The January Edition Includes:

President's Message; Classes & Events;

Save The Date: February 23, 2025 for "Six Great Cities, Six Great Masterpieces" by John Paul Thornton; Meet:Chereen Peretti; Meet:Abby Younger/Women's Club;

Youth and Adult Basketball Update; Current Events Discussion Group; Men's Club; Readers Club; Mah Jongg

President's Messasge

Cultural Art Trips

Take advantage of these in-person

cultural arts trips

before they sell out.

Extraordinary India

February. 2-23, 2025

Take a “once in a lifetime” 5-star journey to explore the arts & architecture, cuisine & crafts, history, religions & traditions in this mysterious, magnificent & magical country!

For trip details & pricing, email James at jsokol@marinjcc.org.

Santa Fe

July 8-13, 2025

Spend 6-days/5-nights in a desert oasis where the earth climbs to the skies by way of adobe buildings and the Sangre de Cristo mountains – Santa Fe!

For trip details & pricing, email James at jsokol@marinjcc.org.

Best of Broadway

May 20-6 & June 10-16, 2025

Join our annual sell-out musical journey to Manhattan when the theater district is bustling with the excitement of countless shows and the energy of the Tony Awards. See seven – yes, seven! – of Broadway’s hottest shows; mostly musicals! Attend three exclusive “behind-the-scenes” discussions with Broadway professionals (see photo of the group with Broadway diva Beth Leavel!). 

For trip details & pricing, email James at jsokol@marinjcc.org.

Captivating Cuba

November 8-16, 2025

Discover “the Pearl of the Antilles!” Be inspired by Cuba’s soulful art, musical rhythms and vibrant dance on this exciting trip with an itinerary offering a myriad of experiences, a deep dive into Cuban culture, its arts, its food, its people and more! This popular trip is sure to sell out. 

For trip details & pricing, email James at jsokol@marinjcc.org.

Clubs & Activities

Valley JCC

Men's Club

Meet and socialize

with other 55+ men in the Valley!

Past outings include special tours of Santa Anita Park, Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Pasadena, experiences at Dodger Stadium, the Getty Museum, and Axe Throwing at Lumberjack's in Northridge, and SoFi Stadium.

The Men's Club meets the first Monday of the month

unless there is a national or religious holiday.

We will have our next dinner meeting on

Monday, January 6, 2025, 6:00pm 

Frank’s Weiler’s Deli, 21161 Victory Blvd., Canoga Park

Please rsvp (yes or no) to me by Friday, January 3^rd, 

Hope to see you on the 6th!!!!!!

If anyone wishes to be removed from the mailing list

please let me know.

For more information, contact steve@valleyjcc.org or call 818-360-2211

Guest Profiles

Meet:

Chereen Peretti,

Today's Montessori

We are now enrolling children ages 18 months to 5 years in Valley JCC's pre-school, Today's Montessori.

Headed by Chereen Peretti, Director Of Operations, Today's Montessori is a bi-lingual English/Hebrew school, inspired by the Montessori method with modern approaches.

Chereen started the pre-school in 2008, following a dream of her mother's. The school provides a warm and loving environment, which includes small classes, is eco-friendly, and serves kosher meals.

For more information registration details, please call: (818)360-2211.

Basketball

The Wayne League

by 

Jason Moser, Sports Coordinator

As we move into 2025, we plan to rebrand and improve our basketball leagues. Once again, we expect to have over 80 adult teams and 30 youth teams. Valley Stars Basketball will be handling our youth leagues as well as future camps, clinics, and practice times. This will allow us to keep our costs low and provide the same quality service we have for the past four years.

We are now also offering after-school youth basketball clinics at our Woodland Hills based preschool. These one-hour, fun classes will take place on Mondays or Wednesdays from 3:45 - 4:45pm. Participants will learn to dribble, pass, and shoot on our kid friendly court. This is a great way to introduce young players to the game of basketball. For more information, please email me at jason@valleyjcc.org.

I also would like to mention that we have added two new gyms to our growing portfolio: Chaparral Middle School in Moorpark and the Malibu Hills Community Center. We are also very grateful to add Alice Stelle Middle School back into our rotation.

I want to wish everyone an amazing traditional New Year and a safe holiday season. Thank You!

For more information, please contact Jason at: jason@valleyjcc.org

Please join us - Shalom!

Valley JCC sports leagues are named

in memory of beloved former

Executive Director Jerry Wayne

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 20, 2025

Photo: Engraved pavement in the location of where Martin Luther made his famous "I have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C.

Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States.

What Do People Do?

Martin Luther King Day is a relatively new federal holiday and there are few long standing traditions. It is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. Some educational establishments mark the day by teaching their pupils or students about the work of Martin Luther King and the struggle against racial segregation and racism. In recent years, federal legislation has encouraged Americans to give some of their time on this day as volunteers in citizen action groups.

Public Life

Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday, but has slightly different names in some states. Non-essential Government departments are closed, as are many corporations. Some schools and colleges close but others stay open and teach their students about the life and work of Martin Luther King.

Small companies, such as grocery stores and restaurants tend to be open, although a growing number are choosing to close on this day. Some compensate by opening on Washington's Birthday instead. Recent federal legislation encourages Americans to give some of their time on Martin Luther King Day as volunteers in citizen action groups. Public transit systems may or may not operate on their regular schedule. Since Martin Luther King Day falls on Monday, it is one of the public holidays in the United States that always create a long weekend.

Background

Martin Luther King was an important civil rights activist. He was a leader in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. His most famous address was the "I Have A Dream" speech. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968.

In 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King died, a campaign was started for his birthday to become a holiday to honor him. After the first bill was introduced, trade unions lead the campaign for the federal holiday. It was endorsed in 1976. Following support from the musician Stevie Wonder with his single "Happy Birthday" and a petition with six million signatures, the bill became law in 1983. Martin Luther King Day was first observed in 1986, although it was not observed in all states until the year 2000.

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/martin-luther-king-day

Thai Curried Butternut

Squash Soup

This is a light and creamy, vegan butternut squash soup recipe. This simple butternut bisque is seasoned with Thai red curry paste and swirled with coconut milk.

For ingredients and recipe, please go to:

https://cookieandkate.com/thai-curried-butternut-squash-soup/

Book Recommendation

The Small and the Mighty

by 

Sharon McHahon

From America’s favorite government teacher, a “fascinating and fun” (Adam Grant) portrait of twelve ordinary Americans whose courage formed the character of our country.

In The Small and the Mighty, Sharon McMahon proves that the most remarkable Americans are often ordinary people who didn’t make it into the textbooks. Not the presidents, but the telephone operators. Not the aristocrats, but the schoolteachers. Through meticulous research, she discovers history’s unsung characters and brings their rich, riveting stories to light for the first time. 

You’ll meet a woman astride a white horse riding down Pennsylvania Ave, a young boy detained at a Japanese incarceration camp, a formerly enslaved woman on a mission to reunite with her daughter, a poet on a train, and a teacher who learns to work with her enemies. More than one thing is bombed, and multiple people surprisingly become rich. Some rich with money, and some wealthy with things that matter more.

This is a book about what really made America – and Americans – great. McMahon’s cast of improbable champions will become familiar friends, lighting the path we journey in our quest to make the world more just, peaceful, good, and free.

www.amazon.com

From Today's Montessori...

Valley JCC is looking forward to engaging in continuous outreach in the community.

Stay tuned for details...

Fundraising Opportunity

On Your Birthday!

"How To" Use Ralphs To Benefit Valley JCC

1. Go to: www.ralphs.com
2. Click on "Sign in" to the right of the search box. (If you don't have an online account, click on "Register")
3. Click on your name to the right of the search box at the top
4. You will now be on your Account Summary page
5. Scroll down to "Community Contributions" and click on "Enroll"
6. Complete the online form and Click on "Save"
7. Enter organization number SK677 and click on the "Search" button
8. "Valley Jewish Community Center" will be displayed. Click "Enroll"
9. You will see a confirmation at the top of the Account Summary page
10. A percentage of your purchases will be donated to Valley JCC