Our First Wedding
ByRikkiLevine
Suchabrouhaha!Andoverwhat?TheWeddingatFountainviewofcourse!Whereelsecouldsuchauniqueeventtakeplace? ConceivedbyEvelynBauerandexecutedwiththemagicofShelleyandLauri,itwasasnootherwedding‐Iamcertain! Thereweretwocouples:ZitaandMickey‐theotherAllenandHarry.Theywereaffectionateandlovingasnewloveshouldbe.Theentranceoftheweddingparty‐anditwasquiteanentrance‐wasledbyFlowerGirl,RuthWaller,andRingBearer,Amber.(Fortheoutsideworld‐Amberisherdog!)BestManwasDonaldThorner‐MaidofHonorwasEvelynBauer. Theceremonywasoriginal,tosaytheleast.It
wasoftendifficulttohearbecauseoftheuproariouslaughter.AstheRabbi,JordanKurnickwasathisbest(andhisworstisn’tbad).Anshuldicmir,Iknowwe’reKosher‐buthewassuchaham! TherewasaDJwhoplayedandentertained.WedancedtheHoraanddidsomeshucklingdowntheaisle–shoulders–hips‐whateverstillmoves! Theguestswerefamishedandthebuffetofhorsd’oeuvrestempting.Weweregiventhe‘go’tablebytable.Champagneflowed. Theweddingcakewasthepiecederesistance.Itwasscrumptious!!Angelathisbest! Attheconclusion,theweddingpartyexited,anxiousforromanceandtooimpatienttoeat.
Fountainview at Eisenberg Village Reseda, California Summer 2017
www.fountainviewjha.org/fountainview‐living/publications
A Special Sukkot Wall Hanging
ByJoyceEdelman
TheSukkahnextmonthwillbegracedwithanewspecialneedlepointwallhangingcreatedbytheskillfulandcreativehandsofourSueRichter.ThedesignshowsaSukkahinthedesertatnightwithmanystarsinthesky.ThereareHebrewlettersintheskythatcomefromLeviticuswhichtranslateto:“YoushallstayintheSukkahforsevendaysandsevennights.”Thisisalsoinscribedonabrassplateontheframe.Sueobtainedthedesignfromawomanwhocreatesneedlepointartworkontheinternet.Suechosethethreadsandstitches,originaltothepiece.Theprojecttookeightmonthstocomplete! MakingbeautifulobjectswithneedlepointhasbeenSue’shobbyforsixteenyears.Shehasmadeneedlepointstuffedanimalsforhergrandchildren.ShehasmadenumerousTallitbagsforherfriendsandrelatives.ShealsomadeanawardwinningChuppahunderwhichnineniecesandnephewshavebeenmarried. Besidesspendingtimedoingneedlepoint,Sueisanaviddevoteeofexercise.EverydayyoucanfindherintheFountainviewFitnessCenterworkingout.Sueandherhusband,Mort,areworldtravelers.Theyhavebeentooveronehundredcountries.Thetworecentlyreturnedfrom
Cuba,andsharedtheirexperienceswiththeirFountainviewneighborsthoughapresentationinourTheater.Keepupthegoodwork,Sue!
Children at Fountainview ByLilBaker
Ifyoudoubtthatchildrenarecherished,especiallyatFountainview,youhaveonlytowatchaswegatheraroundalittleone.Thechildmightnotbelongtoourfamily,mayevenbecompletelyunknowntous.Oh,wearediscreet.Sometimesitisonlyoneofusortwo.Sometimeswegiveonlyasmileorawink.Ohyes,sometimesweevenmakefacesorwavetooneofthem,hopingtogetareaction.Usuallytheyarekeptveryclosebysomeonedear.
Yesterday,IhadatreatasIworkedthejigsawpuzzleintheCreativeArtsStudio.JoanandCaseyKaganbroughttheirthreegrandchildren,Kasey,Quinley,andJuggertoplaywiththeWiibowlinggame.JoanandCaseycloselywatchedandinteractedwiththemastheyallplayedwiththegame.Theirlaughter,squealsandcommentsbroughtpleasuretome,too.Ourwonderfulfacilitymaynotbetheidealplacetoentertainthelittleones,butwesharethejoywhentheydocome.
A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Residents
Al and Claire Wilen Lee Hahn Michael and Judy Bernstein Beverly Pleskus
Total Solar Eclipse!
ByGuestReporterJoyPicus
GerryandIchosetoseetheTotalSolarEclipseonAugust20thinJeffersonCity,Missouri.Thatway,Icouldvisitmy48thStateCapitol(Gerryisnotfarbehind)andalsoseethiscelestialmiracle. Accompaniedbyourdaughter,Emily,andgranddaughter,Valerie,weheadedforaparkclosetoourmotel.Webroughtlunchastheeclipsebeganatjustpast12Noon,totalitybeganat1:13pm,anditwasoveralittlepast2:00pm.Therewereplentyofpeopleinthepark,butnocrowds.WeallwatchedFirstContact,andthencheckedtheprogressofthemoonacrossthesuneveryfewminutes.Whenthesun’screscentgotveryslimandchangeswereevidentallaround–itgotdarkenoughtoseeJupiter,
theshadowsincreasedandthecicadasbegantosing–everyonewaslookingupthroughtheirspecialeyeprotectors.Theexcitementwaspalpable.Atthemomentoftotality,everyonescreamed!Itwasatransformativeexperience.Breathtaking!Awesome!TheCapitolbuildingwasprettycool,too. Backathome,manythankstoBeverlyLawsonforherforesightandpreparationofinstructionsandsupplies.Thus,Fountainviewresidentslearnedabouttheeventandsome15eagerresidentswhogatheredonthemainpatiowereabletoviewtheeclipse’sshadowontheground.Watchingevenatinyreflectionofsunandmoonwasanawesomeexperience!
Hot! Hot! Hot!
ByEvelynBauer
ItwasHOT,tripledigitsonAugust31,soourOutdoorConcertwasthoughtfullychangedfromthecourtyardtotheDiningRoom.AngelandthediningstaffdidaremarkablejobofservingdinnerandgettingusoutoftheDiningRoominrecordtimesothetablescouldbeclearedandready. Andwhatasightitwas!HOTorangetableclotheswerecenteredwithbeautifulfloralbouquets.SoonthedeliciousSangriacocktailsappearedwithfreshpeachesandstrawberries,andeveryonewasreadyandmellowforawonderfulconcert.Popularcrooner,BillA.Jones,whohasentertainedusbefore,charmedagainwithrenditionsofoldfavorites.Hewas
accompaniedbyBobSelvinonthepianoandSimeonPillichonbass.Thisexcellentjazzduoalsoperformedafewinstrumentals,mostmemorablearenditionof“Summertime.”BilldidjusticetoJohnnyMercer,TommyDorsey,andDickHaymesashestruttedaboutflirtingandkissingladies’hands. OutstandingwasFrankSinatra’s“I’llBeSeeingYou”buthebroughtthehousedownwithhisversionofBobbyDarin’s“MacktheKnife.”Forme,thehighlightwasthelastoftheredHOTmamas,SophieTucker’s“SomeOneofTheseDays”.ThatwasHOT! ShelleyandLauri,asusual,didagreatjobinplanningthisevent.WelookforwardtotheSeptemberConcert,hopefullyoutdoorssothatwecandancealongwiththemusic.
The High Holy Days ‐ We Are All Connected
ByRabbiMervinB.Tomsky
RoshHashanaisatimeforintrospectionofourpersonallives:arewethekindofpersonswewanttobe;whatdifferencehaveourlivesmade;inwhatwaysdoweneedtochange?Areweaccountable?YomKippurisatimeforreconciliation‐withourselves;withothers;withGod.Throughrepentance,wearriveatatonement. TheJewishTraditionbringsusintoeachother'slives.Ofcourse,wedifferinmanyareasofJewishlifeandbeliefsandpractices,butweareallonepeople‐atleastwearetoseeourselvesandourfellowJewsasbeingpartofonepeople.Thewatchwordofourfaith,theSh'ma,hassymbolicallyservedasalinkbringingJewsofallbackgroundsthroughouttheworldtogetherasone‐one
nation,oneheart,onesoul.ByembracingthewordsoftheSh'ma,theJewindicateshisdesiretobepartofthedestiny
andtheeternityoftheJewishpeople.Ofcourse,thesoundingoftheShofarandtherecitationoftheKolNidreprayeralsoservetobindustooneanotherasapeople.Wecareforoneanotherandweprotectoneanother.That'spartofwhatitmeanstobeaJew.Andallareincluded! ItistobenotedthatsomeoftheprayersintheMachzorareintheplural:Oshamnu,Aveinu
MalkeinuandV'AlKulam,forexample.Whatwelearnfromthisisthatwhilesomeinoursocietyareguiltyofcommitting
sin,allareresponsible.Weshouldknowthatthewordfor"sin"inHebrewis"Chet"."Chet"means"missingthemark".Wecandobetter‐asindividualsandaspartofoursociety‐inmakingtheworldmoreworthyofGod'sblessings.Wehavetoaskourselves:arewe
bringingmoreholinessintotheworldbywhatwesayandbyhowweact?Yes,wecanbemorethoughtful,helpfulandrespectfulandthusbringagreaterawarenessofGod'sdivinepresenceintoourlivesandthelivesofothers. MayweallbewrittenandsealedintheBookofLifeforapeaceful,healthy,andaGoodNewYear.ShanaTova!
A New Sculpture
Graces our
Garden
ByRuthWaller
Howthankfulandhowfortunatethatweliveamongstartworkofsuchdistinctionandprominence.Hopefully,eachofushashadtheopportunitytoview“Grace”bytheartist,TanyaWolfRagir. Thissculptureismeticulouslyrenderedinallthepassionanddramathatitstitlesuggests. “AsGracecameintobeingIwasinspiredbytheinherentqualitiesoftheJewishHome:compassion,giving,faith,andreverenceforthepastandthefuture.Theideaofthecircleasacontextofthesculpturewasborn.Atitsbaseisadeconstructed“Alef”.TheAlefmeansonenessandunity.ItisalsothefirstletterintheTenCommandments.ThefigureatoptheAlefismovingforward,uplifted.Thefeminineislife‐givingandspeaksofgenerationstocome.Thebillowingfabricisawaytodescribebreath,theultimatesourceoflife.Sheisholdingbranchesofatreewhichcompletethecircleshapeofthesculpture.Thetreeoflifeisaniconimage.Itisthegreatprovider.Itbringsshelterinthestorm,
warmthinthewinter,medicine,fire,andbeautyyearround.“Grace”recognizesdonorswhoseextraordinaryestategiftssustaintheLosAngelesHomeforyearstocome.” Inhercareer,TanyaWolfRagirwasperforminginaballetcompanybeforesheattendedcollege.ShewassketchingcadaversattheUSCMedicalcenterandaftergraduatingfromUCSantaCruz,shepursuedacareerinthemannequinindustryfortwenty‐fiveyears.Tanyaopenedherownmannequinbusinesssculptingoveronethousandfemininefiguresmasteringthestrengthsanddelicaciesofgrace. DuringTanya’sever‐morphingartworkrangingfromclassictoavant‐garde,theartisthasbeeninternationallycollectedinmultipleprivateandpubliccollections. Weareverygratefultothegenerosityofthenameddonorsforthisgiftwhichwillenrichusall.
PhotobyMikeMaroko
Honoring Rabbi Tomsky ByGuestReporterLeeWeinstein OnSundayJuly16,theRabbinicalAssemblyhonoredourRabbiMervinTomskyforhis25yearsofwelcomingandhelpingnon‐JewstoconverttoJudaism.Morethanseventyguests,manyfromtheConservativeRabbinicalAssociation,gatheredatValleyBethShalomforthiscelebration.AgoodnumberofFountainviewresidentsattendedalso. ThefestivitiesstartedatnoonwithagalaluncheonfollowedbyeightrabbispraisingRabbiTomskyforhisaccomplishmentsasamemberoftheBetDin(theofficialbodyoftheConservativemovementresponsibleforconversion). RabbiTomskyconcludedtheprogramwithpersonalremarksandanecdotes.
Miracles of Eisenberg Campus
ByRuthWaller
Justatthedawnofanearlymorningwalkwithmydog,Amber,wecameuponastartlingphenomenon.Asweapproachedthestatue“Grace,”webeheldaperfectsemicircleonthedew‐coveredgrass.Surelyacircleoffairieshadjustdisappearedfromviewasweapproached! I’mcertainthatwithintheenclosedperimeterofourindividualbuildings,thereismagiclurkingallaroundus.Beonthelookout.
Saturday Afternoon’s Theater AdventureByRikkiLevine
IenjoyparticipatinginFountainviewtrips,buttheGlendaleTheatreispushingmyloyaltytothelimit.SuchwasthecaseoftheSaturdayperformanceof“TheAndrewsBrothers”.(Thetitleinitselfhadmeapprehensive.)IknewallthesongstheysangthatwereofWWIIvintage.Thefirstactwasadisaster,butIreplenishedmyselfwithcoffeeandacookieduringintermissionanddutifullyreturnedtomyseatinsteadoftakingUberhome. Amazingly,thesecondactwaswellperformed
andfun.Theguyswereindrag,whichaddedtothehilarityandthetempolifted.Afemaleperformerwasattractive,agooddancerandsangwell.TheBrotherswereupbeatandweallcommentedonwhatgreatlegstheyhad.Theairconditioningwason‐whichhelpedconsiderably,sinceitwasafullhouse. Thehappyendingwasfindingthebusrightinfrontofthetheater.Wearrivedhomeatsixo’clocktoawelcomingdinner:noreservations‐nolines‐nowaiting.Juststaffthatknowsallournames!
In Memoriam WerememberthenamesofourrecentlydepartedfriendsCliffLevineandLuVerneDesnick.Maytheirmemoriesbeablessing.
Top Players – DAKIM
May:BobbieFarkasandShirleyWolfson…TIED!June:CarmenPosnerJuly:CarmenPosner(51gamesplayed!Wow!)
Celebrating the Fourth
ByLilBaker
Patriotismwasthethemeofthedayeasilyobservedbyalmostallourresidentswhodressedinred,whiteandblue.OurShelleycontinuestooutdoherselfdecoratingthefirstfloorwithflagsandballoonsandflowers.ChickieOpperwontheMs.PatrioticprizeandMarvinFreedmanwontheMr.Patrioticprize,eachforattire.Thatwassomehat,Marv! PalmerDavisusedmusicandsongstogetusstartedwithphysicalfitness.Theexcitementsoftheafternoonhadsomanyofusintriguedwiththecasinogames.
Wehadprofessionaldealerstakingourfunnymoneyatblackjack,pokerandcraps.Andtada…themostmoneywinnerswere:RoseGeller,winning$3,000,SamKremenwinning$5,700,andAlandClaireWilenwinning$7,700asacouple.ThanksgotoAngelPerezforthegreatbarbequedinner.From7:30pmon,theprogramintheTheaterkeptusinthespirit.Welefthearingtheoutsidenoisesoffirecrackersandevensawsomeofthenearbyfireworks.
Wottaday!
Reseda Canoga Park was once called Owensmouth; Woodland Hills was Girard; Reseda was formerly known as Marion. In 1921, a fourth‐class post office was established in Marion but the town had to change the name to
avoid conflict with another Marion, California. The name agreed upon was RESEDA, Latin meaning “TO GIVE AID AND COMFORT”. What an appropriate name for the location of our Jewish Home!
Bastille Day at Fountainview ByRikkiLevine
ThecelebrationofFrance’sBastilleDayonJuly15th(the14thistheactualdate)atFountainviewwassimpleincomparisontoitslavishrecognitionallovertheworldwithsinging,dancinganddrumming.BastilleDaymarkstheanniversaryofthestormingoftheBastillein1789,amedievalfortressthatheldprisonersbrutallyandwithouttrial. Fountainviewshowedafilmoftheconcert“LesMiserables”.IdonotexaggeratewhenIsaythatthosewatchingweremesmerizedbythethree‐hourfilm.Themagnificentvoicesofthecastportrayedthestoryasthoughitwasaplay.Itwasnotthecompletescript,neverthelessitportrayedalltheemotionanddrama,thesentimentandthepassionofwhatwastranspiring. Itwasfollowedbyadinnercarefullychoreographedby
AngelconsistingofFrenchonionsoupandsalmonnicoisesalad.TheSaturdaynightmoviewas“GoldDiggersinParis,”withRudyVallee‐rememberhim?Awell‐planneddaybyLauriwastotallyappreciatedbytheresidents.
Editor’sNote:IfyouownaDVDofaBroadway‐typeproduction,youmayliketoshareitwithourFountainviewaudience,asIdid.
Sad News from MinnesotaCourtesyofHarryShragg
Pleasejoinmeinrememberingagreaticonoftheentertainmentcommunity.ThePillsburyDoughboydiedyesterdayofayeastinfectionandtraumacomplicationsfromrepeatedpokesinthebelly.Hewas71. Doughboywasburiedinalightlygreasedcoffin.Dozensofcelebritiesturnedouttopaytheirrespects,includingMrs.Butterworth,HungryJack,theCaliforniaRaisins,BettyCrocker,theHostessTwinkies,andCaptainCrunch.Thegravesitewaspiledhighwithflours. AuntJemimadeliveredtheeulogyandlovinglydescribedDoughboyasamanwhoneverknewhowmuchhewaskneaded.BornandbreadinMinnesota,Doughboyrosequicklyinshowbusiness,buthislaterlifewasfilledwithturnovers.Hewasnotconsidereda
verysmartcookie,wastingmuchofhisdoughonhalf‐bakedschemes.Despitebeingalittleflakyattimes,hestillwasacrustyoldman,andwasconsideredapositiverollmodelformillions.Doughboyis
survivedbyhiswifePlayDough,threechildren:JohnDough,JaneDough,andDoseyDough,plustheyhadoneintheoven.Heisalsosurvivedbyhiselderlyfather,PopTart.Thefuneralwasheldat3:50forabout20minutes.
the VIEW Staff EDITOR:RuthOrbuchREPORTERS:LillianBaker,EvelynBauer,JoyceEdelman,RikkiLevine,HarryShragg,RabbiMervinTomsky,RuthWallerPHOTOGRAPHERS:MikeMaroko,FVStaffPROOF READER:LeeWeinsteinSTAFF SUPPORT:ShelleySmilen,ConciergeTeamPRODUCTION/DESIGN:CaryHaskin
