Thank you to everyone who attended our 2012 BCC Awards Brunch. It was a fantastic success! Everyone had a wonderful time and we met our goals to support our wonderful temple. Whether you purchased a raffle ticket or auction item, were a sponsor, guest, or volunteer, your support is hugely appreciated. Thank you! If you would like to view the fabulous silent film that showed at the beginning of the program, click here.

BCC is co-sponsor of THE CRISIS OF ZIONISM  with author Peter Beinart

A dramatic shift is taking place in Israel and America. In Israel, the deepening occupation of the West Bank is putting Israeli democracy at risk. In the United States, the refusal of major Jewish organizations to defend democracy in the Jewish state is alienating many young liberal Jews from Zionism itself. In the next generation, the liberal Zionist dream—the dream of a state that safeguards the Jewish people and cherishes democratic ideals—may die.

In The Crisis of Zionism, Peter Beinart lays out in chilling detail the looming danger to Israeli democracy and the American Jewish establishment’s refusal to confront it. And he offers a fascinating, groundbreaking portrait of the two leaders at the center of the crisis: Barack Obama, America’s first “Jewish president,” a man steeped in the liberalism he learned from his many Jewish friends and mentors in Chicago; and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister who considers liberalism the Jewish people’s special curse. These two men embody fundamentally different visions not just of American and Israeli national interests but of the mission of the Jewish people itself.

Beinart concludes with provocative proposals for how the relationship between American Jews and Israel must change, and with an eloquent and moving appeal for American Jews to defend the dream of a democratic Jewish state before it is too late.

This book reading takes place at Temple Israel of Hollywood, 7300 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046.  Read more!  Also will be live streamed.  Do not miss out!

Sunday, May 6, 2012 10:30am, Omni Downtown Los Angeles. 2012 BCC Awards Brunch. Join us for fantastic ambiance & food, fabulous people & honorees, incredible auction, great entertainment, and a lot of 40th anniversary red carpet surprises that will make this year’s BCC Awards Brunch different from any before! iPad raffle, need not be present to win! Event Info Here: http://www.bcc-la.org/bcc-annual-humanitarian-awards/ Ticket Sales Here: http://bccbrunch2012.eventbrite.com/

Temple Beth Chayim Chadashim’s Annual Awards Brunch will be held on May 6 at the beautiful Omni Los Angeles Hotel.  It is a Red-Carpet event of BCC’s 40th anniversary year!  The Champagne Reception & Silent Auction begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the program & brunch at noon. To purchase tickets or to make a donation, please go to http://bccbrunch2012.eventbrite.com.  Please join us!

Prostate Cancer & Erectile Disfunction (ED):  What Gay Men need to Know

When: Sunday, April 29, 4pm – 6pm

Where: MCCLA, 4953 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Description:  Join Dr. Jonathan Bergman, an openly gay Urologist with UCLA’s medical School and Dennis Bogorad, founder of the first Prostate Cancer support group exclusively for gay men which deals with loss, self-esteem & sexual dysfunction, for an informative conversation about a very important topic for men.  The meeting will take place in the sanctuary.  Dr. Jonathan Bergman will lead a one hour informational presentation on what it means to be a gay man with prostate cancer. Dr. Bergman will also discuss various treatment options for erectile dysfunction. There will be a Q & A session following. Dennis Bogorad will talk about his personal story of being a gay man with prostate cancer.  Dr. Bergman and Dennis Bogorad are dedicated to helping the gay community to be better informed about prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction treatments. All Gay men community-wide are invited to attend this free event. Bring a friend! For more information, contact Rev. Dr. Pat Langlois  or by telephone at 323-669-3434 x 108

Prostate Cancer and Erectile Dysfunction: What Should a Gay Man Know? The sexual & emotional issues affecting gay men with prostate cancer are different from those of straight men. Last Spring, LA’s GLBT Center started the only support group in Southern California exclusively for gay and bi men with prostate cancer. The number of gay men attending this twice monthly group has grown rapidly with 41 men now joining. This gay prostate cancer support group has help illuminate the unhappy fact there are thousands of gay men in Los Angeles experiencing erectile dysfunction and not knowing reliable ways of treating it. ED can be the result of a multiplicity of reasons, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV, antidepressants, prostate issues, physical injury, aging, and more. Whether you’re recently diagnosed, undergoing treatment, or a long-term survivor of prostate cancer OR you are one of the many gay men suffering in silence with erectile dysfunction we can offer you reliable information on how to deal with both issues.

Saturday, April 7, BCC Second Night Community Seder at 6 pm. Enjoy a festive Seder led by Rabbi Edwards and Cantor Porat with your BCC Family.

 This special and delicious Passover meal will be catered by Bronze Food Catering (Chef Peter Bastien and David Mozes). It will feature a delectable fish entrée or a scrumptious vegetarian entrée. As we celebrate our freedom and our good fortune in sharing food and each other’s company in our new synagogue, we will also be remembering those still working for liberation.

Cost: $50 for Members, $65 for Nonmembers, children 1/2 price.

Please make your paid RSVP to the BCC Office by Wednesday, April 4 at 4pm, to be included in the Chef’s count. (Please specify Fish or Vegetarian entrée.)

 NO SALES AT THE DOOR.

On Sunday, March 25, join Dr. Rachel Adler for a practical study on hosting a Passovcr Seder, 1 pm to 4 pm.

SEDERSMARTS

Whether you plan to be a seder guest or seder leader, be a better one! Don’t miss Rachel Adler’s entertaining Pesach workshop on how-to lead a great seder. Be an empowered guest. Meet your Haggadah. Learn melodies – CDs available! Find terrific customs.   Haggadah Tools & Display Handouts. 3pm -4pm Kitchen Kashering demo. You can do it!

  Be an Agent of Change!  

 Share in the mitzvah of tzedakah. Since 1998, the BCC community has collected, contributed and distributed over $28,000 to 78 organizations helping those in need here at home, in Israel and around the world. Collectively we can make a difference in repairing the world. Help yourself to a pushke, available in the shul lobby. Please return your pushke, however filled, with your spare change to the shul office. The spring semi-annual pushke coin drive concludes April 27. -The Tzedkah Council