Valley NCSYers receiving Award of Diligence from the Maimonides Scholar Program

WEST COAST NCSY CELEBRATES FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF YESHIVA DAY SCHOOL AND PUBLIC SCHOOL TEENS LEARNING TOGETHER

Valley NCSYers receiving Award of Diligence. Left to right: Rabbi Effie Goldberg, Rivkah Levine, Michelle Florentine, Marlon Meyerson, and Rabbi Josh Horwitz.

Earlier this month, West Coast NCSY celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Maimonides Scholar Program with triple the amount of participants than the program originated with in 2006. The Maimonides Scholar Program provides an opportunity for yeshiva day school students to interact and share their Torah knowledge with Jewish peers who do not have a formal Jewish education but are actively involved in Jewish culture clubs in their schools. For the past ten weeks, sixty public school and yeshiva/day school teens have been building relationships and studying a Torah text of their choice in pairs.

NCSY | Jewish Youth Leadership is the international youth movement of the Orthodox Union.

In addition to the yeshiva/day school and public school students forming strong relationships with one another, it is also an opportunity for their families to meet and interact as they watch their children learn; bridging the gap between yeshiva students and public school students by learning Torah.

Rabbi Steven Burg, International Director of NCSY, joined the students to celebrate the dedication and accomplishments of the outstanding teens. The dinner was hosted by Rachel Gindi, of Los Angeles.

Rabbi Effie Goldberg, Regional Director of West Coast NCSY, declared, "It has been a privilege to see this program flourish and witness the spiritual growth of the teens."

Devorah Lunger, Director of Valley NCSY said that the Valley chapter this year was able to pair-up 20 students from yeshiva and day schools to learn together. The Maimonides Scholar Program is a fellowship program that pairs public and yeshiva students to learn Torah for ten weeks, and study from a Torah text of their choice.

Darren May, a Valley NCSYer at Calabasas High School says, "The Maimonides Scholar Program is a way for teens to grow in their knowledge and love of Hashem through authentic Jewish studies. It is also a perfect environment for students of different schools to form life-long friendships built upon the love of being Jewish. This is an invaluable asset to all Jewish teens."

NCSY Alumnus Alison Snyder, of Los Angeles, described her experience as an active NCSYer and how incredible it is to see NCSY grow in both numbers of teens and programs. Although the Maimonides Scholar Program did not exist when she was an NCSYer, she would have been proud to be part of the program, she declared.

Yom HaShoah In Valley Village with NCSY

Posted by the Jewish Press 5/26/2011

A large crowd, from teens to seniors, heard Auschwitz survivor Gloria Ungar describe her ordeal at Valley Village's Congregation Shaarey Zedek's recent Yom HaShoah commemoration. Among her terrifying experiences, Ungar, just nine years old at the start of the war, spoke about hiding in a basement that was so deprived of oxygen that not even a candle would burn.

With many Valley NCSY students in attendance, NCSY director Devorah Lunger thanked Ungar for her heartfelt words and expressed the importance of passing down her story to our youth. Lunger then called up a panel of 10 Valley NCSY teens to pose questions to Ungar about her life experiences.

West Coast OU honors community leaders and NCSY youth including several Valley NCSYers!

OU WEST COAST HOLDS ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET JUNE 22 HONORING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND NCSY YOUTH

The Orthodox Union West Coast Region and West Coast NCSY will be holding their Annual Awards Banquet on Tuesday, June 22 at the Sephardic Temple in Westwood.

The banquet will honor Ruth and Seth Berkowitz of Beverlywood and Dr. Steve and Linda Tabak of Beverlywood with the OU President’s Leadership Award. It will also present the OU Community Leadership Award to David and Debbi Schultz of Beverlywood. NSCY Young Leadership Awardees include Nissana Boxstein of Valley Village, Perri Lurie of Beverlywood, Noah Small of Beverlywood and Benny Statman of Beverlywood.

Following an international smorgasbord dinner beginning at 5:45p.m., the program is to begin at 7:30p.m. Chazzan Natanel Baram will be performing, along with video presentations in addition to the award presentation. The Sephardic Temple is located at 10500 Wilshire Boulevard.

The banquet represents a milestone for Rabbi Alan Kalinsky, as he celebrates 25 years as the Director of the OU West Coast Region and organizer of these events.

According to Rabbi Kalinsky, “Our annual awards banquet is a fitting conclusion to a very exciting and impressive year of programs and activities. The excitement that we have on this evening is a culmination of so many wonderful things that has seen our organization reach out to teens, young professional couples, empty nesters as well forging ties with synagogue, rabbinic and lay leadership. Thus, tonight's event is an opportunity to recognize those individuals who have made a difference in our community.”

“We salute Seth and Ruth Berkowitz, Steve and Linda Tabak -- both with the President's Award in recognition of the leadership that they have provided to their respective synagogues; to Debbie and David Schultz for their leadership of many synagogue and community-based programs. It is a special privilege to acknowledge the four young NCSY leaders who have been singled out for their leadership skills and capabilities.”

“So, in a sense, this year's banquet has a great deal of excitement because it builds upon the successes of previous years and bodes well for the future.”

About the Honorees:

• Seth and Ruth Berkowitz: Seth and Ruth moved to Los Angeles in 2000 and have had an enormous impact on the local Orthodox community and the West Coast Region. They were welcomed by the community with open arms and still maintain a sense of gratitude for their greeting. Seth served as President of the Young Israel of Century City and is the incoming President of Maimonides Academy. Ruth is on the board of Bnei Akiva and The Mikvah Society of Los Angeles.

• David and Debbie Schultz: David is on the board of Young Israel of Century City and the OU’s West Coast Region. He is a former chairman of the OU’s West Coast Torah Convention and the West Coast Region’s Institute of Public Affairs and is a former board member of Beth Jacob Congregation and Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy. Debbie served for ten years as an officer of B’nai David Judea Congregation.

• Dr. Steve and Linda Tabak: Steve is the Chairman of the Board at Beth Jacob Congregation, after serving four years as President. He is also a board member of the OU, BJE, and Hillel Council of Greater Baltimore. Linda has been actively involved at the Shalhevet School. Both have served on boards of schools and synagogues in the community.

• Nissana Boxstein: Nissana has served as Valley NCSY President for the past two years, bringing enthusiasm and dedication to guide her peers.

• Perri Lurie: Perrie has been an active participant in Yachad, NCSY Regional Conferences and the Maimonides Scholars Program. She has worked to develop religious commitment in day school students.

• Noah Small: Noah serves on the NCSY Regional Board, and has also served on the City Board. He has been an active member growing up in this community, having attended Maimonides Academy and YULA High School, where he just graduated. Noah will be attending yeshiva in Israel this year before continuing his studies at Yeshiva University.

• Benny Statman: Benny first became involved with NCSY at a regional Shabbaton in ninth grade and was particularly moved by the Havdallah service. The following year, he attended NCSY Kollel, and has taken an active part in the NCSY community, pushing himself to reach his full potential. Benny just graduated from YULA and is planning on attending Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel next year before continuing his studies at Yeshiva University.

For more information and to register, email the OU West Coast office at westcoast@ou.org or call 310-229-9000 ext. 200

www.ou.org

Orthodox Jewish Chaplaincy Board Honored

(L-R) OJCB Director and Senior Chaplain Howard Winkler; Chaplains Israel Hirsch and Gavriel Cohen; Sheriff Lee Baca; Lt. Joseph Badali; Nutritionist Lillian Saldana; and OJCB Executive Administrator Chaplain Devorah Lunger.

Orthodox Jewish Chaplaincy Board Honored

Date: Wednesday, April 28 2010

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca recognized members of the Orthodox Jewish Chaplaincy Board (OJCB) and members of the LASD Food Services Unit who've worked vigorously to set up and maintain a kosher food program for Jewish inmates. An awards ceremony took place in Baca's office at Sheriff's Headquarters in Monterey Park. Baca commended the OJCB director, Chaplain Howard Winkler, OJCB Chaplains Rabbi Israel Hirsch, Rabbi Gavriel Cohen and Rabbi Shimon Raichik, and the OJCB's executive administrator, Chaplain Devorah Lunger, for "dedicated and outstanding service to the Sheriff's Department" and "for ministering to the needs of inmates, educating our law enforcement constituency, and providing religious support and spiritual guidance."

The sheriff presented certificates to Lieutenant Joseph A. Badali and Lillian Saldana, MPA, RD, of the Food Services Unit. Winkler presented Baca with a plaque from the OJCB, "In recognition of outstanding assistance, continued support and endorsement of the Orthodox Jewish Chaplaincy Board." Winkler also presented plaques to Badaliand Saldana from the OJCB, which read, "In recognition of your outstanding contribution of time, talent and energy to the Kosher Food Program at the Los Angeles County Jails. Your hard work and personal responsibilities have had a positive impact on the lives of the needy and those who are truly dependent upon your actions."

OJCB chaplains regularly visit Jewish inmates in many of the LASD jail facilities located throughout the sprawling 4,082 square- mile county. There are approximately 20,000 inmates in the county jail system. Nearly 100 of those inmates are Jewish, and many of them are served by OJCB chaplains.

OU Honors Devorah & Yanky Lunger

Valley NCSY 2009 Chapter Video

West Coast OU to honor Devorah & Yanky Lunger with the Youth Leadership Award on June 23

Orthodox Union - www.ou.org

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OU To Honor West Coast Region, West Coast NCSY, and Beth Jacob Cong., June 23

On Tuesday, June 23, the West Coast Region of the Orthodox Union will hold its Annual Awards Banquet celebrating two 40th anniversaries: that of the Orthodox Union’s West Coast Region and of West Coast NCSY. In addition, one of the synagogues most responsible for the success and growth of the Region, Beth Jacob Congregation of Beverly Hills, will also be honored at the Banquet.

The event will be held in Sephardic Temple in Beverly Hills, 10500 Wilshire Boulevard, Westwood. The dinner will begin at 5:45 p.m. with an international buffet and sushi bar, followed by the program at 7:30 p.m. and a Viennese table at 8:45 p.m.

Rabbi Steven Weil will be present in two capacities: as the outgoing Senior Rabbi of Beth Jacob Congregation and the incoming Executive Vice President of the OU, where he officially begins his tenure on July 1. Rabbi Steven Burg, International Director of NCSY, will also attend the dinner and present the NCSY Leadership Award to Devorah and Yanky Lunger, Directors of the Valley chapter of West Coast NCSY. The Lungers served under Rabbi Burg when he was based in Los Angeles, before his current position at OU headquarters in New York.

Rabbi Alan Kalinsky, OU West Coast Director, declared, “We are celebrating a milestone event in the history of the OU and NCSY on the West Coast. In celebrating the establishment of NCSY’s presence in 1969, we are paying homage to the past, present, and future of the organization. We are honoring the Region’s founders, both those who have passed away and those who are still vibrant leaders in our community today; acknowledging the teens who took an active role in leading NCSY and who are now adults and communal leaders; and Devorah and Yanky Lunger, who can serve to represent both the present and the future of NCSY.”

Rabbi Kalinsky continued, “It’s appropriate that Rabbi Weil will be speaking in the first official capacity for the OU on the West Coast at the Banquet, as he served at Beth Jacob Congregation for nine years before his current position at the OU. I’m glad that we can acknowledge Beth Jacob along with NCSY, as NCSY’s offices were housed at the synagogue for many years. Beth Jacob has been a stalwart congregation, always supporting the OU and NCSY, and thankfully, other synagogues in Los Angeles in particular and throughout the Region have followed its exemplary lead to be involved in the support of the OU.”

Rabbi Burg declared, “This event serves as a tribute to the constancy, growth, and vitality of Jewish life and the Orthodox Union along the West Coast. We all owe a great deal to the visionaries who first established the OU and NCSY there, and have seen that the organization has thrived over the last forty years. Beth Jacob Congregation is an example of another model institution that has served as a beacon of innovation, Talmud Torah (Torah study), and inspiration, particularly under the guidance of Rabbi Steven Weil.”

Among the honorees of the night’s event include the founders of the OU. They are: Sigi a”h and Jean Bardach; Max and Sandy Candiotty; Sanford and Beverly Deutsch; David and Pnina Dror; Emil and Jenny Fish; Dr. Jerry and Jean Friedman; Jack a”h and Rachel Gindi; Ernie and Regina Goldberger; Rabbi Marvin and Malka Hier; Rabbi Reuven and Miriam Huttler; Robert and Annie Ives; Leon and Harriet Katz; Earl and Dorothy Korchak; Sam and Bertie Krieger; Rabbi Maurice and Shirley Lamm; Martin and Elizabeth Nachimson; Jack and Gitta Nagel; Joseph and Adina a”h Russak; Lee and Anne Samson; Sam and Estelle a”h Samson; David and Fela Shapell; and Manny a”h and June Stern.

A tribute journal will be distributed at the event. Journal ad categories range in price from $50,000 (Master Builder) to $150. Those who contribute $600 or more are entitled to two dinner reservations and a journal ad.

For more information, contact 310-229-9000 or Westcoast@ou.org.