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May 2018 Honoring the Past and Embracing the Future

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May 2018 Honoring the Past and Embracing the Future WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE BULLETIN Volume 105, Number 5 • May 2018 Honoring the Past and Embracing the Future lans for Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s new building, city’s most diverse neighborhood. We are very proud that Pnamed Audrey Irmas Pavilion for its lead donor whose Wilshire Boulevard Temple will be a vital part of the cultural, $30 million gift for the project launched the capital campaign religious, and socially conscious conversation that is defining in 2015, and designed by the world-class firm Office of 21st-century Los Angeles.” Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and its partners Shohei As Temple President Rick Powell wrote to the Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas, have been submitted for congregation recently, “These are exciting times for our approval to the City of Los Angeles. The first image of the congregation, as we find ourselves in the heart of a resurgent project was released to the public, and the announcement was Los Angeles. When Rabbi Leder spoke to us a decade ago widely covered by the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, about our great sanctuary being in the center of it all, we had and other major media outlets. Pending approval from the city, no idea how quickly that would become true.” and additional fundraising, A recent article in the the new building will break online publication Curbed ground in late 2018 with plans LA dramatically showed the to open in 2020. Temple and Audrey Irmas “Audrey Irmas Pavilion Pavilion to be in the center of will offer an irresistible the neighborhood renaissance; invitation to gather, celebrate, there are more than 50 major learn, and reach out to others,” development projects now Rabbi Steve Leder said. “In a planned for Koreatown. city so large and so diverse, we Construction of Audrey need community, and we need Irmas Pavilion will complete inspiring, welcoming places. the Temple’s Building Lives Los Angeles deserves a modern Campaign by providing a masterpiece that brings people together in the heart of the continued on page 2 This Month BRAWERMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS of WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE present L.A. RABBIS TEACH Fighting for Israel A Jewish View on Suffering and Transformation santa monica A Conversation Thursday with Ehud Barak family May 3 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. More on page 7 n Tuesday, May 15 Thursday, May 17 raiser wbtla.org/pier Irmas Campus (west) Glazer Campus (east) F 7:30 p.m. More on page 7 8:00 p.m. Torah Portion Shavuot: A Time to Let Go Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23 n this week’s Torah Portion, Parashat Emor, God tells Though this would never work in today’s economy, IMoses to set up fixed times that are to be sacred called the message our sages taught still holds true: We should the Three Festivals. One of these, Shavuot, known biblically let go of things we have amassed that are burdening us, so as the “Festival of Weeks,” was the Thanksgiving holiday that we can refresh the wonderful blessings in our lives. It following the 49-day harvest period. Once the harvest had doesn’t have to be property; it can be non-tangible things been completed, the Israelites gathered their new grain like resentment or fear. Imagine how much different life and brought it to the Temple as a Thanksgiving gift. On would be if every 50 years we let go of all that unwanted the 50th year, the tribes celebrated a Jubilation year, energy. In fact, we don’t have to wait until Shavuot to let at which time all vows and debts were wiped clean, the go; we can start doing that every day! How much better land laid fallow, and any property owned was returned would our lives be if we did? Shavuot is the time when we to its former owners. Why? So that the land, as well as celebrate renewal and the sweetness of studying Torah. I relationships between people, could self-replenish. think the lesson of letting go is a piece of Torah that Every 50th year, God wanted everyone to “let go” can make life extra sweet. Chag Sameach! and start anew. Cantor Seth Ettinger Cover Story (continued) space for Temple members and other organizations to host of this vibrant urban center, in the neighborhood now called events, meetings, and programs in an inspiring architectural Koreatown. The budget for the building project is estimated setting. Audrey Irmas Pavilion will include a banquet hall at $75 million. with a commercial kitchen, meeting and conference rooms, Its design is an expression of respect for the and a rooftop garden, all of which will be available for use by surrounding buildings—the west façade slopes away from the larger community. the existing temple while leaning south away from the “Wilshire Boulevard Temple has been an important historic school. The resulting form, carved by its relationship part of my family for generations,” Audrey Irmas said. “I am to its neighbors, is both enigmatic and familiar. The subtle so happy to have provided the first major gift, and I hope expression reaches out toward the main urban corridor of others will be inspired to support Wilshire Boulevard to establish a Audrey Irmas Pavilion and bring it new urban presence. to completion.” The Audrey Irmas Pavilion OMA was selected as comprises three distinct gathering the winner of an architectural spaces that puncture through the competition to design the building—a main event space, approximately 55,000-square- a smaller multipurpose room, foot building, which will and a sunken garden. The three accommodate—for the congregation as well as the greater interlocking gathering spaces are stacked atop one another to community—such events as weddings, bat and bar establish vantage points and framed views in and out of each mitzvah celebrations, conferences and galas for nonprofit space, while simultaneously creating a series of openings that organizations, and other meetings and activities. It also will filter light and reorient visitors to the complex and beyond. be used for large-scale support for those in need, such as hot For more information, contact Jamie Geller at meal programs and medical clinics. The new building will [email protected]. have a meaningful civic presence, bringing an important architectural structure to Wilshire Boulevard, and to the city of Los Angeles. It will be positioned on the Temple’s Erika J. Glazer Family Campus on Wilshire Boulevard, in the heart 2 Volunteer Mobile Food Pantry Expansion e know simply by virtue of the income Challenge grant to bring on a licensed nutritionist Wlevel of our client population and its lack to help us with some of these challenges. We are of access to fresh produce, that this community hoping to bring on a nutritionist who can assist is at heightened risk for diabetes and other us in creating recipes and meal plans, which in preventable health issues. While providing turn will help our clients with simple methods fresh food on a weekly basis is certainly a step of preparing the food that we provide. The in the right direction, it is clear that our clients, nutritionist also can include information on the sometimes unfamiliar with such products, do not nutritional values and correct storage methods for always know how to store or prepare the food we these foodstuffs. We hope this will eliminate the The Mobile Food Pantry filled bring them. In addition, because Koreatown is with grocery bags ready to potential for wasted foods as well as give our clients composed of families from a variety of cultural make its round of deliveries to confidence to try new items and ways of cooking. backgrounds, we strive to be sensitive to their our clients. Come volunteer with us and be part of this diverse food preferences; however, because of cost exciting expansion plan! Your involvement can and availability, this is not always possible. be once a month, weekly, or even a one-time commitment. The Mobile Food Pantry expanded its services from We’ll provide the training. Mobile Food Pantry volunteers are 26 families to 50 families since December 2017. We recently needed Tuesdays from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. or Wednesdays from received funding from the Jewish Federation’s Changemaker 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. To My Wilshire Boulevard Temple Family… I couldn’t find a social peer group, I wondered what might I am excited to share the news that I’m moving to happen if we started one at Temple. So on December 25, 2015, a Arizona in June to be the cantor at Congregation Beth-Israel Christmas Day that coincided with Shabbat, my wife Sarah and in Scottsdale. I got together with four other people for a traditional Chinese I will be forever grateful for these past five years as part dinner at Hop Li in West L.A. The Meetup was born that night of the amazing clergy and community at Wilshire Boulevard and is now a dynamic community Temple. I was an intern, still in school, when I started here. of 120. A wide variety of Meetup I thought I had been taught all that I needed to know about events have included summer hikes liturgy and traditional Jewish music. What I learned is that in nearby mountains, wine tastings, learning never stops. a scavenger hunt in Hollywood, a Everyone connects to Judaism in his or her own way. Chanukah quest for pastrami, and Look at the b’nei mitzvah. It is a privilege and an Sushi in the Sukkah. The Meetup inspiration to engage with more than 200 b’nei mitzvah and has been and will continue to be a their families during a remarkable turning point in their lives.
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