21 Sivan 5783 | 10 June 2023

View as Webpage

In this Issue

• Kahal Joseph Schedule
• Guest Message, Rabbi Sacks, z'l, From Despair to Hope
• Kiddush in honor of Shady & Danny Alfi's marriage
• Mazal Tov Adina Jalali & Ben Mashiach
• Shabbat Melodies with Hazzan Jalali
• A Prince among Men: Memories of My Father, by Sharon (Halevy) Gomperts
• Thank You to Leat Silvera
• Calling all Graduates! Send us your info!
• Nachson Fund Scholarship, apply by 6/15
• Bar & Bat Mitzvah's at Kahal Joseph
• Kahal's Tree of Life & Social Hall
• Condolences: David Halevy z'l & Elsa Singman z'l
• Refua Shlema & Azkarot

Shabbat Kiddush

is sponsored by

Shady & Danny Alfi

in honor of their marriage

Mazal Tov

to their parents

Elizabeth & Majid Zarnegin

Vera & Simon Aron

and to the Alfi, Aron, & Zarnegin families!

Mazal Tov

Adina Jalali & Ben Mashiach

on your upcoming wedding

Besiman Tov

to your parents

Molly & Saeed Jalali

Shelly & Eli Mashiach

and to both families!

Shabbat Melodies with Hazzan Saeed Jalali

Listen to Hazzan Jalali chant from Parasha Behaalotekha and the Haftara.

A Prince Among Men: Memories of My Father

by Sharon (Halevy) Gomperts

Born on Yom Kippur, 1935 in Baghdad, Iraq to parents Rafael and Rosa, he was the middle child in a family of nine — older siblings Toya, Moshe, Shlomo and Daisy and younger siblings, Naim, Eliyahu, Adina and Aryeh. His father was a wealthy merchant and food wholesaler who moved his family from the crowded Jewish quarter of Baghdad to a house in Kerrada on the Tigris River. 

His older brother Moshe was a leader in the “T’nuah,” the underground Zionist movement and he recruited my young father. Given the undercover alias Go’el, he was a runner who would deliver messages between different cells. My grandmother Rosa never quite forgave Moshe for involving him in this illegal activity. My Dad was especially close to Naim, his younger brother and in the Spring of 1950, at the ages of 14 and 15, they decided to escape from Iraq with a small group. They paid an Arab guide to smuggle them over the mountainous border with Iran. After a lot of aimless walking, my father realized that they were low on water and that the guide was lost. He made the life-saving decision to turn themselves in to the border police. They were arrested and put in a jail cell with Communist prisoners. After a week in jail, he bribed the guards to release them from prison. He left convinced that Communism was the most foolish political system. The group made their way to Tehran, where the T’nuah housed young Iraqi Jewish escapees in tents in the Jewish cemetery. 

In Israel, he lied about his age in order to avoid high school. He worked as a laborer but soon asked his foreman to cut his wages and train him to be a bricklayer. He learned the trade and soon his fellow bricklayers were complaining that he was racing with them and showing off how fast he could lay a row of bricks. 

Click to read more...

Thank You 

Leat Silvera

for donating

your wonderful, relaxing

Meditation, Yoga & Soundbath

Community Class last week

& delicious refreshments.

We wish you a Happy Birthday!

Nachshon Project Fellowship

Legacy Heritage Fund

At the Legacy Heritage Fund we direct a program called The Nachshon Project, a fellowship which inspires college students to pursue Jewish careers. Throughout a tuition-free semester in Israel, fellows gain leadership experience, connect with a network of peers, and engage in in-depth Jewish and Israel education. Fellows also become eligible to apply for a graduate fellowship which offers $30,000 per year for graduate school. 

We would appreciate your help recruiting the next generation of Jewish leaders and teachers. Ideal candidates for The Nachshon Project are bright and ambitious college students who possess real leadership potential, are driven to positively impact their communities, and are excited to learn about careers in Jewish communal service. 

Please think of candidates in your circles that would be a good fit for our program next year, and then nominate them here by June 15, 2023. 

Bar & Bat Mitzvah

Learning & Celebrations

at Kahal Joseph

Consider Kahal's excellent Talmud Torah program and dedicated, inspirational clergy to prepare your children for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies.

For more information call our office at 310.474.0559

To reserve Kahal's Social Hall, contact Sarah in our office during business hours at 310.474.0559. For more information about the Social Hall, click here.

To reserve a leaf of stone on the Tree of Life, click to email Yvette Dabby.

Condolences to the Family of David Halevy, z''l

With sorrow we send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of David Halevy, z’’l, David ben Rafael v’Rosa (1935-2023). He was born on Yom Kippur in Baghdad, Iraq and passed away Shabbat Minha, June 3rd 2023, the 14th of Sivan 5783.

David Halevy was the quintessential Iraqi man who loved his family. He was a voracious reader with an intelligent mind, a quiet manner, and an unexpected sense of humor. He leaves an incredible legacy in his grandchildren, of whom he was so proud.

He is survived by his wife Sue; his children Rafi (Avigail), Sharon (Alan Gomperts), Danny (Lemor), Rabbi Natan (Bracha); his loving grandchildren; his extended family and friends.

Burial was in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers go out to David Halevy’s loved ones. May they be comforted together with all the mourners of Tsion. Min hashamayim tenuhamu.

Condolences to the Family of Elsa Singman, z''l

With sorrow we send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Elsa Singman, z’’l, Elsa bat Toba v'Yaacov, z''l (1931-2023).

Born in Indonesia, October 8th 1931, she passed away Monday, June 5th 2023, the 16th of Sivan 5783. A survivor of WWII Japanese internment camps, Elsa immigrated to Los Angeles in 1960 where she met her husband, Harry Singman. While raising a family, she produced movies and stage shows. Elsa served on Kahal's Board for decades and led Kahal's Sisterhood for 12 years, coordinating dinners, concerts, & events.

Elsa is survived by her husband Harry Singman; sons Jack (Carla) & Kenneth; granddaughters Shyah & Cayla; extended family & friends.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Elsa’s loved ones. May they be comforted together with all the mourners of Tsion. Min hashamayim tenuhamu.

Refuah Shelema

Leah Ramah bat Sara, Farideh Zarifpour, Farshid Shohed, Shimon ben Pari v'Eshagh, Joseph Tizabi / Yosef ben Yehezkiel, Sophie Elias / Sophie bat Victoria, Evelyn Salem / Evelyn bat Mazal, Modi ben Yvonne, Zvi Moalim, Rylla Elias / Rahel bat Mazal, Ben Elias / Benyamin ben Yohevet, Latif ben Chanina, Alexander ben Yehezkiel and Chana Hai Reiza, Shmuel ben Yaacov v'Tova / William McAbian, Tal ben Alona Basha, Meir Iny / Meir ben Sabiha, Ezra ben Farha, Sylvia Cohen, Mehry bat Miriam Hakimipour, Yvonne Moalim, Florice Newberry, Aliza bat Rahel, Aliza bat Victoria, Chaya Chana bat Batya, Miriam bat Yetta, Miryam bat Malka, Chaya Rachel bat Simcha Ruhama, Karen bat Chana Meir, Eti Esther bat  Fortuna, Ezra ben Rahel, Albert Nissan ben Victoria, Reuven Halevi ben Batsheva , David ben Tova, Fouad Salem / Hayeem ben Naima, Noach Yaakov ben Tzipporah, Ori ben Nuphar Chaia

In Memoriam

We remember these azkarot/yahrzeit (memorial anniversaries) from June 10th to 17th 2023 (21st to 28th of Sivan 5783). It is customary to light memorial candles, donate tsedaka, & attend services to honor the memory of our loved ones.



23 Sivan / Monday, June 12th

Lily Judah Lulu bat Toba

Salim Kamara Salim ben Ezra

24 Sivan / Tuesday, June 13th

Joseph Meir Hakimpour Yosef ben Meir

Edith Judah Esther bat Chana

25 Sivan / Wednesday, June 14th

Ronen Navah Ronen ben Avi

26 Sivan / Thursday, June 15th

Daniel Rojhani Daniel ben Shimon

George Sassoon Khadoory Hai ben Ezra

Samha Zelkha

27 Sivan / Friday, June 16th

Abdallah Joseph Abdallah Faraj ben Isaac

Maurice Mathalon Moshe ben Avraham

28 Sivan / Shabbat, June 17th

Rostame Eliassi Mordecai ben Habib

Aziz Daniel Pourati Aziz ben Daniel