January—February 2025

"Flowers Aren't Enough," a play based on true stories, tells the story of Michal, a young woman who falls into an abusive relationship. The show's power is that it breaks the often-held myth that only uneducated, poor women from bad families are victims.

The play, written and performed by Naomi Ackerman, weaves together the voices of women from different cultures and backgrounds into a performance that encourages social change. 

Ackerman is the founder and executive director of The Advot Project and an experienced actress, consultant, and facilitator who creates curricula using drama techniques to deal with social, gender, and educational issues as well as exploring identity and promoting tolerance and dialogue between diverse participants.

Discussion and dessert reception will follow. Tickets are $15/person, suitable for ages 14+. Please register below.

This show is cosponsored by JLB, Temple Beth Ohr, Home Shalom, the Advot Project, and NCJW - Greater Long Beach & West Orange County.

We have the privilege of hearing from guest speaker Chloe Levian, the Senior Campus Regional Manager for StandWithUs, an international, nonpartisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism. Chloe covers universities across the Southwest. She graduated summa cum laude from UCLA, where she studied sociology and Israel studies. As the daughter of Iranian Jewish immigrants, Chloe took advantage of opportunities to get involved in Jewish life at UCLA, where she served as president of Bruins for Israel, senior chair of Bruins for Israel Public Affairs Committee, and a leader in several other organizations. Chloe’s passion for Israel activism was rooted in her experiences with antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in college, where StandWithUs provided her with the tools she needed to combat them. Check Jewish Long Beach's website and calendar as more info is posted.

This important event is cosponsored by Jewish Long Beach, Temple Israel, and NCJW - Greater Long Beach & West Orange County.

Reproductive freedom is a Jewish value!

We invite you to join us in honoring it!

Repro Shabbat offers us a chance to collectively pause and firmly root ourselves in Jewish values so we can strengthen our resolve to build a better world. Join us for the largest Jewish community event dedicated to honoring the Jewish commitment to reproductive freedom.

Repro Shabbat takes place annually when we read Parshat Mishpatim — the portion of the Torah containing verses used as the foundation of Judaism's approach to reproductive health, rights, and justice. 

Temple Israel's Friday night service at 6 pm will include relevant readings. A panel discussion with interfaith representatives will follow the service and cover such topics as religious laws and/or beliefs about life and personhood, when life begins, the value of a woman’s life, religious freedom as a constitutional right, etc. NCJW is sponsoring a pre-Shabbat Oneg at 5:30 pm and then a dessert nosh after the panel. Saturday morning's Torah study session at 8:45 am will focus on Parshat Mishpatim.

TI's Website Embedded Livestream

TI's Secure Livestream Web Channel

TI's Facebook Page

TI's YouTube Channel

If you wish to host your own meaningful Repro Shabbat with friends or family,

learn all you need to know by visiting the 2025 Repro Shabbat web page. 

However you choose to celebrate, we look forward to

celebrating reproductive freedom with you!

All are welcome to these important advocacy committee meetings:

●       1/28/2025 - Advocacy Committee Meeting; 5 PM via Zoom; contact Chana Ham-Rosebrock.

●       2/12/2025 - Abortion Justice Repro Rights Working Group Meeting; 1 PM via Zoom; contact Cynthia Gordon.

●      2/25/2025 - Advocacy Committee Meeting; via Zoom; 5 PM via Zoom; contact Chana Ham-Rosebrock

To reach the organizers, email them at advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org.

As part of NCJW’s celebration of Repro Shabbat (weekend of February 21-22), NCJW will be screening the documentary PLAN C. The documentary, filmed over 4 years, captures the work of the Plan C campaign and the work of activists and providers who began to mail abortion pills during the pandemic, in the face of crumbling reproductive rights and access across the United States. As usual, we'll gather at 6:45 and start the film at 7 pm.

"In the tough sociopolitical climate we are currently experiencing, this film comes in as a sign of hope.” -Rosa Parra, reviewer

‍

"Amid fear and turbulence of dire threats to abortion... the PLAN C documentary is testament of hope and resilience. The profound sense of humanity permeating through the footage is gripping and heart touching, but the advocates’ pragmatic and resolute mindset keeps PLAN C from descending into a sense of hopelessness and instead becomes a statement of resilience.” - THE UTAH REVIEW

Registration is required by Wed., Feb. 26: RSVP HERE or email us at programs@ncjwlongbeach.org. Call us at 657-235-2511 if you have any questions. You'll receive the address once you register.

Sunday, Mar. 2: NCJW's Annual Shirley Stein Book Review, 11:30 am, The Grand. Our fellow member the Honorable Sherri Sobel, Ret., wrote an inspiring and emotional book, It’s About Love After All: Essays on Child Welfare, which is about Sherri's 35 years on the bench hearing cases in the confidential juvenile dependency court. Registration info will soon be available on our website.

Thursday, Mar. 6: 2025 Community Action Fund Annual Event for Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, registration opens at 10:30 am, luncheon is at noon. Powerful guest speaker is Dahlia Lithwick, journalist, podcaster, and author of the bestseller Lady Justice. Join acclaimed Slate journalist and legal expert Dahlia Lithwick for an essential talk as she unpacks these critical issues and the urgent fight to defend reproductive health care. You will gain insights into the current landscape and practical advocacy tools to defend accessible health care for all. Don't miss this chance to engage with a leading authority in the fight for reproductive freedom! Register here.

Saturday, March 8: Early Learning & Kindergarten Festival, 8:30 am, Alvarado Elementary School, 1900 E 21st St., Signal Hill. Please sign up to help with registration by emailing communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org.

Tuesday, March 11: Abortion Comfort Kit packing, 6 pm, AJCC. Link to register coming soon.

Thursday, March 13: HugPack packing, 6 pm, AJCC. Link to register coming soon.

March 13 - 30: "Here There are Blueberries,” 2 pm and 7:30 pm shows at the Wallis Theatre in Beverly Hills. Based on real events, "Here There Are Blueberries" tells the story behind Nazi-era historical photographs—what they reveal about the perpetrators of the Holocaust and, ultimately, about our own humanity. Our member Deb Lelchuk's daughter is the Assistant Stage Manager for this show - congrats, Deb! Several of us are going to the Mar. 23rd show at 2 pm -- buy your tickets soon so we can see each other there and go for a snack afterwards. More info about the play here. Contact Natalie Swit at programs@ncjwlongbeach.org if you have any questions.

HOW TO REACH US - CALL US IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION

Email us at info@ncjwlongbeach.org, call (657) 235-2511, or send mail to NCJW–Greater Long Beach & West Orange County, 3801 E. Willow St., Long Beach, CA 90815. Please add this contact information to your contacts list.