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Our “River View”

Photo by John LaClair

Is the drought over? The raging Los Angeles River - under the Wilbur Avenue bridge - on Friday, February 17, 2017!

A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Residents

Sheila Paley Sydell “Jan” Shapiro

A Bi Gezunt (As long as you’re healthy)

By Harry Shragg

In my previous column in the VIEW (Autumn edition), I referred to the two campuses of the Jewish Home: Eisenberg and Grancell. Included in this issue is a map of both campuses. PLEASE KEEP THIS MAP for future reference. Of the buildings at Grancell, the more important ones for Fountainview residents are the Taper and JEK buildings. The Taper facility is where most of our residents are transferred from hospitals for recuperation and rehabilitation. The building is a skilled nursing and long-term care facility. The JEK building is also a skilled nursing, long-term care and rehabilitation unit. It is newer, more deluxe and expensive to live in than Taper. The buildings labeled 1-4 on the map are vacant and due to be replaced when funding permits. To be continued in future editions of the VIEW.

Fountainview at Eisenberg Village Reseda, California Winter 2017

www.fountainviewjha.org/fountainview-living/publications

Cuba X’s Two By Sue Richter and Haviva Maroko, Guest Reporters

In 2014, Haviva and Mike Maroko visited Cuba and just recently in 2016, Sue and Mort Richter went with the same tour company: Exclusive Expeditions. Our tours were very similar but did vary in some ways. One of the many highlights was visiting different and still functioning synagogues, one of which was the Sephardic Community Center in Havana. The president of the congregation, Dr. Mayra Levy, showed us the synagogue and described her life in Cuba. Mort gifted the synagogue with a family tallit and later the Richters sent them a brass menorah. This synagogue and the neighboring Askenazi Synagogue share holidays and even the Jewish cemetery. Santa Clara was another stop for both tours. A charming city, it is the location of the Che Guevara Monument and Mausoleum.

Che Guevara was the liberator of Cuba, having defeated the Batista Government in the 50’s. There is a Jewish community in Santa Clara: ‘Tikun Olam’. Mike presented them a tallit which had belonged to his grandfather. In another of the cities we visited a sugar cane museum and rode on a steam engine. Mike and Haviva took a sunset cruise from Trinidad de Cuba, then returned to Havana to celebrate Shabbat and have dinner at the Sephardic Temple. Mort and Sue saw a ballet in Havana at a beautifully restored theater. We also learned that education is a vital force in Cuba; the University of Havana enjoys a very high rating and reputation. Art and music are taught in all schools and there is a very highly regarded school of music. There is now non-stop airline service from Los Angeles to Havana. All in all we liked Cuba and we are very glad we went.

Sweetheart’s Day

February 14, 2017

LOVE IS…never growing old in each other’s eyes.

Kabbalat Shabbat Returns

By Evelyn Bauer

On Friday, February 10, we welcomed the Shabbat with a joyous service led by Irving Garfunkel who did an outstanding job of bringing back this tradition here at Fountainview. I didn’t know that Irv had so strong and pleasant a voice. He was inspiring. Rabbi Tomsky told us a warm and personal story of a wedding that he had performed. Malkah Schulweis shared a lovely poem written by Rabbi Schulweis. Elie Zev also added to the sweetness of the occasion. We look forward to the next Kabbalat Shabbat in March. We were happy to see Murray Geller in attendance. We thank him for starting our tradition of Kabbalat Shabbat and for his years of dedication and service.

Hanukkah Party “Getting Better All the Time"

By Lil Baker

T'was the third day of Hanukkah and the party went into full swing. The ice cream social had filled the star-decorated dining room with amiable residents. Shelley and Lauri started the fun off and then there was the Klezmer Band which didn't stop playing until it was all over. It got Carmela, Ethel, Susan and Aviva, and so many others (how could we name them all?) dancing and dancing. Leah and Aviva never really stopped. Leora and daughter unexpectedly stepped into a fun tango. The music had us all going, swaying, clapping along with the

addition of some provided noise makers. With amusement, we sat long enough to enjoy "the “Mishegunas Part One” (Jay, Shirley L., Zita, Mickey and Ilene) flawlessly read their act. Later, the “Mishegunas Part Two” composed of Norma, George, Adelle and Ruth W. added their performances to the festive enjoyment. Of course, there was joyous singing by everyone until we were regretfully told the room had to be prepared for dinner. Yes, our parties and celebrations do get better and better all the time.

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New Year’s Eve 2017 By Lil Baker

A fantastic New Year's Eve! Eager and ready for fun, our residents of Fountainview emerged in the afternoon for a glass of champagne and to have their photographs taken as they began the New Year's Eve celebration. They found the familiar transformed! Much was altered, thanks to our incredible Shelley Smilen and the FV team. Furniture was pushed around; gaming tables became centers for casino games. Space was made in the dining room for the dance floor and band. It was already festive with stars on the ceiling, now with silver streamers and purple balloons, it changed its color scheme into soft mood lighting. The 'cheese bar' in Riverview Lounge - innovated by gifted Angel Perez - was sooo inviting. Yummy! And, of course, in a room of its own, the overwhelming display of desserts including a chocolate fountain brought groans, moans and laughs as we decided to forget calories that night. Then it was up to us to spend the evening as we desired. After our luscious dinners laced with champagne, gaming was a huge draw as our professional croupiers kept us chuckling with their comments. The great band entertained the listeners as well the dancers. We, the revelers, would disengage ourselves at different times during the evening to enjoy the lovely specialties. Some of us even chose to see the special movies in our Theater. We can't tell you how the evening ended for most, because we toddled off to bed wishing everyone "A HAPPY AND A HEALTHY NEW YEAR!"

Passover

By Ruth Waller

Think, now, of ourselves living before the first words of the bible were written, before they were spoken, and before they were dreamed of. The ancient story of Passover teaches the world in every generation the pains of bondage, hardship and slavery. Consequently, it is our perpetual duty and responsibility to all nations and individuals who are oppressed to do everything in our power to assist the unprotected. The reading of the Haggadah is our guide to the complete Seder ceremony in prescribed order. The first part of the book contains mostly the deliverance from Egypt and is read before the meal. After dinner the second portion of the story and ending prayers are recited. In the United States additional prayers are suggested such as those on behalf of Holocaust victims, thanks for the state of Israel and all who defend it. This year we again welcome Rabbi Levy to lead us in celebration of this valued lesson for the whole world.

Countdown to the Oscars

After viewing this season’s movies nominated for Academy Awards, 45 residents submitted their personal Oscar ballots in hopes of coming out on top in our annual contest! Congratulations to:

Joy Picus and Bess Alderman – 17 correct winners!

Shirley Lazar – 16 correct winners!

Adelle Caplow and Carmela Kochman – 15 correct winners!

A tie breaker resulted in Joy taking home a gift basket, and Beverly Lawson was the winner of the “Participation” prize. What a fun program culminating in a “memorable” Oscar show!

Chai Tea

Reviewed by Ruth Orbuch, Editor

The Event Center was bathed in a lavender glow as the doors were flung open to reveal the sumptuous buffet table and four, rose bouquet centered tables. Even the chair backs were wrapped in large lavender satin bows! As conceived by Evelyn Bauer, and assisted by our creative staff including Lauri Kamiel, Activities Coordinator, and Shelley Smilen, Director of Resident Services, the inaugural Chai Tea greeted thirty-three ladies garbed in afternoon tea attire with a liberal assortment of hats and gloves. The star of the event was Angel Perez, Director of Dining Services. His talents directed the delicious display of finger sandwiches, fruits, French macarons, and three varieties of scones with appropriate toppings of lemon curd and clotted crème for our consumption! Evelyn presented a survey and history of the English tea celebration since the 15th century for our edification. Let us hope this will become an annual event at Fountainview! There were rave reviews from all assembled.

Celebrating 100 Years…Mort Maurer!

By Joyce Edelman

When Mort Maurer moved into Fountainview, he was not unknown to the residents. His son, Larry, periodically presents well-received programs here called "Timeless Melodies" for Saturday night entertainment. On these evenings, Larry takes us back in time to remind us of the music of the past. For years, as we came into the theater, Mort would hand us a program of

that evening's presentation. What a surprise to now find him here as one of us! It was another surprise that Mort has reached his 100th birthday! I expect we will learn a lot more about Mort and from him in the future.

Super Bowl Winners

Congrats to the following lucky residents who won the Fountainview Super Bowl Pool: Evelyn Gietter, Jack and Carla Weingarten, Sy Bloom and Adelle Caplow. Special thanks to Don Thorner and Len Pearlman for their great ‘coaching’ throughout the week! What a great duo, and what an amazing football game!

In Memoriam

We recall the names of our recently departed dear friends Betty Rubin, Eli Baker and Irene Starre. May their memories be a blessing.

the VIEW Staff

EDITOR: Ruth Orbuch

REPORTERS: Lillian Baker, Evelyn Bauer, Joyce Edelman, Rikki Levine, Shirley Rosenberg, Harry Shragg, Rabbi Mervin Tomsky, Ruth Waller

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mike Maroko, Fountainview Staff

PROOF READER: Bob Steres

STAFF SUPPORT: Shelley Smilen, Concierge Team

PRODUCTION/DESIGN: Cary Haskin

Focus on Lori Lucas, Marketing Director

By Shirley Rosenberg

Lori Lucas has been Marketing Director at Fountainview since April 2016, replacing Amber Hernandez when she became Executive Director of the community. In this function, Lori interviews new applicants for residency and processes their application for an apartment, assisting them in the move-in protocol. Lori was born in Utah, and is the proud mother of Synclaire, 22, who is studying American Sign Language at Cal State Northridge. Lori’s previous career was in law enforcement for 20 years. She holds degrees in Behavioral Science and Criminal Justice. She worked as a Death Scene Investigator for the Medical Examiner Office in Utah as well as the Utah Highway Patrol. Moving to California in 2008, she held positions in medicine as a Discharge Planner at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, as well as being an Admissions

Coordinator and Marketer for Silverado Hospice and Vesper Hospice organizations. Lori is Italian and has a huge family based out of Boston, Massachusetts. She loves all sports and has played softball and tennis for 40+ years. Musically she plays guitar and drums. She loves everything “Snoopy” and is a huge Boston Red Sox fan, too! But most of all, Lori loves her job here at Fountainview!

Tu B’Shevat – What We Celebrate

By Rabbi Mervin B. Tomsky

This year, the holiday of Tu B’shevat (15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat), fell on Saturday, February 11th. The Mishna terms it “Rosh HaShanah la ilanot” – the “New Year for Trees”. The heavy rainfall in Eretz Israel ends at this time and the fruit of the trees begins to form. This minor festival is observed with a “Seder” fashioned by the Kabbalists in a pattern of the Passover Seder. Four cups of wine – representing the change of seasons of the year - were drunk beginning with only white wine, representing the diminishing amount of sunshine, and then adding successive amounts of the red wine, ending with the last cup filled with only red wine. The ceremony includes related readings and blessings. An elaborate liturgy was developed by the Kabbalists in Israel around the 16th century which involved the eating of different fruits and nuts, mentioned in the Bible. “Today, Jews in the Diaspora make a practice of enjoying fruit from the Land of Israel on Tu B’shavat as a way of strengthening the bond between a people scattered around the globe and the Holy Land. One of the most popular of these fruits was (and is) the fruit of the carob tree, called “bokser” in Yiddish, and also occasionally referred to in English as St. John’s bread. In Israel it is customary for school children to go out on that day to plant saplings, thus transforming the day into a kind of Jewish Arbor Day.” (The Observant Life, pg. 194) For all of us, Tu B’shevat can serve to make us more mindful of ecological matters and to respect our planet in which we all live, as a legacy entrusted to our care.

Our Senses Have Been Enriched

By Rikki Levine

What a wealth of resplendence we were privileged to feast upon with our visit to the Norton Simon, formerly known as the Pasadena Art Museum. It was renovated again in 1996 by architect Frank Gehry – a stunning structure. The large rooms are open and create an easy flow from the 14th-16th century Raphael’s and Botticelli’s and portraits by El Greco and Bellini. Into the 17th and 18th centuries there is a show-stopping collection of Ruben, Rembrandt, Fragonard and the Italian Canaletto. The 19th century has an assemblage of Van Gogh (The Bedroom), Cezanne, and Gauguin. The early part of the mid-century realism up to 20th century are Vuillard and Bonnard. The modern and contemporary works are represented by Picasso, Braque, Matisse, and Diego Rivera, Klee and Kandinsky. The post-World War II brought us Warhol, Calder, Rauschenberg and Ruscha. I found a Monet to captivate the eye – a life size painting of Monet’s “The Rag Picker.” This is merely a sampling of a most incredible museum collection. And ahhh – to sculptures – Moore, Brancusi, Giacometti, Ruscha. But most thrilling is the sculpture garden of Rodin. We were blessed with lovely weather so that we could eat our box lunches out of doors. The trip home was enhanced with Sue Richter’s baked sweets, replenishing our energy and our spirits. May she be well and content to continue baking for all of our travels. Thank you – from all of us!