Community Corner

Experience Jewish creativity, cultural pride, and hands-on art at the Jewish Street Art Festival – Live @ the JCC! On Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the Merage JCC will come alive with interactive workshops, live art demonstrations, and vibrant street art installations for the whole family. Meet acclaimed artists from the Weissman Arts 2025 Jewish Street Art Mural Campaign—including Hillel Smith, Adam Podber, Alexander Golob, and Sheina Yarmush—and discover even more talented creators throughout the day. Enjoy delicious food, explore urban artistry up close, and take part in hands-on creative experiences that celebrate Jewish culture in fresh, exciting ways!

Tickets are Free but Registration is Required.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

University Synagogue is partnering with Jewish Family & Children’s Service to offer a hands-on way to help refugee families in our community.

Join a Support Team
Volunteer 3–4 hours a week to assist with:

• Rides, tutoring & forms

• Cultural support & mentoring

Especially needed now as agencies face budget cuts.

Get Started
Join or form a team (5–8 people), attend an info session, complete brief training and a background check.

Learn More
To learn more about this impactful opportunity and to express your interest, please contact Kaitlyn Siegel, Volunteer & Engagement Coordinator, at ksiegel@jfcslobc.org or call 714.881.8835 Ext. 2238 or visit https://jfcslboc.org/refugee/support-teams/.

This program is partially funded by the Jewish Community Foundation Orange County.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

Join a powerful 8-day journey blending cultural exploration and community service. Connect with Cuba’s vibrant Jewish community, support local programs, and enjoy unforgettable experiences. Brought to you by Escapes Unlimted.

Highlights include:

• Meet Cuban Jewish leaders and learn about Jewish life in Cuba

• Deliver aid to senior centers and engage in hands-on service

• Celebrate Shabbat at Beth Shalom Synagogue and Patronato

• Tour historic Havana, visit the Jewish Cemetery, and explore Trinidad

Upcoming Trip Dates:

• Dec 4–12, 2025

• Jan 22–29, 2026

• Feb 19–26, 2026

Price includes luxury lodging, most meals, tours, and visa. Please note: Space is limited to 22 participants.

Be part of this meaningful mitzvah experience. Travel with heart, give back, and discover the resilience of Jewish life in Cuba.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER

Join ATID Hadassah for the exciting story of our own Irene Lewis, who was refused permission to leave the USSR for 5 years before successfully making it out. Find out why Irene began to embrace her identity as she was being punished for being Jewish. Learn how she entered the US with her son, her suitcase, and $300 and became one of the top one percent of women earners, 10 years later.

$27 couvert includes lunch. Register by September 4.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the New Israel Fund (NIF) has launched a global campaign to provide urgent relief. Partnering with trusted organizations—including World Central Kitchen, Clean Shelter, and Standing Together—NIF is helping to deliver food, clean water, shelter, and protection for aid convoys. While NIF typically funds work within Israel, this exceptional campaign reflects a commitment to Jewish values of compassion, justice, and the sanctity of human life.
Learn more or contribute at nif.org.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

As you may be aware, ICE has begun deportation efforts in Santa Ana. While educational institutions have not yet been directly targeted, El Sol Science and Arts Academy—an organization with a long and meaningful partnership with University Synagogue—is concerned that schools may soon be affected.

In response, Marshall Kaplan, a longtime advisor to El Sol and a member of our congregation, has assembled a group of pro bono attorneys with immigration law experience to assist El Sol families and students who are living in fear. However, additional legal support is urgently needed.

If you are an immigration attorney or know someone who may be able to help, please contact Marshall directly at:

949-689-5003 or mkaplan@pathopps.org.

Your support can make a real difference in protecting vulnerable members of our extended community.

In the latest episode of his podcast First Generation American, University Synagogue member Jeff Toporek sits down with fellow member Bonita Jaros for a rich and engaging conversation about her Ladino heritage. Bonita shares memories of growing up in a vibrant Ladino-speaking community in New York and reflects on the language, culture, and traditions that helped shape her identity.

You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

Have a first-generation American story to share? Reach out to Jeff to get involved.

Stay tuned for upcoming episodes featuring Rabbi George and more—coming soon!