FEATURED EVENTS
02.08.12 Community of Elders Wednesdays at the Temple Full Day On the second Wednesday of the month - LBT’s Community of Elders offers classes and interactive presentations in the morning, followed by a bag lunch, and choice of Yoga with Norm Gee or Fun & Games.
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH . . . Arrive at 9:30am for coffee, tea, fruit - followed by:
10:00 - 11:15 CLASS with Bob Farrell, Freedom Rider and former Los Angeles City Council member for 17 years, speaking on: LA City Council . . . Then and Now.
11:30 - 12:30 CONVERSATION with Sandy Banks, Los Angeles Times journalist, activist/writer.
Then stay the afternoon for a 12:30 Bring Your Own Bag Lunch (Dessert & Coffee provided)
1:30 - 3:00 Yoga with Norm Gee (for ALL ages) OR
1:30 - 3:00 Fun and Games: Stay the day and play bridge, Scrabble or enjoy our lending library of books.
02.09.12 Research Training Action Community Organizing at LBT is taking off! "Research Training Action" takes place Thursday, February 9, 7:00-9:00pm at Leo Baeck Temple. Join us as we launch the research phase of our work. For the next two months we will be researching opportunities for strategic action on the economy, education and health care system, at the local and state level, with a goal of finding the most strategic focus for our campaign. Then, mark your calendar for Contact us by email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call the temple office at 310.476.2861 to let us know to expect you.
02.09.12 People of the Book Club Join us for our monthly meetings on the second Thursday at 7:30pm in the LBT Community Lounge.
Book title for February 9 - The Last Jump: A Novel of World War II by John E. Nevola. All are welcome.
For March 8 begin reading The Last Resort by Douglas Rogers.
02.10.12 Shabbat Evening Service / Scholar-in-Residence with Professor Daniel C. Matt - "Shekhinah: the Feminine Half of God" (see details below and on 2/11 and 2/12)
Each year, since 1980, an outstanding scholar visits Leo Baeck Temple for a weekend of study and discussion. Join us this year, as we welcome our 2012 Scholar-in-Residence: Professor Daniel C. Matt
Topic: From Kabbalah to the Big Bang: Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary Spirituality
Professor Matt will introduce us to some of the central themes of Kabbalah. On Friday night he will focus on the concept of Shekhinah (the feminine aspect of God) in the context of Shabbat. In his subsequent presentations, he will show how the Zohar interprets and reimagines the Torah, and how the mystical tradition enables us to discover God in the material world. Finally, he will address the question of “God and the Big Bang,” exploring parallels between Kabbalah and contemporary cosmology, and seeking to find harmony between science and spirituality. Please see the February/March Bulletin (page 5) for additional information and to register.
02.11.12 Scholar-in-Residence Program with Professor Daniel C. Matt
Kabbalah to the Big Bang: Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary Spirituality
Shabbat Morning Minyan / Session One 9:30-12:00 Join our Shabbat morning minyan for song, prayer, and learning, as Professor Matt teaches a passage from the Zohar on the Shabbat Torah portion. Minyan is followed by a vegetarian potluch Kiddush lunch.
Session Two 1:30-3:00 The Mystical Meaning of Torah
Session Three 3:15-4:45 Raising the Sparks: Finding God in the Material World
Havdalah 5:00
See 2/10 and 2/12 for additional topic information. Go to page 5 of the February/March Bulletin to attend Saturday's program.
02.12.12 Scholar-in-Residence Program with Professor Daniel C. Matt
From Kabbalah to the Big Bang: Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary Spirituality
On Sunday morning - Session Four 9:30-11:30, Professor Matt will address the question of “God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science and Spirituality.” Please see 2/10 and 2/11 for additional topic details; to register go to page 5 of the February/March Bulletin.
Homelessness Initiative
In December 2006, Leo Baeck Temple made the decision to HEAL – HOMELESSNESS ENDS AT LEO BAECK TEMPLE.
Beginning with a Homelessness Conference in December 2006 attended by over 300 people and with Mayor Antonia Villaraigosa, LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, and City Councilman Bill Rosendahl giving keynote addresses, LBT created the Homelessness Initiative Taskforce to put the crisis of homelessness in our city and our county at the forefront of our congregational community.
The Taskforce has adopted a multi-pronged approach that includes, advocacy, education, volunteerism and hands-on service. LBT has joined the Westside Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness, a consortium of agencies and faith-based groups, whose goal is to make the Westside a more humane and responsible place to live.
If you would like to join HEAL, please contact committee chair, Scott Sale.
AN IMAGINE LA | LBT SUCCESS STORY
Two years ago LBT’s HEAL (Homelessness Ends At Leo) Task Force made a pledge to enable a homeless family to find a better way of life. That family was Maria Oliva and her son Danny. Now, in 2011 - it is graduation time for Maria and Danny, no longer homeless. Maria credits herself and her LBT partners with these great accomplishments.
Go to this link to read more about how LBT and Imagine LA have made a difference for Maria Oliva and her son, Danny.
Go to this link to see a video celebrating the "graduation" of Maria and Danny Oliva - with a short introduction by Jill Bauman, President and CEO of Imagine LA.
HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
SOVA FOOD COLLECTION
In addition to our big High Holyday Food Drive for SOVA, we encourage members to bring non-perishable food items with them each time they come to the Temple … for services, for a class or for a meeting. Homelessness and hunger are an ongoing crisis in our city … we need to support the work of SOVA year-round. Make bringing a non-perishable food item with you to temple a part of your LBT ritual! Donated food items are collected in the SOVA drawers in the coat closet off the main lobby.
SUNDAY DINNERS @ PATH
Join other LBT families of all ages as we prepare monthly Sunday dinners at the West Los Angeles PATH Center at 2346 Cotner Avenue. In operation since 1984, PATH (http://epath.org/) (People Assisting the Homeless) is a transition facility that assists homeless people with re-entering society. They provide shelter, training, and other orientation and placement services. Families who volunteer are asked to prepare a dinner (salad, main dish, side dish, dessert and drinks) to serve to the 36 residents of the facility. In the past some volunteers have purchased prepared food at Costco or Smart and Final (adjacent to the PATH center), and others have prepared the food themselves (this can be done at home, at the LBT kitchen, or at PATH’s kitchen).
Typically, one to four families work together to prepare the monthly Sunday dinner.
If you would like to volunteer for Sunday Dinners @ PATH, please contact project coordinator, Jill Bronstein.