Judie Cotton and the VBS Counseling Center
04/18/2022 10:40:33 AM
Judie Cotton, President of the Valley Beth Shalom Counseling Center (VBS CC), was born in a small town in Pennsylvania of 65,000 people. There were just two shuls in town and her family belonged to both. Ever since, Judie couldn’t imagine a time where she wouldn’t be active in a temple community. In 1965, Julie became a member of VBS, spending many years on the Board of Directors, circulating through different positions such as...Read more...
Rabbi Nina Bieber Feinstein
03/03/2022 11:25:21 AM
Judy Freier
02/14/2022 09:19:16 PM
“They say there are 70 ways to interpret Torah. I’m still searching for all 70.”
- Judy Freier aka “The Torah Lady”
Judy Freier founded the Valley Beth Shalom Parsha Discussion Group on the belief that if you...Read more...
Camp ViBeS
09/23/2021 02:36:55 PM
This summer marked another year of uncertainty of whether the carefree tradition of fun and community would continue through summer camp. Recognizing a need for both social and emotional fulfillment, our VBS Youth and Chesed Departments worked together to make sure...Read more...
Louise Spitzer
04/09/2021 10:03:47 AM
You might know her as the friendly woman who introduced you to others at Hazak and got you a bagel for lunch. You might know her as...Read more...
Passover Meals for Jews in Need
04/01/2021 03:31:27 PM
At your seder, you likely heard “Ha Lachma Anya” or “This is the bread of poverty/affliction.” P
overty is not something we have been able to leave behind in Egypt, and it’s still very much present in the Jewish community. Eighty million Americans, including Jews, are experiencing...Read more...
War on Isolation
02/22/2021 10:28:33 AM
Long before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rabbi Ed Feinstein and a cadre of leaders from our flourishing senior group, Hazak, launched the Positive Aging Task Force, an ambitious effort to help our community thrive. Once the lockdown orders began, the task force immediately pivoted to specific activities that would help this vulnerable population and the “War on Isolation” was born.
Initially, the group of volunteers made...Read more...
Homework Helpers
01/13/2021 01:35:55 PM
Jessica Bazel grew up at Valley Beth Shalom, attended the ECC, and graduated from the Day School three years ago. At VBS, Jessica learned the tremendous value of community service and giving back. Now a 15 year old high school freshman at Campbell Hall, she is one of eight “Homework...Read more...
The Covid-nine-TEEN project
10/01/2020 10:57:55 AM
This week we’re excited to introduce you to VBS member Skye Loventhal, co-founder of the Covid-nineTEEN Project!
Skye Loventhal is a senior at Granada Hills Charter High School and the daughter of our Director of the Etz Chaim Learning Center (ECLC), Keri (and Mark) Loventhal. For the past two...Read more...
VBS Pandemic Response Coordinators: Orit Rappaport, Renee Kalmanson & Coach Sam
08/27/2020 09:48:17 PM
When the synagogue closed its doors back in March as a result of the “Safer at Home” order, Orit Rappaport, VBS Operations and Facilities Manager, quickly became the emergency protocols and campus reopening expert. She attended Los Angeles County Department of Public Health...Read more...
