Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy invites you to join us on Friday, June 11th, at 4:00 PM for what will hopefully be our final Zoom Shabbat experience before our city reopens. As we begin to resume normalcy, we will unite virtually one last time to celebrate that our prayers have been answered while acknowledging our community’s losses. We are grateful to have had this virtual outlet and opportunity for connection during such a difficult time, and we hope you will be there as we welcome Shabbat and look ahead to a brighter future — together.
Founder and Artistic Director of The Pico Union Project Craig Taubman and Sinai Temple’s Rabbi Nicole Guzik will lead us in an inspiring musical Shabbat experience.
Your attendance at this event contributes to The Jewish Federation’s life-changing work. Our Federation stepped up and worked diligently with our partners to address the most pressing needs caused by the COVID-19 crisis. We were there to strengthen the fading heartbeat of Jewish L.A. by:
- Supporting the survival and safe reopening of our local Jewish institutions and Jewish-owned businesses
- Providing meal deliveries to our homebound frail and elderly
- Improving mental health and awareness in teens and young adults
- Connecting community members to one another through virtual events
Online registration is closed. For more information or if you have any questions regarding how to join this virtual experience, please contact Lauren Shorten at LShorten@JewishLA.org or (323) 761-8306.
About our speakers:
Craig Taubman began his illustrious career at the tender of age of 15 when he picked up a guitar and began to lead music at Camp Ramah in Ojai, California. Someone suggested that he actually go to school, so he did at UCLA, Northridge University, and the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. He also spent two years at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he performed for Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, and a bunch of other college students who are now in their mid-50s.
His eclectic musical styles have made his recordings an integral part of the Jewish community. Craig’s songs bridge traditional Jewish themes and ancient teachings with passages and experiences of contemporary Jewish life. He speaks a language that is both comfortable and acceptable to children and adults. His Jewish recordings are an integral part of the community, weaving song and spirit into the fabric of Jewish life.
Craig has also enjoyed a successful career in television and film. He composed and directed music for several children’s television series and his music has been used in feature and animated films. Craig’s sell-out concerts draw thousands of fans at respected venues around the country. Craig is also the producer of Jewels of Elul (www.jewelsofelul.com), an annual collection of short stories, anecdotes, and introspections for the High Holy Days from more than 250 inspired voices over 10 years.
Most Recently, Craig has been focusing his energies on building the Pico Union Project. (www.picounionproject.org). This multi-faith cultural arts center, located in downtown Los Angeles in the oldest synagogue in Southern California, is dedicated to the Jewish principle of “love your neighbor as yourself.”
Rabbi Nicole Guzik has served as a rabbi at Sinai Temple for ten years, and four years prior as Sinai Temple’s rabbinic intern. She focuses on innovative women’s programming and young family retention and recruitment, and she supervises Beit Bracha — Sinai Temple’s mainstreamed religious school for children with special needs. She guided Sinai Temple Sisterhood’s inaugural March of the Living trip to Poland in 2017 and in 2019 led a joint Sinai Temple-Sinai Akiba Academy March of the Living journey.
Rabbi Guzik also serves as the Director of the Sinai Temple Israel Center and Nazarian Youth Program. The Israel Center engages the Sinai Temple and Los Angeles community in Israel education and advocacy through speakers, classes, trips, and programs.
She is married to Rabbi Erez Sherman. Together they are the proud parents of daughter Annie and sons Zachary and Henry.
By signing up to attend this event, you agree to irrevocably grant to The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles — and to their employees, agents, and assigns — the right to take your photograph, record you, or use your image, silhouette, and/or other reproductions of your physical likeness, as well as your voice and/or words, for all purposes related to marketing and promotion of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, across all media. These rights are granted in perpetuity. You hereby certify and represent that you are of at least 18 years of age and have read the foregoing and fully understand the meaning and effect thereof.