J-CHAI

May, Los Angeles, CA -- Etta continues to receive many inquiries into the program, and interview for potential residents continue! Also, the full J-CHAI Launch Meeting held on March 29th is now viewable on YouTube (click icon below)!

Youth Programs

May 13-14, Valley Village, CA -- Etta Israel enjoyed a *fabulous* Shabbaton at Shaarey Zedek (thank you Jen & Eliot!), with lots of fun, friends, songs and Shabbat magic. Friday night dinner was held at the Levine's home, and Shabbat lunch at the Forman family. Avremel gave a speech to the entire shul and after prayers, the group played Guess Who which ended with.... a surprise Color War breakout! After a scavenger hunt, won by the Red Team, and lunch with a lot of cheering, everyone enjoyed skits and discussion groups followed by more Color War games back at the synagogue. Finally, there was the announecment of the Color War winner.... the Blue Team! But everyone got gold champion medal necklaces because a good time was had by all. To mark the end of a beautiful Shabbat, Jeremy Schaechter led a Havdalah ceremony with music and song. 'Till next time...

Residential Services

May 5, Valley Village, CA -- All three Group Homes got together for a pizza party! Everyone had a great time and enjoyed being together.

May, Valley Village, CA -- Enjoy some pictures from Group Home 2!

Educational Services

May 8, Los Angeles, CA -- Mrs. Penny Pflaster, Educational Director of the Ner Yaakov classroom, conducted a parenting workshop for the class parents entitled "Our Children and the Internet."

May 11, Los Angeles, CA -- The Ner Yaakov class visited the Los Angeles Holocaust Museum as a culminating activity for the boys' history unit on the Holocaust.

May 15, Los Angeles, CA -- The annual Ner Shoshana Dessert Reception, hosted by Steve & Lorraine Spira to raise funds for Etta's special classrooms, was a wonderful (and delicious!) evening. The turnout was great, and besides for the desserts, everyone was treated to words from Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, as well as from two boys from one of the classrooms! The girls prepared a display of beautiful, hand-made Hallah plates, which went home with them after the event. This project was especially meaningful to them as they have been making Hallah to take home every week.

May 23, Los Angeles, CA -- The Ner Yaakov boys will be going on a Lag Baomer trip (celebrating the 33rd day of the countdown to Shavuot, holiday of receiving the Torah) with the rest of the junior high boys.