LA Aish HaTorah Community

Dear Community,

We still need sponsors for this week’s Kiddush and Seudah Shlishis. Please consider sponsoring in honor of a Simcha, a yahrzeit, or just to support AishLA.

To find out more, reply to this email.

Thank you!

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

Dear Community,

Our new Aish Community Directory is almost finished! Please take a moment to find yourself in the attached directory and to let me know if all the information is correct.

If your info needs to be added or changed please let me know! The deadline for changing or submitting information is December 15, 2011.

Thank you!

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

Dear Community,

Please daven for Howard Witkin’s mother: Bryna Rochel bas Hannah Leah.

She was in a major car accident yesterday.  She's in Northridge Hospital for a month or so and then rehab.

Thank you!

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

Dear Community Members,

Make a donation to Aish,

And it won't cost you a penny!

On November 26, 2011, American Express is offering all cardholders a fantastic opportunity. 

When you donate $25.00 to Aish LA with your AMEX card, you will receive a one-time $25.00 statement credit for your donation. You can do this with every American Express card you hold, and can even use multiple cards on the same account.

I know this sounds too good to be true,

but we have verified this with American Express.

You make a tax-deductible donation to Aish with your AMEX card and American Express gives it right back to you! There is no purchase necessary in order to participate in this program.

Here is all you need to do:

Please send an email to Ssazegar@aishla.com with the following information:

• Your full name, address and telephone number
• The full 15-digit American Express account number for each card you register
• Card expiration date for each card
• The 4-digit validation code on the front of each card.

·         Your email address (Amex requires this for this promotion, but you will not receive and solicitations or promotional emails)

All credit card information will be kept confidential.

If you prefer, you can also call 310-278-8672 and provide us with the information listed above.

Your $25.00 donation will be charged

on Saturday night, November 26th.

Within a few days after your card is charged for your $25.00 donation, you will receive a one-time $25.00 statement credit on your card account for every AMEX card you register. Please be aware that this $25.00 credit will only be applied once to each card.

THAT'S IT!

You contribute $25.00 to Aish LA

and it costs you nothing!

Thank you for your support.

Dear Community,

Errol Gerson, a dear friend of Aish, is having major heart surgery today at Cedars.
Please take a moment to daven for the Refuah Shelaim of Aharon ben Elaine.

Thank you,

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

Dear Community,

THIS SHABBOS!
Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to hear world-renowned lecturer, Rabbi Motty Berger.

You can sign up quickly and easily via the following link http://aishlacommunity.com/upcoming-events-at-aishla.
You can also sign up by emailing Menucha@aishla.com or calling 310-278-8672 ext 305.

Dear Community,

Get on board…

Dear Community,

-In order to facilitate a smoother-running and safer childcare program we are putting together a list of all the children involved in the program. Please help us out by sending in the names and ages of your children who are part of the groups on Shabbos.

-The address for the third class of the series with Chana Rochel Schusterman (tonight) is incorrect on the flyer. The correct address is 9358 Airdrome Street (The home of Sarah Weintraub).

Thank you!

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

Dear Community,

This week’s parsha is Chayei Sara in which we read the story of the making of the shidduch of Yitzchok and Rivka.

There is a tradition in many communities to sponsor a Kiddush in the merit of all singles to help them find their beshert. Anyone may help co-sponsor the kiddush this week.

If you would like to be a partner in this mitzvah you may contribute any amount to the Kiddush sponsorship and send the Hebrew name and we will daven for them on Shabbos. Please let me know by Friday morning to get in the bulletin

Thank you!

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

Dear Community,

Below is a summary of our childcare meeting last week. Please take a moment to review it, and especially to read the “Parent Involvement” section.

If you have any questions, comments, or additional suggestions please let me know.

Thank you!

Childcare Meeting, October 31, 2011

High Holiday Childcare:

-Non Jewish nannies just sit around, and don’t provide any educational aspect to the program

-A few years ago, we had parents volunteer (30 minute shifts). This worked very well.

-Outside children (from Helkeinu) made the job much harder. We can barely accommodate our own numbers, so the additional children created chaos. Also, the children were new to the environment and to the program, which also added difficulties.

Possible solution: Have a few nannies as well as parent volunteers. This way if the parent’s don’t sign up (or don’t show up), there is a backup plan. If the parents tell stories and talk about Yom Tov, we can infuse the program with a little Jewish education too during the High Holidays. Create a structured schedule so that the babysitters know where their group should be when.

Space

-We do not have enough space. The Seminar Room used to be a childcare room but is now used for a minyan. Additionally, the Annex has been reduced in size. The little girls’ group is currently using the hallway, which is not conducive for playing and learning.

-With the winter coming up, the children will not be able to spend as much time outside as they currently do.

Possible solutions: The Seminar Room should become the room for the older boys. Sharon Saks had a plan for the Annex. If we move the current divider closer to the alley entrance (almost flush against the wall) and then, put in a second divider, we can split the now larger room into two rooms- one for the babies and toddlers, and one for the little girls.

Structure

-Children seem to be running all over the place.

-Too much free time.

-Especially immediately after davening, there seems to be chaos.

Possible solution: Have a schedule hanging on each door that the counselors follow. Instead of having free play at the end of the program, make sure that the kids are inside when Fredy is setting up Kiddush and when the adults first come out.

Boys

-Boys 12+ wander the halls and go into the other groups (especially the older boys), disrupting the group and refusing to leave when the counselors ask them to.

-There are weeks where there are a lot of boys (up to 20) and only one counselor.

-Bullying is becoming a problem among the boys. There was one incident where a boy brought handcuffs and handcuffed some of the younger boys.

-The older boys run wild during Kiddush. They’re often in the Annex, bullying younger kids and climbing on the bookshelves.

Possible solutions: It is important to get parents involved in cases of bullying, even if it means asking the parent to keep the child home for a few weeks. Boys 12+ should be in shul (we can put an announcement in the bulletin). Boys cannot be in the Annex during Kiddush. We can either put up a sign saying “This room is for little children only,” or we can lock the Annex as soon as the program has finished. Have the counselor provide us with approximate numbers from week to week. If the numbers are indeed so large, we’ll need to hire a second/assisting counselor.

Games and prizes

-Boys have stolen prizes and destroyed games.

-Prizes should be given to the younger children every week and to the older children once every 3-4  weeks. The younger children’s prizes can be small, but they need instant gratification.

-Prizes should change as frequently as possible.

Possible solution: Keep the games and prizes locked up in Rabbi Cohen’s office. If the problem still persists, we may need to involve the parents.

Parent involvement

-Parents seem to have the attitude of “it’s not my problem” once they drop their kids off at shul.

-During Kiddush, parents socialize while their kids run wild. They do not know that the childcare program is technically over and the counselors are off duty.

-If parents see a child acting in an inappropriate way they should inform the parent of the child. If that does not work, Rabbi Cohen should be told.

Possible solution: Let’s make the parents aware! We can publish monthly childcare notices in the bulletin and put out emails. We can also put guidelines at the bottom of each schedule so that the parents know what’s going on. Most importantly, parents should be on the same page as Odeliah and the rest of the counselors so that the children don’t receive any mixed messages.

Miscellaneous ideas and suggestions:

-Let’s resume “Kid of the Week”

-Have parents send in the names of the kids so that the counselors can have a roster of sorts. This is a good thing to have in order to regulate the number of kids, and in case of an emergency.

-Send out reminders, especially before a Holiday, about childcare guidelines. If there’s anything that parents should know pertaining to that specific Holiday, include it. (Ex. No childcare on Simchas Torah).

Dear Community,

-We still need a sponsor for both Kiddush and Seudah Shlishis this week, Parshas Vayera. Please consider sponsoring in honor of a Yahrzeit, a Simcha, or just to support Aish LA. To sponsor, please reply to this email. Looking forward to seeing you on Shabbos!

-Our Shabbaton with Rabbi Motty Berger is coming up in just a few weeks! For more details and to register online: http://aishlacommunity.com/upcoming-events-at-aishla

-A letter from Rabbi Elliot Mathias:

Dear Aish families,

We’ve tried to keep the emails to a minimum about the Jewish Community Heroes Award.  I hope we haven’t overdone it.

There is a little more than 1 week left – the voting is over on November 10^th (next Thursday).  Each person can vote once a day. 

The top 10 vote getters move on to the next round with a chance to win $25,000 for their organization.  Currently I’m in 11^th place and about 30 votes out of 10^th! 

I need your help!!  It’s an easy thing to do – just vote once a day for the next few days! 

Please try to vote once a day until November 10^th so we can secure 10^th place! 

You can vote at http://www.jewishcommunityheroes.org/nominees/profile/elliot-mathias1/

Thank you!!!

PS- Sharon Shenker is in 12^th place and you can vote for her as well every day!  http://www.jewishcommunityheroes.org/nominees/profile/sharon-shenker/

Yasher Koach to everyone who has been voting and will vote moving forward!

Thank you!

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

Dear Community,

The Levaya for Avraham Gordon’s father is today at 1:00 PM at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Ave. 90045.

Followed by Mincha/Maariv at 4:45pm at 9271 Monte Mar Drive.

Wed-Fri:

Shachris will be at 6am at Avraham’s home, 1420 Oakhurst Dr #101 (instead of the shul’s 6am minyan).

Avraham will then sit until noon at his home.

At 2pm, he will be at 9271 Monte Mar Drive.

Mincha/Maariv will be at 4:45 pm (on Monte Mar).

Sunday

Shachris will be at 8am at 1420 Oakhurst Dr. #101

Mincha/Maariv details will be emailed out later in the week.

Monday

Shachris will be at 6am at 1420 Oakhurst Dr #101.

Besoros Tovos,

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

Dear Community

I regret to inform you about the passing of Avraham Gordon’s father, Aharon ben Chaim.  The levaya will be Tuesday, 1:00 PM at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Ave. 90045
Shiva details will follow.

Besoros tovos,

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

.

Bulletin correction:

Mincha next week is at 4:40 pm NOT 5:40 pm.

Good Shabbos,

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

Dear Community,

-As of last night, the Eruv was still down and there is no certain answer whether it will be completed in time for Shabbos. I will let you know on Friday if the Eruv is up or down.

-We still need sponsors for Kiddush and Seudah Shlishis for this week, Parshas Lech Lecha. Please consider sponsoring in honor of a Simcha, Yahrzeit, or just to support Aish LA. If you would like to sponsor, please reply to this email. Looking forward to seeing you on Shabbos!

-I regret to report the passing of Ernie Nathan, brother of Debbie Hamlin. Debbie is sitting Shivah at her home, 8822 Pickford Street. Shivah Hours are:

Thursday—10am-12pm and 2pm-5pm

Friday—10am-12pm

Sunday—10am-7pm

Thank you!

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305

Dear Community,

 Just a reminder about this great series starting tomorrow…

The  LOCATION for the first class of the series (November 2) has changed.

It will be at the home of Ellie Kulman @ 9339 Cresta, in Beverlywood.

The remaining two classes of Part I of the series will be at Sarah Weintraub’s home

Thank you!

Menucha Cohen

Community Coordinator

Aish Los Angeles

(310) 278-8672 ext 305