Understanding Hanukkah ByRabbiMervinB.Tomsky
Hanukkahisaspecialtimetoshareandrejoicewithfamilyandfriends,whichalsoservestoconnectuswithourpeopleandourhistory.TheMaccabeanvictoriousstruggleagainsttheSyrianGreeksresultedintheirbeingabletofreelyworshipGodasJews,andtorededicatethedesecratedTempleinJerusalemtotheserviceofGod.Itwasastruggleforreligiousfreedom‐auniversalidealforallhumankind. Welearnaboutthemiracleofoillastingeightdays,butmostscholarsagreethatthereasonfortheeightdaysofcelebrationhastodowithcommemoratingtheeight‐daycelebrationofSukkotwhichhadbeenforbiddenbytheSyrianGreeksunderordersofAntiochus,aswereallmattersofJewishlifeandworship. AndthereisanadditionallessontobelearnedandcherishedfromtheHanukkahstory.Therearetwoschoolsofthoughtregardingtheritualoflightingthecandlesonthe"hanukkiah"‐theHanukkahmenorah.TheSchoolofShamaitaughtthatwearetolightalleightcandles[usingtheshamashcandletolighteachoftheothers]onthefirstnightandthenreducethenumberbyonecandleoneachofthesucceedingnights.
AndtheSchoolofHilleltaughtthatwebeginwithonlyonecandlethefirstnight.andthenaddanadditionalcandleoneachofthesucceedingnightsuntilalleightcandlesarelitonthefinalnightofHanukkah,theprinciplebeing"D'ma'alinbakodeshv'ainmoredin"‐‐"toincreasemattersofholinessandnotdiminish".IthasbeenacceptedbyJewsallovertheworldtofollowtheteachingofHillelandtheprinciplederivedhasimplicationsforeachofus.For
example:intakingupanewhobby,orbeginninganewproject,ordevelopinganewromanticrelationshiporenteringamarriage‐‐don'tletyourenthusiasmwane,butcontinuetobuildonit
andmakeitspecial;makeitsacred;makeitholy. AndthisiswhatItellnewconvertstoJudaismwhentheycomebeforetheBeitDin[RabbinicCourt]:don'tletyourenthusiasmandmotivationforembracingJudaismdiminishasyouenterJewishlife,butcontinuetolearnmoreanddomoreandgrowinapatternofjoyfulJewishliving.That’smakingthejourneyholy. Soenjoy,celebrate,andbringlightintotheworld.ChagHaUrimSameach‐‐HappyFestivalofLights!HappyHanukkah!
A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Residents
Davina“Dee”Zucherman
Dick&BarbaraBraun
DorisHeller
Fountainview at Eisenberg Village Reseda, California Autumn 2017
www.fountainviewjha.org/fountainview‐living/publications
Fountainview Veterans 2017
(Lefttoright)JordanKurnick,CaseyKaganandElieZevrepresentedFountainview’sVeteransataspecialassemblyatShermanOaksCenterforEnrichedStudiesakaSOCESattheschool’sobservanceofVeteran’sDay.
Resident Ambassador Program
ByGuestReporterLoriLucas
WearepleasedtoannounceournewMarketingResidentAmbassadorProgram.OurfirstmeetingwasheldNovember10andourfirstnewresidentMeet&GreetwasonDecember13.Afterthefirstoftheyear,wewillhavebi‐monthlycommitteemeetings. TheResidentAmbassadorProgrammergesourresidentsandtheFVMarketingDepartment.ResidentAmbassadorswillassisttheMarketingDepartmentwiththefollowing:Tours,newresidentMeet&Greets,marketingevents,WelcomeCommitteeandotherprograms. Wehaveover30residentswhosigneduptoparticipate.Therearesomanyvolunteers,wehavearotationsysteminplacefortheWelcomeCommittee!
Fountainview FORUM
ByJoyPicus
TheThursdayForumresumedinNovemberandDecemberafterasummervacation.LauraZucker,whorecentlysteppeddownasExecutiveDirectorof
L.A.CountyArtsCommissionspoketousinearlyDecember.Laurahasbeenatirelessanddrivingforceinshapingtheartsinourareaforovertwodecades.Andwhatachangetherehasbeen. Laurapointedoutthatinthemid80’s,L.A.wasnotconsidereda
majorworldplayerinartsandculture.Todayitdefinitelyis!LosAngeles,NewYorkandSanFranciscoarewidelyrecognizedasthethreemajorculturalcentersintheU.S.Someofthiscamefromtheextraordinaryfocusontheartsthatwasapartofthe1984Olympics.Ourgrowthbothinvisualandperformingartssincethattimehasbeenphenomenal.Lauraisproudofthoseaccomplishments.Heremphasisonencouragingsmall,diverse,ethnicartsgroupshaschangedthe
localsceneimmeasurably. Lauraspokeabouthersuccessfuleffortstorestoreandimproveartseducationinpublicschools,toincreaseculturaltourism,andinspreadingthewordonhoweffectivetheartsareincreatingavitaleconomy.Shetoldofhercreativeapproachtobringingresourcestothe“fooddesert”inSouthL.A.Countybyprovidingfruittrees,andhavingtherecipientssignacontracttoassurethattheywouldwaterandcareforthetrees!DuringhertenureCountyfundingfortheartsincreasedenormously,andtheJohnAnsonFordAmphitheatreunderwentastunningrevitalization.Laura’sleadershipbroughtthatabout.ManyofourresidentscameuptotalktoLauraafterwardsandthentoldGerryandmehowmuchtheyhadlearnedfromher. GerryandIwelcomeyoursuggestionsforfuturespeakers.Ifyou’veheardagoodspeakerorknowsomeonewithinformationtoshare,pleaseletusknow.
Chagall and His Fantasies
ByRikkiLevine
MoisheSegalwasborninRussiain1887–notamemorablebirth.Whowouldhaveguessedthismarkedtheinchoatebeginningsofoneoftheworld’sbest‐knownartists.Ofcourse,thenomdeplumeheisrecognizedbyisMarcChagall. I’veknownhisworkasthecharmingfancifulpaintingsthataresoinstantlyrecognizable.HeleftRussiaforParis–theultimatedestinationforgreatartists–andontoIsrael,wherehewascommissionedtodesigntheChagallwindows. MusicandartplayedapivotalroleinMarcChagall’sart.Hedepictedmusiciansinmanypaintingsanddesigned
costumesandmonumentalsetsforoperaandballet.
TheexhibitshowedanarrayofcostumesfromtheballetsAleko–TheFirebird–DaphnisetChloeandtheMagicFlute.Thecostumesrangedfromdelicateballerinastoheavyheadtotoelinedwithlayersofcrinolinetobechangedwhenthedancersperspired.Therewasbackgroundmusicfromtheballetsthroughouttheexhibit.Thedocentgaveaverydetailedaccountofhislifeandwork,necessitatingareturntripjusttoadmiretheoriginalandspectacularcostumes.Inall,ChagallandHisFantasiesisoneofLACMA’smostoutstandingexhibits.
Happy Hanukkah 2017
Hanukkah Festivities at Fountainview
ByJoyceEdelman
HanukkahfestivitiesatFountainviewbeganonTuesday,December15,at4:30pmwhenthefirstdayofcandleswerelitintheRiverviewLounge.Thecandleswereinthemagnificent,five‐foottallantiquemenorahloanedtoFountainviewbyresidentSamKremen.RabbiTomskydeliveredaholidaymessage.Thiseventwasrepeatedeacheveningat5:00pmforeightdays. ThefirstnightoflightingthecandleswasfollowedbyaspectaculardinnerintheFountainviewDiningRoom.Thetableswerefestivelysetwithbeautifulbluesatintableclothsandnapkins.Therewerebeautifulholidaybouquetsoneverytableandholidaydecorationsaroundtheroomincludingblueandwhitesparklelightsabovethewindows.Thedinnerbeganwithadelicioussamplerofpotato,beet,andsweetpotatolatkes.Dinerswereofferedachoiceofvodkacocktailsorwine!Thedinnerthat
includedbabylambchopsendedwithawonderfuldessertalamode.Latkes,vodkaandbabka…whatatreat!Laterintheevening,residentswereentertainedinthetheaterbyTheIlianaRoseandDavidZasloffTriowithamulti‐culturalprogramofholidaymusic.WednesdayfeaturedMenorahMadness.FountainviewersbroughttheirspecialHanukkiahstotheCreativeArtsStudioandsharedstoriesaboutthem.OnThursday,December14,residentsenjoyedaspecialDVD,RejoicewithItzhakPerlman.FridayfeaturedATasteofChanukahwithTheodoreBikel.TheHanukkahfestivitiesconcludedonTuesday,December19,withresidentscompetingwiththeirknowledgeofHanukkahwith"Chrivia"(ChanukahTrivia).ItwasaHanukkahtoremember.
Fountainview Home Runs
ByGuestReporterLeeWeinstein
Baseballisoverfortheyear,buthomerunsarestillwithus.ThememoriesofhomerunblastsbyJewishballplayersfromboththeDodgersandAstrosarefondlyremembered.WithtreasuresfromMarvinFreedman’sbaseballmementos,wecelebratedtheDodgerswinningtheNationalLeaguePennantthisseason.HomeRunsarestillavailableatFountainviewintheformofcommendationformsforemployees.Theyareaconvenientwaytonotifymanagementofexceptionalperformancebyanymemberofthestaff.Itmaybetheinstantaneousresolutionofamaintenanceprobleminyourunit.Itcouldbethequickandcourteousresponsetoarequestinthediningroomorelsewhere.AnythingthatmeritsrecognitionisfairgameforaFountainviewHomeRun.FormsareavailablefromtheConciergetobefilledoutbyaresidentandreturnedforthispersonalrecognition.
Trivia
ByEvelynBauer
DEFINITIONOFTRIVIA:Unimportantfactsordetails.QUESTION:WhatfamousplaywrighthadadaughternamedSuzanna?
Onmyinitialday,therewereanswerstotheabovequestionrangingfromArthurMillertoPaddyChayefsky.Tomydelightnooneknewthecorrectanswer.ButIdid!“WilliamShakespeare,”Itimidlycalledout.Theleader,inasurprisedtonesaid,“Yes,howdidyouknowthat?”Alleyeswereonme,anewcomer.Iwas“in”andIwas“hooked”.Now,almostthreeyearslater,I’mstillhooked.
Tuesdayat3:00pmyou’llfindmeintheEventCenter,testingmymemory,wherewecontinuetowoweachotherwithourunimportantknowledge. LaurinowpreparesspecialTriviaquestionsforsignificantholidays:LaborDay,Veteran’sDay,Thanksgiving,andHanukkah.Comeandvisit.YoumaysurpriseyourselfwithyourwealthofTriviaknowledge.
Raves for Hamilton
ByEvelynBauer
KingGeorgereigns!PlayedbyRoryO’MalleyfromtheBroadwaycast,hewasthecomicreliefaswellasasensationalactor.Inthiscritic’sviewhewastheoutstandingperformerinthisLosAngelesproductionofsuperlatives.Onstagealone,hefusedBritish60’sRockwithhip‐hopandBroadwaylyricismtoanadoringaudiencewhoseemedtoknowthewords. Howluckywe34FountainviewresidentsweretobeatthehistoricPantagesTheateronOctober24toexperiencethisgroundbreakingmasterwork.Written(book,musicandlyrics)byLin‐ManuelMiranda,itwon11Tonyawardsaswellasthe2016PulitzerPrizefordrama.ItisthestoryofAmericathenastoldbyAmericanow.Itisahistorylessonwithsocialcommentarythatreverberatesintoday’spoliticalclimate.We34werewellprepared,havingheardapresentationbyHarryShragg’sgrand‐daughterandbyexperiencingfourlisteningsessionstofamiliarizeuswiththelyrics. ActIintroducesustoAlexanderHamiltonandAaronBurrandthestoryoftheirinvolvementinthecolonists’rebellionagainstEnglishrule;thewinningofthewarforindependence;andthefoundingofanewcountry.Historywasnevermorevividorgloriousthanasdepictedinthisdramatic,innovative,clevermusical.Thechoreographyaddedaphysicallanguagethroughout,aidedbyperiodinspiredcostumes,cleversets,andarevolvingfloorinthecenterofthestage.MostofthisstoryispresentedinmemorablesonglikeKingGeorge’sYou’llbeBackandHamilton’s‘notgivin’awayMyShot.’
ActIIbeginswiththereturnofThomasJeffersonfromParis.JordonDonica,tall,lithe,andsportinganafrohairstylewasashowstopperrappingWhat’dIMiss?HamiltonhasbecomeGeneralWashington’srighthandmaninthewarmuchtothechagrinofBurrwhoisalwaysontheoutside.HisplaintivesongTheRoomWhereitHappenssaysitall.Theinnercircleisalwaysbeyondhisgrasp. IfirstbecameawareofMiranda’sgeniuswhenIsawhis2008TonyAwardwinningmusicalInTheHeightsatCSUN.Atthetime,thatwasatthetopofmytheatergoingexperiences;HAMILTONhasnowreplacedit.Thisrevolutionarymusicalknowsnolimitsondiversity.Thecastisameltingpotreflectingoursocietyofimmigrants.Itisasocialcommentaryonourhistorywithparallelstoourlivestoday.Itisagroundbreakingtriumphofcreativity,geniusandtalent.Ilovedit!Thankyou,Lauri,foryourheroiceffortstogetustickets.
And…ByHarryShragg Webster’sDictionarydefines“HipHop”asfollows:1.Americanyouthinthe1980sdrawingonrap,funk,streetsounds,melodyandrhythmborrowedfrompreviouslyrecordedsources.2.Thecultureasafashion,dance,etc.associatedwiththemusic.” Asyoucantellbythedefinition,themusiccouldbedifficultforourgenerationtoenjoy.WewerefortunatethatShiraSamuelsShraggandhermother,RobynSamuels,withLauriKamiel,cametotherescue. Shira,whohadmemorizedtheentiremusical,HAMILTON,andRobyn,whohadseentheplayonBroadway,recognizedwecouldbebetterpreparedtoviewthisproduction.Theyprovideduswithasynopsisoftheplayandidentifiedallofthemusicalnumbersinit. Nextwerevieweditinourtheater.LauriobtainedaYouTubeofthemusicandlyricsandshoweditonseveraloccasionssothatwecouldbecomefamiliarwiththelyricsandtherhythmoftheproduction. HAMILTONwasasensationalevening.Weowethemourgratitudefortheirefforts.
Shoshana
ByLilBaker
Thepetite,energeticbodyofcompassionthatweknowasShoshana,ourteacherofQiGong,wasbornSusanScharf.ShelivedinNewYorkCityandNewJerseyuntilshewassixyearsold.ThefamilymovedtoCubawheresugarwasplentiful.Herfatherwasafamous
candymaker.At16shewassenttoBostontogotoschool.Afteroneyear,themoneyforhertuitionranoutandshehadtoworktosupportherselfasaclerk,adentalassistantandaSpanishtranslator.Anearlyunhappymarriageendedindivorce.Ashorttimelater,Shoshanametandmarriedayoungrabbiwhowonderfullyrecognizedherasapersonwhoshouldhavethefreedomtobethepersonshewas.Heencouragedhertocontinuehervocationdevelopingtextilesinhersuccessfulbusiness.TheymovedtoIsraelwheresheworkedonakibbutz,inan
orchard,workedwithanimals,andtheninacenterhelpingnewimmigrantswhoonlyspokeSpanish.TheythenrelocatedtoCaliforniatoahomewhereshestilllivesafterherlovinghusbanddied6yearsago.Hertwodaughtersnowhavetheirownfamiliesandarecloseby. Itwaswhilerecoveringfromacaraccidentthatinjuredherback,ribsandneckthatayoungteacherspoketoShoshanaaboutQiGong.Interested,motivatedandfirmlybelievinginherownself‐help,sheresearchedandtooklessonsandnowteachestwotothreeclassesaday.SheisadoredbymanyinherclassatFountainviewwhocometoherfordifferentkindsofadvice.Shestillcontinueswithhertextilebusinessandrunsherhomewhichissurroundedbythetreesandplantswhichgiveherthefruitandvegetablessheoftenshares.Herwarmthandvivaciouspersonalityattractsmany,andsheishappywiththecompanyofgoodfriends.
Patio Party
ByRikkiLevine
ItbecameaperfectlymagicaleveningwhentheresidentsofFountainviewgatheredforanothersummerpatioparty.WithafestiveambiancecreatedbyShelleyandLauri–Klezmermusictolistenordanceto–drinkswithorwithoutliquorandtheaddedvocalizingofJosephRosenbaum.Suchalovelyvoicethatwe’veneverheardbefore!Moreoften–Joseph! ThebandwasanespeciallygoodKlezmerbandthatentertained,enlivenedandcreatedatotallyjoyousatmosphere. Again,Ireiterate–where,butatFountainview?Butthenwhereelsedoyouhavesuchacreative,dynamicmanagementteam?
In Memoriam
WerememberthenamesofourrecentlydepartedfriendsDonThorner,ShirleyWolfson,RuthZevandMurrayGeller.Maytheirmemoriesbeablessing.
Some Hanukkah Humor
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Top Players – DAKIM
Ifyouhaven’tplayedDAKIMlately,orifyouarenotsignedontothisstimulatingbrainexercise,talktoourtopplayerslistedbelow,andthenreachouttoLauriKamieltogetyoustarted! TopplayersforAugust,September,OctoberandNovemberwereCarmenPosner@#1andBobbieFarkas@#2.Congrats!
theVIEWStaffEDITOR:RuthOrbuchREPORTERS:LillianBaker,EvelynBauer,JoyceEdelman,RikkiLevine,JoyPicus,HarryShragg,RabbiMervinTomsky,RuthWallerPHOTOGRAPHERS:MikeMaroko,FVStaffPROOFREADER:LeeWeinsteinSTAFFSUPPORT:ShelleySmilen,ConciergeTeamPRODUCTION/DESIGN:CaryHaskin
