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