign up today!

Confirmed presenters include:

Caryn Aviv

Sociologist at the University of Colorado at Boulder, author of New Jews: The End of the Jewish Diaspora, director of Storahtelling in Colorado, and co-founder of Jewish Mosaic

Shmuley Boteach
“America’s rabbi,” a television and radio host, and author of 23 books
on relationships, values, and spirituality

Joel Chasnoff

Stand-up comedian and writer, and author of the comic memoir The 188th Crybaby Brigade
about his year as a combat soldier in the Israeli Army

Arthur Kurzweil

Author of Kabbalah for Dummies, a Jewish genealogist, professional magician, and coordinator

of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s Talmud Circle Project

Clive Lawton

Co-founder of Limmud in the UK and a long-time Jewish educator and education consultant in Britain

Amy Jill Levine

Amy Jill Levine, author of The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus and a self-described “Yankee Jewish feminist who teaches in a predominantly
Protestant divinity school in the buckle of the Bible Belt”

Yavilah McCoy

Yavilah McCoy, an Orthodox, African-American Jewish educator and founder of Ayecha,
a nonprofit organization focusing on multi-dimensional Jewish identity

David Saperstein

Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and Newsweek magazine’s most

influential rabbi in the United States

…And more! New presenters are being added daily.

We’re looking for more outstanding presenters. Contact us today!

Register today at www.LimmudLA.org!

Early bird discounts are available through December 31, 2010.
Scholarship applications are due December 31, 2010.

Payment plans are available.

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Three Hebrew Boys To Spend The Rest Of Their Lives In Prison For Investment Fraud

Posted by on Dec 14, 2010 in Abuse |

The so-called “three Hebrew boys” were not even Hebrews. They were Colombians and they perpetuated their frauds on goyim.

Oy! Goyim bilk goyim but Jews will be blamed.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

Prosecutors said the three men traveled to churches and other gatherings across the Southeast several years ago and spoke to soldiers near military outposts, preaching how faith and an investment in what they said were foreign currencies would at least double their money, wipe out credit card debt and pay off mortgages in months.

Read On

Related stories:

December 13, 2010

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Why Are We Late To Shul?

Posted by on Dec 12, 2010 in Bnai David |

From BnaiDavid.com:

4:15 PM -

5:45 PM

Seder Nashim presents

The Modern Orthodox Woman Running Behind:

Why Are We So Late to Shul?

A Special Seuda Shlisheet for Women Only Shabbat, Dec. 18th, 4:15-5:45 PM

(Childcare will be provided,

but children are not allowed in the room)

Join us December 18th at Seuda Shlisheet for a genuine conversation about the challenges we face in coming to shul on time. Why are so many of us late? What are the limitations we face at home? Are we delayed with caring for our children and preparing for meals and company? And what about the limitations in our hearts? Is something
keeping us from being motivated and engaged in davening? Are we and our community yearning for a more complete participation of women in services from start to finish, or are we happy with the status quo? Join us to raise the issues among friends.
No Mussar, we promise!

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Friday Is The Fast Of The Tenth Of Tevet

Posted by on Dec 12, 2010 in Bnai David |

From BnaiDavid.com:

Friday, December 17th will be

the Fast of the 10th of Tevet

The fast of the 10th of Tevet commemorates the day on which the Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem, leading to its eventual destruction in 586 B.C.E. This fast (along with the 17th of Tamuz, Tisha B’Av and Tzom Gedalia) was actually suspended during the Second Temple period, but was volitionally reaccepted by the community of Israel at some point following the second destruction in 70 C.E. This was motivated by the general state of physical insecurity that the Jewish people faces on a continuous basis. As long as this unfortunate state of affairs continues to exist, these fasts are binding upon of us. Women who are pregnant and nursing are exempt, though the
custom is that they make the effort to fast as well.

We mark the 10th of Tevet with special inclusions in davening. At Shacharit (6:30 AM) we include Selichot, Avinu Malkeynu and Torah reading, and at Mincha (4:15 PM) we include a Haftarah reading as well.

Though it strikes us as unusual to be fasting on a Friday, the 10th of Tevet falls on Friday with some regularity. The fast does not end at candle lighting, rather, following the usual pattern, ends at nightfall (see times below).

As is true whenever we fast, we make a point a point to recall the words of Yishyahu HaNavi concerning the ultimate meaning of a fast day:

Behold, this is the fast that I esteem precious:

Loosen the chains of wickedness,

undo the bonds of oppression,

Let the crushed go free, break all yokes of tyranny!

Share your food with the hungry,

take the poor to your home,

Clothe the naked when you see them,

never turn from your fellow.

Then shall your light dawn, your healing shall come soon;

Your triumph shall go before you,

the Lord’s glory backing you.

The Lord will answer you when you call,

saying “Here I am.”

Friday – Fast begins: 5:33 AM

Shacharit – 6:30 AM

Mincha – 4:15 PM

Fast ends: 5:14 PM

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Israel’s Housing Prices Boom

Posted by on Dec 12, 2010 in Israel |

Almost all of the land in Israel is owned by the central government. People buy 100-year leases and the like.

Until the last ten years, Israel had a strongly socialist economy. Now it is an envy of the world.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Meanwhile, some economists warn that Israel’s housing bubble is heading for a bust. If interest rates rise again, payments on adjustable-rate loans, which make up about two-thirds of the total mortgage market activity, will increase, potentially leading to defaults.

“People paying 3,000 shekels [about $800] today could soon find themselves paying 5,000 shekels [$1333], and it’s going to be a big problem,” said Ayelet Nir, chief economist at IBI Ltd., an Israeli investment broker.

Although foreclosures historically have not been a problem in Israel, where down payments average 30% to 40%, much of the recent activity has been fueled by investors and speculators, accounting for as much as half of the recent apartment sales in Tel Aviv.

A quick fix would be to continue raising interest rates, but the Bank of Israel is under pressure to prevent them from deviating too much from U.S. rates. The growing gap has strengthened Israel’s currency against the dollar and made its exports — which account for half of the country’s GDP — more expensive abroad.

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My Mortgage Refinance Blog

Posted by on Dec 12, 2010 in Real Estate |

It’s hard to go to a Shabbat dinner in Pico-Robertson without the conversation moving at some point to real estate prices.

Home prices in Pico-Robertson have stood up well during the recent recession.

The subprime crisis hit my consciousness in the Spring of 2007 and in December of 2008, I began blogging on mortgage refinance.

December 12, 2010

December 11, 2010

December 10, 2010

December 9, 2010

December 8, 2010

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Chanukkah Parties Los Angeles

Posted by on Dec 5, 2010 in JConnectLA |

Rabbi Yonah from JConnectLA emails:

Dear Friends,

From everyone at JConnectLA we wish you a JOYOUS and HEALTHY and HAPPY CHANUKAH / HANUKKAH / HONIKA!

There are tons of Chanukah activities in town this week – you can check out the Top Ten Chanukah Parties on our blog, courtesy of LA .

But the best is saved for last — Chanukah Electronica. You might have seen us featured yesterday on Good Day LA on Fox News. Mar Yvette plans on attendeding — will you be there?

This venue may sell out – so don’t wait till it’s too late. Limited Pre-Sale is going on now for just $8, plus ticket fee. Tickets are $18 at the door or $15 with a can of kosher food for the hungry. Click the picture below for tickets!

Let us pray for rain for Israel. A terrible fire is ravaging the north, wiping out homes and forests, something we in California understand too well. If you can, check out this Facebook page “Fire In Northern Israel, An Unprecedented Disaster” for ways that you can help. Our hearts and prayers go out to the 42 victims’ families and friends.

May we all be inspired by the Festival of Light to bring more light to the world.

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Chanukkah Fun Carnival

Posted by on Dec 5, 2010 in Chabad |

Grand Chanuka Festival! Starting in a few minutes!!

Grand Chanuka festival at La Cienega Square (corner of 18th), December 5th. 11:00 pm – 2:00 pm.

15 TONS OF SNOW!!

Concession Stands! Game Booths! New Toddler Play Area! Adrenaline Rush Race Course! Amazing Bungy Flight! Chanukah Crafts! Rock Climbing!!

For more info visit www.chanukafun.com.

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