ChaiVillageLA, a program of Temple Isaiah and Temple Emanuel, has a full array of interesting, educational and fun virtual events. All Temple adults are welcome to join in. All temple members are welcome at events sponsored by ChaiVillageLA.
Join ChaiVillageLA Chaplain Intern Judy Weintraub as we travel back in time to visit a few great Sages of our rich tradition.
In this multi-part series hosted by member Stuart Goldurs we will virtually visit and learn about Los Angeles' historic places including some interesting and little-known spots.
We invite you to participate in a tour of the remarkable CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART located in 120 acres of Ozark woods and trails.
Join us for a special hour-long tour of the highlights of this amazing museum. We will be introduced to some of the iconic works of American Art, located in the stunning museum building designed by Moshe Safdie as well as in the outdoor sculpture garden located along the trails surrounding the building.
Enjoy virtual tea time with Susan and Joel Levine. Bring your own tea!
Please join us for an interesting short story discussion. This session will be facilitated by Diane Braude. We will be discussing "How to Pronounce Knife," "The Edge of the World," and "Worms" by Souvankham Thammavongsa. Please read the stories in advance.
Julie Grass leads this workshop on using art to stay calm & creative. Come play!
Part 1 - Tour Jewish Croatia with Dr. Joseph Benatov.
Some of the region’s most notable Jews over the centuries have included Daniel Rodriguez, founder of the free port of Split; the influential Morpurgo family; and aviation inventor David Schwartz, whose airship may have served as the source of the Zeppelin. Join us for an overview of the rich history of the Jewish presence in Croatia. Learn about the Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities of Dubrovnik, Split, and Zagreb. In addition to learning about Jewish history and culture, you will have the opportunity to embark on a scenic virtual tour of Croatia’s spectacular sights. Our journey will make stops in beautiful Dubrovnik and Split on the Adriatic coast, as well as in charming Zagreb, the nation’s capital. We will also visit the spectacular Plitvice Lakes, a national park renowned for its turquoise lakes and majestic waterfalls. Fee: $6 per Zoom screen.
We will be discussing two powerful movies based on award-winning plays by the Pulitzer prize-winning playwright August Wilson: Fences (2016) starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) starring Chadwick Boseman in his last movie and Viola Davis.
Our guide Tatiane will introduce us to a wide range of street art from colorful murals, surrealistic stencils, and incoherent scribblings. We will learn the history of this urban art form, see examples from approximately thirty artists, and learn their unique stories.
Tatiane says she is totally in love with her city and it is her mission to provide travelers with a unique experience of colorful local spots that will help them love and understand the city too.
The fee is $8.00 per screen. For couples, only one person should register and pay the fee.
Each of us is the quiet hero of our life's journey! We will come together as a group to share the stories of our lives. Facilitated by Chaplain Intern Judy Weintraub.
ALMOST A YEAR COPING WITH COVID-19 - Our Speaker Dr. Sharon Balter
Everything You Would Like to Know About COVID-19
Our January 13 "Discussion Without Dessert" speaker will be Dr. Sharon Balter, Director of Acute Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Division of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Dr. Balter works closely with Dr. Barbara Ferrer and is in the forefront of LA County's work with all aspects of the pandemic. She came to Los Angeles from her previous position as the Director of the Enteric, Waterborne and Health Education Program at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. This is an opportunity to listen, learn and ask questions of a knowledgeable medical professional about COVID-19.
This exhibition by Oaxacan artistic duo Tlacolulokos, Dario Canul y Cosijoesa Cernas, showcases the murals that participated in the project Visualizing Language organized by The Library Foundation of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Public Library for the PST LA: LA project that occurred in 2017. These paintings consider the relationship between the city of Los Angeles and the Zapotec communities of Oaxaca and California through the visual arts, education, social activism and literature. Fee: $8 per Zoom screen.
Julie Grass leads this workshop on using art to stay calm & creative. Come play!
Led by Myrna Hant, this discussion group focuses on the news of the week. Participants share articles and opinions that pertain to what's happening both in the United States and Internationally, and particularly to introduce diverse views. Many of the "pundits" we analyze write for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. We will also examine such magazines as The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New Republic and other journals that give in-depth coverage of current topics. This is a chance to listen and be heard on the events of the day.
Join ChaiVillageLA Chaplain Intern Judy Weintraub as we travel back in time to visit a few great Sages of our rich tradition.
In this multi-part series hosted by member Stuart Goldurs we will virtually visit and learn about Los Angeles' historic places including some interesting and little-known spots.
The Middle East today is beset by chaos and conflict, as simultaneous and overlapping wars stretch from Libya to Yemen and beyond. From protests against dictators to the effort to combat Iran, over two sessions Jordan Reimer, Rand Policy Analyst, will explore the dual foundations of destabilization in the Middle East today and how they affect Israel and the United States. He will conclude with a deep-dive into a rare piece of good news: the “Abraham Accords” between Israel and Arab Gulf nations and what it foretells for a region in turmoil. Jordan Reimer is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. Previously, he served as a Middle East intelligence analyst at the New York City Police Department and policymaker at the Department of Defense. Reimer has an MPA from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and is a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Enjoy virtual tea time with Susan and Joel Levine. Bring your own tea!
Julie Grass leads this workshop on using art to stay calm & creative. Come play!
Part 2 - The Jewish Heritage of Serbia and Romania with Dr. Joseph Benatov.
How did a 19th-century Serbian Sephardic rabbi influence Theodor Herzl’s philosophy of Zionism? What are the Neolog and Status Quo Ante strands in Judaism, and why were they so prevalent in both Romania and Serbia? Our lecture will cover these and many other highlights of Serbian and Romanian Jewish history. Learn about the unique Maramures region of northwestern Romania, the birthplace of both Elie Wiesel and the Satmar Hasidic group. Our visual travel through the Jewish heritage of Serbia and Romania will take us through the bustling streets of Belgrade and Bucharest, scenic Transylvania, the magnificent newly restored Subotica synagogue, the Novi Sad Temple, and much more. Fee: $6 per Zoom screen.
Take part in a fascinating discussion of two 2020 films: My Octopus Teacher - In this documentary movie a filmmaker develops a friendship and trust with an Octopus as he follows her in a kelp forest in the icy waters off the southern tip of Africa. It is available to stream on Netflix.
The Way I See It - This documentary movie provides an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look of the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama through the eyes of photographer Pete Souza. It is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
Each of us is the quiet hero of our life's journey! We will come together as a group to share the stories of our lives. Facilitated by Chaplain Intern Judy Weintraub.
Calling all educators! Stuart Goldurs would like to moderate a discussion amongst educators. Discussion items will vary and suggestions from participants are most welcome. Potential topics include: What people have done during the pandemic and learned about themselves? What changes have they seen in education since they started teaching? Society's problems--can they be solved? What have people missed the most during the pandemic?
Julie Grass leads this workshop on using art to stay calm & creative. Come play!
Part 3 - Sephardic Culture: Songs, Cuisine, and Proverbs with Dr. Joseph Benatov.
“Adio Kerida” is arguably the most recognizable and popular Ladino song, but it is just one example of a rich musical tradition. Our exploration of Sephardic music will introduce you to other Ladino gems such as “Quando el Rey Nimrod,” “Ocho Kandelikas,” and “Avre tu puerta cerrada.” We will also learn about some of the delicacies of Sephardic cuisine (recipes included). You will find out what grants the unique taste and flavor of guevos haminados (hard-boiled eggs). Other classic Sephardic foods include tishpishti, masapan, agristada, and albondigas. We will also talk about the particular sense of humor of Balkan Sephardic Jews, reflected in their Ladino proverbs, anecdotes, and aphorisms. Fee: $6 per Zoom screen.
The Middle East today is beset by chaos and conflict, as simultaneous and overlapping wars stretch from Libya to Yemen and beyond. From protests against dictators to the effort to combat Iran, over two sessions Jordan Reimer, Rand Policy Analyst, will explore the dual foundations of destabilization in the Middle East today and how they affect Israel and the United States. He will conclude with a deep-dive into a rare piece of good news: the “Abraham Accords” between Israel and Arab Gulf nations and what it foretells for a region in turmoil. Jordan Reimer is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. Previously, he served as a Middle East intelligence analyst at the New York City Police Department and policymaker at the Department of Defense. Reimer has an MPA from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and is a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations.
The Middle East today is beset by chaos and conflict, as simultaneous and overlapping wars stretch from Libya to Yemen and beyond. From protests against dictators to the effort to combat Iran, over two sessions Jordan Reimer, Rand Policy Analyst, will explore the dual foundations of destabilization in the Middle East today and how they affect Israel and the United States. He will conclude with a deep-dive into a rare piece of good news: the “Abraham Accords” between Israel and Arab Gulf nations and what it foretells for a region in turmoil. Jordan Reimer is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. Previously, he served as a Middle East intelligence analyst at the New York City Police Department and policymaker at the Department of Defense. Reimer has an MPA from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and is a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations.
ChaiVillageLA is part of the rapidly growing Village Movement—we’re not a place; we’re a community led by adults who share their optimism, skills, support, and expertise with each other to joyfully navigate the next steps in our lives. ChaiVillageLA is a collaborative program of Temple Isaiah and Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, grounded in Jewish values. Although there are hundreds of Villages around the country, ChaiVillageLA is the first and only synagogue-based Village.
Every day, our members come together to create new possibilities for what’s next, providing each other with the programs, resources, and support needed to live lives of purpose and growth. Members tell us that they feel energized by being a part of such a powerful, expansive community.
Now over 220 members strong, we are a very active community. We have current events sessions, a short story group, bridge games, walks around the park with a rabbi and trips to local museums and attractions. We’re member-led, so members serve on committees, run classes and events, and help one another with check-in calls, friendly visits, and rides to the doctor. We go out into the community, assisting homeless families, collecting clothing for children in need and assisting after-school programs.
Jewish Celebrations |
Expo Line Tours |
Museum Tours |
And many more member-led programs
Governing the Village |
Planning Events |
Working in the Office |
We welcome your participation. Visit us at ChaiVillageLA.org or contact Director Devorah Servi at 310.592.0321 or devorah@ChaiVillageLA.org