JOYous CHAI LIGHTS April 2009

JOYous CHAI LIGHTS
April 2009 ~ Nissan 5769

BlesSings to you for a meaningful Passover and journey from slavery to freedom.
"Then Miriam the Prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a timbrel in her hand,
and all the women went out after her with timbrels & dances." Exodus 15:20
Shabbat shalom. See you in shul.

Joy Krauthammer
Gila Rena Tzohara

SHALOM CHEVRE,

If anyone knows how I can make CHAI LIGHTS more accessible to you and easily readable, with all my colorful formatting, maybe on a blog, without my sending individually to each of you the whole CHAI LIGHTS, please let me know.
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Please ask The Compassionate One for healing blessings, MiSheberach for all those you love, for healing comfort of body and soul.

The next five paragraphs are the same as last month.

I am happy to share with you my JOYous CHAI LIGHTS of upcoming Shabbats, Chagim, mostly LA Jewish Renewal and post-denominational spiritual events, classes & the ARTS, plus...
I only write about the events that I know and love. Not the shuls I used to go to, nor the ones I haven't yet gone to, nor the ones I intentionally don't go to. Thus mine is a partial listing and not 'impartial'.
It's where I love to be and invite you to join me there in joy along the path to The Tree of Life and Four Worlds-- spirit, mind, heart & body.

Monthly, I write this large mailing, my gift to Chevre, from my Porter Ranch kitchen table looking East to Jerusalem, and no one but I proof it. I hand click each recipient, no lists. (UNSUBSCRIBE-- Let me know.)

PLEASE FORWARD CHAI LIGHTS TO YOUR FRIENDS so they too can enjoy with you, spiritual Renewal Judaism. Most of what I include here is NOT included in other local media. Click on underlined LINKS below for full updated stories of events & some photos. I love it when at an event I meet someone and they tell me they are present because a friend had forwarded CHAI LIGHTS to them.

Exceptional Chai Lights (i.e. retreats, ARTS, concerts, books) are mostly at beginning of this list and some are at the end, and ongoing Chai Lights events (i.e. shuls, minyans, museums, classes) are mostly in the middle. Please read Outside LA, and my Personal Note at every end of CHAI LIGHTS to learn of my mamash gevaldt rabbis and other teachers or teachings that I love. Last is best. (Really not as chaotic as it may look.)

Having Publisher's prerogative, I invite you to my many activities, and share them here. You can even hire me to play passionate percussion and Miriyahm for Rosh Chodeshes, Women's Passover Seders, Reb Shlomo Carlebach,z'l concerts or other spiritual events. I play for shuls and events throughout LA. Contact me if you want to invite KINDRED SPIRITS, my 20 member percussion group of REMO friends to join you, or if you want OPEN TO WONDER, my divine band, for your spiritual services.

If your community desires a sound healer, I'm available-- Sounds of Joy. I travel with my crystal and Tibetan singing bowls,bells and gongs that I brought back from Tibet. I love playing them for meditation, vibrational massage, yoga, dance, and homeopathic healing. In addition, I continue to offer Kabbalistic Four World workshops on "Joy."
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Baruch Dayan HaEmet Blessed is the true Judge
Deepest condolences to the large extended family of Sharon Rose, z'l, beloved wife of Richard Rose, mother of Rebecca (Andy) and sister to Suzanne Roth (Alan). May Sharon's memory be for a blessing. I have known Sharon since NY four decades ago. She was a great teacher and family member. We miss her.
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Deepest condolences to the family of Esta Bachrach, z'l, to husband Jay, and cantorial soloist son Marc and his daughter Laurie, all of B'nai Horin. May Esta's memory be for a blessing. She was a giving woman filled with chesed and a model care-giver.
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Deepest condolences to the entire family of my beloved maternal aunt Edith Hample, z'l, a woman who loved life. I treasure the family memories that I had visiting with her in Atlanta, NY and LA.
Hashem took back the neshamas of holy souls again this month of Adar. They must be needed in Heaven for big jobs.
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If you need good female caregivers, competent ones are available who cared for Estelle, z'l mother of Carole Foley.
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Rabbis Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Debra Orenstein, Wednesday, April 1, 6 pm LA time, host a live 90 minute interactive tele-webinar: When The Soul Asks, "When Do We Eat?": Spiritual Preparation for Your Passover Seder.
Phone or Internet, ask your questions live! Download the recording later. Fundraising for Makom Ohr Shalom. $36. Bonuses: from R. Debra: essay on doing Passover with children & "Seder Solutions" - tips and techniques to enhance your seder. From Reb Zalman: "My favorite melodies and prayers from the Haggadah" - downloadable audio resource.
Makom Ohr Shalom, Registration www.AskRebZalman.com/MOS www.makom.org 818-725-7600
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DOIKAYT, Community /Arts / Yiddish SEDER. LA is Egypt, LA is the Promised Land. Thursday, April 2, 2009, 7:30 pm, Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W Olympic Blvd, LA, 90036
$18, $12 with object* *Bring an object that answers the question: What represents Los Angeles and Passover to you?
RSVP to 213.389.8880 or events@yiddishkayt.org info: www.yiddishkayt.org

Doikayt (do-i-kite).Yiddish. Literally “hereness.” 1. The quality of being present.
2. A Yiddish political philosophy premised upon the struggle for social justice in the place where one resides.

Presented by Yiddishkayt and Jewish Artists Initiative/JAI. Participate in retelling the story of Passover using the stage of present-day LA. Every year at Peysakh we say “once we were slaves but now we are free.” In the spirit of the traditional Seder, Doikayt / hereness invites you to experience these words literally as we travel from slavery towards redemption interpreted through a variety of artistic mediums, including theater, music, dance and the visual arts.
Artists include dance choreographer Andrea Hodos , Cornerstone Theater’s Teatro Jornalero Sin Fronteras (Day Laborer Troupe), performance artist Stacie Chaiken , visual artists Melinda Smith Altshuler and Eileen Levinson, Yiddish singer Cindy Paley & more.
I plan to go, how about you? And I don't speak a bissel Yiddish !
(This sounds like a great experience, similar to what creative, spiritual Sarah's Tent has done for prior Pesachs.)
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Lev Eisha, monthly Shabbat services by women for Women (men invited) has moved to new location at Temple Akiba beginning THIS SHABBAT, April 4, 9:30 am. See details below. 5249 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, 90230.
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Bless The Sun ritual comes around every 28 years. www.blessthesun.org Submit your covenant and art to the website. Study Massechet HaHammah now between Purim and Pesach. Let's bless the sun together early Tuesday morning, April 8th, 14 Nissan. Pesach. "Sun returns to the exact time and place it occupied in the heavens on the fourth day of creation."
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/845105/jewish/Texts.htm
Ritual lovers. I'll be with my Chabad and North Valley shuls at 7 AM at Holly Bernson Park in Porter Ranch. Join me or your own chevres for this rare moment.
JLE is offering the Inner Meaning of Blessing on the Sun, Sunday April 5, 10:45 AM. www.jlela.org
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Pesach is coming a few hours after we bless the SUN and if you want to join a community SEDER, call your local synagogues, CHABADS or Chai Center if you are not joining your family on the other coast. Remember to add the ORANGE and Kos Miriam to the Seder plate.
The first Pesach Seder I had in California was at the loving home of my Chabad rabbi and rebbetzin, Friedman.
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Rabbi David Zeller, z'l of blessed memory, sings his angelic songs, and speaks about Pesach on a DVD by film maker Ruth Broyde-Sharon: http://davidzeller.org/tapes_and_classes/
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CD release - " HA'OROT-THE LIGHTS OF RAV KOOK" by Greg Wall's Later Prophets featuring Renewal Rabbi Itzchak Marmorstein (Rav Kook disciple) reading poetry of Rav Kook. www.haorot.org
CD has 12 poem/songs in various combinations of Hebrew and English as well as 2 instrumental nigunim/melodies that were originally composed and sung by Rav Kook and his circle. (67 minutes of musical Torah) I have not listened.
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Let My People Sing website www.LETMYPEOPLESING.com 818 760-1077 www.craigco.com
Events supporting Darfur action:
April 5, EAT RSVP 323 761-8800 X1217 A Passover Celebration of Music, Song and Spirit. Benefiting Jewish Family Service Food and Hunger Programs .
April 10, SING. Sinai Temple Friday Night Live and Rami Kleinstein concert, www.sinaitemple.org
April 11, PRAY. with Beit T'Shuvah. RSVP 310-204-5200
April 12, WALK. Rabbi Mike Comins walks a canyon with '20-30 Somethings'. RSVP www.ATIDLA.com
Each year Craig Taubman and friends produce the most meaningful spiritual events & I love their One Shabbat Mornings.
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Writing -- Righting Your Life with Dr. Phoebe Frank from Wagner Program, April 23 through May 21. Thursdays, 10:30 - Noon. AJU. Call Judy 310 440-1566 and say HI from Joy. AJU offers great classes each semester. Check out their catalog.

If you missed the Women's Wagner Weekend Retreat, plan for next year at this time. Call to be put on the mailing list. We women had the best time at Brandeis Bardin praying, singing, drumming, dancing, meditating, writing, arting, thinking, eating, and together smiling, laughing and ___. I loved doing my Simchat Chochmah workshop and drumming and playing singing bowls with the women.
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Guitarist wanted: If you know of a "retired guitarist" to accompany a "biblical singing storyteller" resume storytelling, please let me know and I'll forward your name and #.
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Rabbi Jeff Roth is in town for a rare visit at Metivta and also B'nai Horin and AJR/CA, See shuls below for details of Meditations, April 23-25.
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MAZAL TOV to my son-in-law, Brett Freedman, I kvell to say that Brett is running with the inaugural team: Susan G. Komen Boston Marathon for the Cure 10am EST on Monday,April 20, 2009. IT's the Boston Marathon! If you can, please donate $ to the marathon in any amount, we would be so appreciative. Please consider supporting Brett to the finish line, and making a donation to Komen Team 2009 at www.active.com/donate/komenbostonmarathon/brettfreedman
Brett has some fun stories on preparation on his running blog. THANK YOU.
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Western States Jewish History just published their Vol. XLI #3 edition. Mazal Tov & Yasher Koach.
At least 60 Interviews and Articles (and photos) with Descendants of the Early Pioneers of Los Angeles by Dr. Norton B. Stern and edited by David W. Epstein, my former publisher of the Jewish Calendar Magazine. Exactly 25 years ago this month, when David founded LA's only Jewish magazine, David hired me as his Jewish ARTS editor and we are still such buddies that he gifted me this week with the first, hot off the press WSJS journal. (David admitted to me he never understand what I was metaphysically writing about, but his subscribers loved me so he kept me for all the years.) Ask me why I took the magazine job.
If you want to know what happened to beloved Rabbi William Kramer's, z'l, magnificent Judaica collection, ask David & Gladys. David now travels around the US speaking on the Jews of the West and he's good !
Gladys Sturman is co-publisher, and in March I had the pleasure of being with her at Wagner Women's Retreat.
amrabbi@pacbell.net www.WSJHistory.org 818 225-9631
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Rabbi Arthur Segal's website offers a delight. Not only does he have two Jewish Spiritual Renewal books he wrote and is selling, MAZAL TOV , he includes a CARTOON that I LOVE by Steve Greenberg ,illustrating Jewish Spiritual Renewal . There's flutist, Richard Hardy, and myself-- Joy in the purple, both of us Reb Shlomo, z'l musicians, and Alula, (from Ethiopia) and Cantorial soloist Mark Bachrach on shofar; all of us from Rabbi Stan Levy's B'nai Horin during the High Holidays at Brandeis Bardin. Click the link !
http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/ to learn about two books by Rabbi Arthur Segal:
THE HANDBOOK TO JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: A PATH OF TRANSFORMATION FOR THE MODERN JEW
and
A SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL COMPENDIUM TO THE TORAH AND TALMUD
To purchase, visit : http://www.shop.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/main.sc
I saw them listed in Hadassah Magazine this month.
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A Heart Afire - Stories and Teachings of the early Hasidic Masters by Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Netanel Miles-Yepez . New book available with 40% discount.
Reb Zalman founded Jewish Renewal.
http://www.jewishpub.org/product.php?id=312&promocode=HEAR40
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Mazal Tov on the publication of AJU literature professor Rabbi Miriyam Glazer's new book, PSALMS OF THE JEWISH LITURGY: A GUIDE TO THEIR BEAUTY, POWER AND MEANING...a new translation and commentary.
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Jewish Women's Theatre
Check out the schedule of JWT for their current at home theatre season held in the Valley and LA. A dedicated group of women writers and presenters. www.jwt.org
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SAVE THE DATE. Margalit Oved, the Golden State Klezmers and Divahn, Sunday, May 3, 2-5 pm, Temple Aliyah, 6025 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills. $18. Performances and discussion of Jewish Music from Around the World. Sponsored by Temple Aliyah & Shir Ami & Gladys Sturman in memory of husband, Herman,z'l. 818 348-1498 or crosenbluth@swocal.rr.com

THIS IS MAMASH WORTH THE TRIP TO THE VALLEY. Margalit is a Yemenite dancer legend. Galeet Dardashti of Divahn is rockin' divine with her all-gal band. I last heard Galeet play in New Mexico at Kallah. where she brought down the roof. I joyously played timbrel with her and her talented family over two dozen years ago and can send you the photo to prove it. Celebration of Jewish Life produced by impresario Neal Brostoff so we know this is good.
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Tel Aviv in Focus. Photo contest in honor of Tel Aviv's Centennial. Deadline for contest and entries, July 1. www.JewishLA.org/TALApartnership
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SIMCHAT CHOCHMAH is the spiritual journey and ritual celebration on turning at least 60 years. Continue to consciously envision your dreams, transform age-ing beliefs into blesSings, and strive toward attaining greater spiritual heights. How do we face our 'next' era, and then mortality, and redefine values in our lives in desiring to meet our highest potential, and leave our legacy? I would love to offer this to your spiritual community. Write to me to book a date or if you have questions.

AriellaShira Lewis and I are offering SIMCHAT CHOCHMAH April 26. We present "Women as Wisdom Keepers & Mentors, Journeying from Mid-life to Elder & Sage" at the annual Women's Forum, Jewish Federation, San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. Also at KALLAH this summer in Ohio. Join us.
Joy, MBA (UJ) - (Master of Baby Boomer Age-ing, emes ), Serving G*d With Joy, artist, poet, percussionist, Chai Lights publisher, PR consultant, gardener. (I'm a Gemini.)
AriellaShira , MA, SLR, Speech Language Therapist. Facilitator, healing circles, angel on earth.
Both are students of Savina Teubal, z'l, creator of the wisdom ritual, and have studied with Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi's Spritual Eldering Project / Aleph Sage-ing Project.
Many Wonderful Women With Wisdom joined us at Sarah's Tent, LimmudLA, Wagner Women Retreat and AJU workshops and are ready for part II. If you've had part I, let's prepare for part II.
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Joy Shakers. As percussionist for LA synagogues, and events, I'm offering this little workshop on small percussion. See PR at bottom. Please contact me, Joy, for bookings.
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"MIDASH AND MEDICINE " conference, May 11-13, 2009, Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, CA www.midrashandmedicine.org Save the date. Anyone going?
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*GOLDSTAR*: To sign up for FREE info on half-price tickets for events, theatre, music, etc. write:
http://www.goldstar.com/?p=f563067ff27
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When I am drumming I love seeing your smiling hearts and then mine drums in joy with yours.
I always love hearing from YOU and hearing about your spiritual path.

BlesSings of love, SHALOM/peace, prosperity, health and sweetness in the New Year
Joy
"Ivdu Et HaShem B'Simcha"
Serve GYD in Joy

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"And I have loved you with an eternal love,; therefore I have extended loving-kindness to you. I shall yet rebuild you and you shall be rebuilt, O Maiden of Israel; you will yet adorn yourself with drums and go forth in the round-dance of the joyful." (Jeremiah 31:2,3)


LEV EISHA monthly Shabbat, this Sat. April 4, 9:30 AM. LEV EISHA IS ON THE MOVE! As of NOW, April, May & June, Lev Eisha has moved to TEMPLE AKIVA, 5249 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Culver City, 90230. For updates on the locations of future services, please visit the Lev Eisha web site www.leveisha.org , and/or read ads in the LA Jewish Journal paper edition. This service continues to led by Rabbi Toba August and Cindy Paley.
LEV EISHA is where I love to be:
* a monthly creative prayer service for women by women, led by Rabbi Toba August & cantorial soloist - Cindy Paley with world music percussionists - Joy Krauthammer and Chris Gacsi, and soloists - Robin Winston, Mollie Wine & Toby Schwartz (who also chants Torah!). WE have some great new songs for you!
* an exciting, innovative Shabbat service that offers a warm welcoming environment for women seeking to connect with their Judaism - as women.
* a joyous, spiritual sanctuary for women of all ages and affiliation to come together in song, prayer, study, dance, meditation and spiritual growth.
* the first Saturday /Shabbat of every month your other rabbis know where you are.
. www.leveisha.org 310 575-0986
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MAKOM OHR SHALOM EnCHANTing Shabbats in Valley, Fridays April 3, 4/17, 7:45 pm. Other dates in LA. See Website. Rabbis Debra Orenstein & Monty Turner. Dana Stone-Goldberg, W. Ellen Fleischmann & Mitzi Schwarz-- soloists, Alan Klein, horn, David Platus, clarinet, Joy Krauthammer, percussionist, and Eli Lester, drummer, Steve Berman, harmonica. 5619 Lindley @ Burbank, NW corner in host church, Tarzana. Shabbat dinners, Havdalahs, huvurahs, healing services. www.makom.org
New people are always greeted at the door and invited to play small percussion. Reb Debra is enchanting as she chants Torah.
Check our Reb Debra's website www.RabbiDebra.com for audio CD's of Debra and Reb Zalman. CD's with valuable inspiration and tools for spiritual exploration. Hear her live with Reb Zalman on the web, April 1. See details above.
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B'NAI HORIN, Shabbat once monthly services April 4, 10 am - 1:30 pm, Rabbi Stan Levy, Associate Rabbi Laura Owens, Marc Bachrach, cantorial soloist. You may find me there with my timbrel in hand. SHABBAT CELEBRATIONS: May 2nd, May 30th - Shavuot, June 20th. Passover Dinner, 2nd Night, April 9th.

SPECIAL EVENTS: Shabbat Event combined with AJR/CA (Academy of Jewish Religion) with guest Rabbi Jeff Roth, Friday Erev Shabbat April 24 (only a meal charge in advance) at Hillel, UCLA, (great opportunity to be with the students at AJR, and Sat. April 25th, 10 am - 2 pm in Carole's garden.
Regular Contribution: $15 B'nai Horin members, $20 guests. Please bring a salad, dessert or drinks to share or contribute $5 toward the main dish. A blesSing to be in Carole Foley's home garden, 11040 Queensland, West LA, one light south of National, 1 1/2 blocks east of Sepulveda Blvd. www.bnaihorin.com 310 441-4434.

In 1994 I'd spent a mamash gevaldt blissful four full weeks back to back at Elat Chayyim (Renewal's summer camp for Jewish adults). I asked Director Jeff Roth if I could please borrow his car and drive the few miles to Woodstock, saying, "I used to be a hippie." Jeff responded to me, "What do you mean, 'used to be?'", as he handed me the keys to his car. I'm forever grateful.
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N'SHAMA MINYAN, Rabbi Nina Bieber Feinstein & Cindy Paley Aboody - cantorial soloist and guitarist, Joy Krauthammer - world music percussionist, and guest musicians & soloists. Shabbat morning, April 25, in the artistic stained glass Lopaty Chapel, 9:30 am. May 12 Lag B'Omer, prayer, song, dance, spirit, study. Sisterhood minyan led by and for women and all are invited. Check the VBS website or call the shul to confirm dates & time for the next Women's Shabbat service is (Not always Sat. AM) and join us. Meets at Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino, 91436. 818 788-6000 or Susan: 818 343-3078
www.vbs.org While at VBS, check out all their daily many varied fantastic spiritual offerings with many wonderful rabbis and cantors .
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METIVTA, Friday, and new Sat. services. Lay led meets both in LA and the Valley for Shabbat services, Shabbat dinner, meditations and classes. Fills quickly. Call for dates and events. I love their Contemplative Kabbalat Shabbat service; candle lighting, prayer, chanting, niggunim, a pot luck dinner and a discussion of the weekly parsha. Founded by Rabbi Jonathan Omer-Man. I enjoyed recently serving as their percussionist. RSVP to Gilla at gilla@metivta.org or call (818) 990-7942 . Metivta@metivta.org 818 654-9293. www.metivta.org/
Metivta's Persian Purim party was very meaningful and fun. Thanks to the Persian sisters, Gilla & Orit, who beautifully read and translated from my old Hebrew Megillah parchment scroll.

METIVTA presents Rabbi Jeff Roth & his new book, Jewish Meditation Practices for Everyday Life , Thursday, April 23, 7 - 9 pm, Wilshire Boulevard Irmas Campus (at Olympic Blvd. & Barrington Ave., W. LA, the Fleisch Room (room 260) 2nd. floor). R. Jeff Roth is the director of the Awakened Heart Project for Contemplative Judaism and was co-founder of Elat Chayyim. He introduces practices designed to open the heart of compassion. Questions, answers, and silent practice.

For Rabbi Jeff, RSVP Marilyn Zweifach, Marilyn@Metivta.org or 310 397-1411. Space limited.
Rabbi Roth's book: http://jewishlights.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JL&Product_Code=978-1-58023-397-2&Category_Code=S09 .
Jeff is with B'nai Horin and Academy of Jewish Religion on Shabbat, April 24,25.

(To experience year-round Jewish Renewal retreats, visit Elat Chayyim at Isabella Freedman Center. I love it there.)
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AHAVAT TORAH Congregation. Weekly lively Shabbat service and pot-luck buffet luncheon. Sat. 9 am teaching (in fireside lounge) and 10 am Shabbat service with Israeli-born Rabbi Miriam Hamrell (AJR graduate), Gary Levine (opera-trained) & other cantorial soloists. Guest Torah teachers. Len Felder, author and therapist led this last Shabbat teaching on Pirkei Avot, and I hope I make it to the next few teachings that he facilitates at 9 AM. Participatory musical worship service. Held at the Village Glen Lutheran Church, 343 Church Lane, 5-6 blocks south of Sunset, north of Montana, just west of the 405 Freeway. Brentwood, LA. Park in the South parking lot or on the streets.

I love it that member Sherry loans me her timbrel when I show up. Take a look at the AT website that Julie prepares as it is filled with community events in full color that members are involved in and you can join them. This is a social-action community and they warmly greet you at the door, inside, and offer Torah honors which feel really good.
www.ahavattorahcongregation.org
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MALIBU Jewish Center & Synagogue weekly shabbat services with Rabbi Judith HaLevy & (Argentinean) Cantor Marcelo Gindlin. Go early for Rabbi Judith's deep Torah teachings. Yasher Koach to Cantor Marcelo for participating in the services at Auschwitz. Sarah's Tent people study & davven at Malibu and love the rabbi who co-founded Sarah's Tent. 310 456-2178 www.mjcs.org
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THE ONE SOUL MINYAN, Monthly Saturdays, 10 am, April 18 with Rabbi Mark Borovitz of Beit T'Shuvah, rehab. center, exhilarating musical service held at Valley Beth Shalom and most months, third Shabbat. VBS Rabbi Ed Feinstein and other visiting rabbis participate in service. 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino 818 788-6000 www.vbs.org I truly appreciate this intimate meaningful service and when I don't bring my timbrel the pianist loans me hers. I wish we had more Shabbats each month so I can davven everywhere.
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ONE SHABBAT MORNING with Craig Taubman & wonderful musicians at Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. Call or google to confirm date of musical 10 am service with 9 am shiur sometimes, several times yearly. I love this service. Sat. April 25, May 23.
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OHR HAMAKOR / Light from The Source, A Home for Holistic Kabbala with Rabbi T'mimah Ickovits (Aleph graduate) deciphers essential wisdom from Kabbalistic traditions, showing its relevance for today. Serving as a teacher, Mashpia Ruhanee; Spiritual Guide, Rabbi T'mimah leads custom ritual events and serves as a prayer leader. She just returned from leading national retreats. Yasher koach.
The Siddur; Meditation, Magic and Prayer- 3-5PM in a private home in Mar Vista or join us via Telephone. Designed to rock your prayer life! Weekly 8, 2 hour classes $216. ends April 20th
RebbeT@KabbalahTmimah.org www.KabbalahTmimah.org 310 450-8808
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A SHABBAT Meditation Circle with K'vod Wieder (AJU rabbinic student), 10 AM -12 PM, April 4, at Valley Beth Shalom, Teachers' Lounge, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91436. 310 424-0219. www.opentowonder.com
Our Open To Wonder Shabbat service (from AJU) and band is available to tour locally and bring joy and wonder to your service.
OPEN TO WONDER is at Brandeis Bardin for a Shavuot retreat through Shabbat. Thurs. - Sat, May 28-30.
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OPEN DOOR SHABBAT with the Owens and Lesters on alternating months. Celebrate and welcome the Sabbath Queen monthly 2nd Erev Shabbats, Fridays, 6:30 PM. Shayna & Eli Lester or Linda & Gerry Owens host each monthly Open Door Shabbat. Call them to confirm time, date, place in Santa Monica. Wonderful musicians and friends from all Renewal chevre including Sarah's tent. RSVP and advise what potluck vegetable, salad, fish or dessert you will share. Parking permits needed at Owen's home, so come by first to get permit.
What a mamash holy gift to us that our blessed friends open their doors for Shabbat to create sacred space for us all. RSVP.
Rev. Shayna Lester, elishayna@earthlink.net or 310 395-9529 for gerrylinda@aol.com
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HAPPY MINYAN meets regularly for all Jewish observances and classes in the 'Hood'. We founded this Orthodox minyan when our beloved Reb Shlomo Carlebach, zt'l died 14 years ago. The chevre continue to meet and learn in Shlomo's light. It was the greatest blesSing in the universe for me to be his percussionist and personal chauffeur. Meets 9218 Pico Blvd. in a karate studio. Lots of visiting scholars. Check out their musical Havdalahs. http://www.happyminyan.org
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CHAI CENTER. Call for Pesach SEDER reservations. Shabbat dinners for 60 !!! strangers, holidays, Sukkot events and women's events. Schwartzie and Olivia (Schwartz). info@chaicenter.org www.chaicenter.org I love this Orthodox family and had a wonderful time with them meeting old and new friends. They were best friends with Reb Shlomo, zt'l. Do you know that Schwartzie is an ordained Chabad rabbi?
--
Video of Olivia Schwartz . http://www.chaicenter.org/chai_way_video.htm I love Olivia and I loved seeing this new video.
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Jewish Learning Exchange. So many great visiting scholars from Israel teach daily at JLE. 512 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 857-0923. Can we have this in the Valley? Ask to receive their mailings.
info@jlela.com http://www.jlela.com
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Women's Week. Ongoing spiritual activities and classes in the Orthodox North Hollywood area with wonderful teachers. Nina from The Happy Minyan created this wonderful program. 310 925-1132. jwomenevents@roadrunner.com
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Joy Shakers
"Make a joyful sound unto Hashem. Serve G*d with Joy." -Psalm 100:1-2. "Let your hands take you where your feet can't go." - Joy Krauthammer
Take a sound journey with Joy Shakers.* Learn to creatively play EGGS and small, shaken percussion instruments from indigenous world cultures. Explore shaker rhythms, tempos, patterns. Shape sounds, and experiment with body and shaker movements and positions. Shake, swing, swirl and shuckle your shakers in the Four Worlds--spirit, mind, heart and body.

Embrace the shaker beat; expand your vitality, joy, love, gratitude, silence. Express passion--ecstasy and subtlety. Dance with the Divine. Reveal and share your blesSings and abunDance. Inspire others with sacred connection to the Creator.
Booking for Joy Shakers workshop, please write to me either at my personal address or joyofwisdom1@gmail.com
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REMO Music Center is offering KIDS free drum circles monthly on first SUNDAYS, from 11 - 11:45 AM. Check first before going. www.remo.com Also every Sat. at 11 am. Adult drumming every week night. Check web for amazing activities. Drums provided at every event and circle. 818 982-0461, 7308 Coldwater, North Hollywood. Say hi to Mike & Jerry from Joy. Jerry told me that my "drum shtick are my stories." REMO's Women's Drum Day coming in July.
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The Shalom/Salaam Film Salon, Sponsored by Workman's Circle and Brit Tzedek v'Shalom. B'nai Horin and Renewal friend, Lawrence Feinberg, organizer. The Workmen's Circle 310 552-2007. circle@circlesocal.org 1525 S. Robertson Blvd.., LA (south of Pico) $5 suggested donation. Light refreshments. Call for current schedule

Shtibl Minyan, lay-led, meets weekly, 1525 S. Robertson Blvd., LA (south of Pico) at Workman's Circle location on Sat. Mornings. www.shtibl.com
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Skirball Cultural Center. Check out all the Jewish exhibits, concerts, theatre, dance, film, lectures, CAFE Z, events. Great Adult Learning program. Cart Sandwiches/salads sold at events.
Bill Frisell's Disfarmer Project: Musical Portraits from Heber Springs, featuring Viktor Krauss, Greg Leisz, and Jenny Scheinman. Thursday, April 2, 8 pm. Jazz guitarist Frisell performs his compositional suite inspired by the life and work of American artist Mike Disfarmer. tix $20-30.
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In Search of the Bene Israel, Saida Shepard, Monday, April 20, 7:30 pm. Discussion and screening of new documentary.
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Women's History Month and free matinee classic film screenings. April, 7, 14, 1:30 pm.
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Lights, Camera, Action, Comic Book Heroes of Film and Television. Ends Aug. 9.

Skirball just presented Pharaoh's Daughter which was phenomenal; so exciting with the most talented eclectic musicians. I loved them. Try to hear them if they return from NY.
www.skirball.org 310 440-4500 Sepulveda Pass @ Skirball Drive (Mulholland Drive) Free on Thursdays.
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Learn Hebrew with Israeli teacher, Gilla Nissan, privately in her Valley home. You may know Gilla from AJU/UJ or Metivta. I love accompanying Gilla at special Metivta's services. Tuesdays from 7-8:30 PM.
Info Gilla29@msn.com or 818 990-7942
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Cantor Michael Russ teaches B'nei Mitzvot in the Valley. www.LChayimservices.com
Michael tutored me to read my Torah birth parsha for my Simchat Chochmah. 818 360-3468.
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OUTSIDE LA

Going to Jerusalem? The ultimate calendar of events is published by Rabbi Yaacov Fogelman. Say HI from Joy. in LA
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ALEPH Kallah Registration Now Open! Early bird discount registration.
The 2009 Kallah, “Living in the Light of G!d: Making Every Day Holy” takes place this year at Ohio Wesleyan University. June 29 - July 5, 2009. Fabulous lineup of teachers, talented prayer leaders, artists, musicians, etc.

www.aleph.org/kallah.htm , or request a hardcopy by emailing: kallahadmin@rcn.com
Don't miss this amazing biennial event! I've been going since 1993 and totally love Kallah. This summer AriellaShira & I offer our Simchat Chochmah workshop, and I love singing in and accompanying Shir Ecstasy Jospel Choir directed by Sharon Alexander.
If anyone wants to experience Jospel, Sharon (from Switzerland) can bring it to your community in the two weeks before Kallah.
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WOMEN'S KABBALAH CIRCLE ~ Kabbalah of the Heart & Womens Healing Circles. Scheduled Nov. - May in PALM DESERT, CA for info contact: Sarah's Tent member Lois~Raphaela Aurleey, Lois K. Rubin, Ph.D. Mind~Body~Spirit Healer, Meditation Instructor (760) 297-2164.
I love Lois. For those of you with family and friends in the Palm Springs, or doing mineral spas, do contact Lois for a divine experience.
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Rabbi Nadya Gross offers her wisdom school: “Secrets My Grandmother Told Me”. This two-year training program draws upon an evolving kabbalistic tradition, rooted in ancient wisdom, and transmitted orally through the generations by our grandmothers. Suggested by Reb Zalman. Joining the next group of initiates who will begin the journey in May.
Info: Ruach Ha’Aretz website: www.ruachhaaretz.com, and click on Grandmother’s picture. You may apply online, or contact Reb Nadya through the website with your questions. Rabbi Nadya Gross, co-Project Director, (I love Reb Nadya & her family and I am blessed to know them for three decades.)
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JOY's personal note

Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) produced a one-hour documentary "A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World," which argues that the application of Jewish values is essential to respond to global warming and other environmental threats and to help shift our imperiled planet to a sustainable path. Highly acclaimed, by both Jews and non-Jews. "A Sacred Duty" can be found at www.ASacredDuty.com Complimentary copies of DVDs can be requested. Information about these issues can be found in many articles at JewishVeg.com/schwartz.
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We have so many divine Jewish teachers who are accessible to us. Write them to receive their weekly mails, or tune in their live webcasts. Who are your favorites?

Read Sarah's Tent and Malibu's JC&S Gerry Owens' Torah parsha commentary. I love his psychological direction. http://web.mac.com.gerrylinda for Reflections from Above . Write and ask Gerry (Open Door Shabbat host) to be on his list.
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To receive weekly deep Chassidic Torah Parsha teaching, contact Rachel Elana from the Happy Minyan. tikkunrachel@gmail.com
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My rebbe Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen sends out his Hazon - Our Universal Vision Torah teachings. Ask me for his e-address or google Hazon. For years I study with this Jerusalem based teacher and continue to be deeply inspired and supported in my spiritual growth by Reb Yosef.
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I love receiving the teachings from Miriam (AKA Mindy) Ribner. Write to Miriam and ask for her deep holiday teachings. Mindy is a disciple of Reb Shlomo, z'l, and she has been journeying around the world sharing her Kabbalistic meditations and counsel. Please see www.kabbalahoftheheart.com
For more information call 646-382-4696 or email Miriam@kabbalahoftheheart.com.
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Cyber class NOW & ongoing: Talmud-Torah-Tanach From an Ethical/Spiritual View Point with Rabbi Dr. Arthur Segal.
Sponsored by Hebrew College, a yeshiva for Rabbinic and Judaic studies. Online class is Jewish Spiritual Renewal based, transdenominational, interactive and mailed each Sunday. You can audit and participate in the class for free . E -mail RabbiASegal@aol.com for enrollment. Rabbi Segal is author of "The Handbook of Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew." A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud, " and "Spiritual Wisdom of the Talmudic Sages."

Arthur has a great sense of humor, compassion, chesed and understanding of human nature. Arthur always generously invites everyone to his family's home for Shabbat and holidays. I love it that this rabbi spends holidays going to senior facilities to bring joy and helps others to return to their Judaism.
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I love the deep teachings from the Jerusalem's Reb Carlebach Yeshivah www.shlomoyeshiva.org
shulim26@shlomoyeshiva.org
Write to Rabbi Sholom Brodt to receive his weekly teaching and see their video class schedules.
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Former LA teacher now living in the desert, fine Judaic artist, Michael Jacobs, for years has written a weekly Torah commentary. Interesting points and gematria from a scribe's point of view. Michaelojacobs@roadrunner.com
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Knowing Heart, Daat Tevunos by Ramchal with Yad Avraham's Rabbi Kalatsky. LIVE, Wednesday 10 am LA, 1 PM NY. Torah live, Tuesdays 9 AM LA time. Rav translates all the Hebrew. I love learning with him.
Watch live online at: http://www.yadavraham.org/Default.aspx?mediatitle=http://www.yadavraham.org/asx/live.asx&tabid=62
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I love Daily Dose from www.Chabad.org . You too can subscribe to this daily teaching of the Rebbe, revised by R. Tzvi Freeman. RABBI FREEMAN is scholar in residence for PASSOVER at Brandeis Bardin. For wonderful writings by Jewish women, also read www. TheJewishWoman.org on Chabad's web site. They include my writings. I've been a Chabadnic ever since I met the Rebbe in 1970 and he gave me a dollar.
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BlesSings to you for joy (gila, rena, ditza, simcha, chedva, sasson, tzachala),
JOY
Gila Rena Tzohara