For years, Beth Jacob of Beverly Hills had but one caterer. Then a new rabbi came in and he decided that competition would be a good thing. So now the shul has several caterers who rotate and the quality of the food and of the service (for the same price) has improved dramatically.

Competition does that every time.

Joe emails: "Your post on caterers has many mistakes. If you want to have an event at Beth Jacob, you must use on of four caterers. The regular weekly kiddush is almost always catered by Edmond of Elegant Event. When there is a simcha or a big kiddush, the baal simcha may use one of the other caterers. A fancy event will be catered by Pats. Brenda also puts on some nice events."

Here's an email from Beth Jacob to its membership:

November 15, 2011

Dear Friends,

Beth Jacob has a long tradition of wonderful chazzanim who have led the davening in the Shapell Sanctuary. We have been particularly privileged over the past 3 years to have one of the rising stars in the Jewish community, Chazzan Nati Baram. Since arriving in Los Angeles from his home in Jerusalem, he has developed a devoted following, not only at Beth Jacob, but in the larger Los Angeles Jewish community
as well. In addition to his responsibilities at Beth Jacob, he has continued to perform as a soloist at concerts in the United States, as well as in Europe and Israel.

Last year Nati informed the Executive Committee of his decision not to seek renewal of his contract at Beth Jacob. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chazzan for his devotion to Beth Jacob Congregation, and for his many contributions to the shul. He will be missed by so many here in the community, and we wish him
hatzlacha raba in his future endeavors. We are convinced that we will be hearing more from him in the coming years.

As we reach the final months of his tenure at Beth Jacob, a Chazzan Search Committee has been formed to begin the difficult search for our next Chazzan. The committee will be co-chaired by Larry Stern and Zalman Harari, and will be comprised of members who represent a cross section of the congregation. We are committed to interviewing
the best possible candidates in the coming months. We would like to have the entire congregation involved in the search process, not only when it comes to the formal probe, but even at an earlier stage. If you have specific suggestions regarding a particular candidate, please feel free to forward them to us.

Sincerely,

Hugo Rose

President

Steven Tabak

Chairman of the Board

Joe* faxes me: This is not the first hazzan (cantor) scandal to hit this community. Ask around about what happened when Bnai David-Judea terminated chazzan Erblich.

Friday, February 5th
Modern Orthodoxy Faces the Future
When we look toward the future of Modern Orthodoxy, what do we see? Looking back to where we've been, what is ahead? Join us for a broad ranging discussion of the vision of Modern Orthodoxy and the challenges that lie ahead.
8:15 PM Shabbat Oneg

Shabbat Morning Drasha @ BDJ

During Seudah Shelisheet following Mincha @ 4:35 PM
An Approach for Coping With Life's Adversity
Drawing upon the writings of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, as well as on personal life experiences, Rabbi Weiss will share a deeply rooted Jewish approach to absorbing and responding to the personal challenges that life presents.

Motzai Shabbat Kumzitz
We will usher out Shabbat, with songs of d'veykut and words of inspiration, led by Rabbi Weiss and a supporting BDJ cast.

The Year's first Shabbaton is only

2 weeks away!

As, I mentioned in shul last Shabbat morning, we have a jam-packed Shabbaton Nov. 20 and 21, as we mark the upcoming anniversary of the UN's historic 1947 vote to establish a Jewish State in Palestine. 

Please click on "Chaf-Tet" for all the details, but here are the highlights::

Friday Night, at BDJ, at 7:45 – Don't miss the opportunity to hear from Mr. Aaron Friedman, who grew up as a lifeguard on the beaches of Pre-State Tel Aviv, went on to become Ben Gurion's close friend and body guard, and who was present at every major event leading to the establishment of the State. He's a walking storybook of Zionist history, and his presence represents a unique opportunity for each of us! (Please note: this oneg will not be in a member's home, rather in the Bet Midrash at BDJ)

Shabbat morning, at BDJ- Dr. Adam Rubin will share his scholarly research on the responses of the various Jewish political parties to the UN's plan to partition the land of Israel.

At Seuda Shlisheet, 4:30 - Mrs. Esther Shawmut Friedman describes her remarkable experiences as an American volunteer smuggling Jews into Pre-State Palestine.

Saturday Night at 7:45,We shift from the past to the present, as Brad Gordon of AIPAC gives us an inside view as to how US policy toward the State of Israel is shaped in today's Washington DC.

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.