Leorah Wrench: Raising $7,500 for the Santa Barbara Cancer Foundation My name is Leorah Wrench and I represent the 7th grade B’Mitzvah class of 2023, at Congregation B’nai B’rith. At our synagogue, our class was assigned to do a community service project as part of our coming-of-age process as we approach bar or bat mitzvah [...]
By Ellen & Rob Raede Our son Jason served in the IDF in 2010-2011 as a sharp-shooter in the Givati Brigade. This week, after the Hamas attacks, about half of his old unit was called up from the reserves, but not Jason. In fact, because of certain rules, he’s exempt from being called up. [...]
At the One805 Live concert, fund raiser for Santa Barbara’s First Responders held at Kevin Costner’s ocean front estate a week ago, Prince Harry and Princess Megan awarded the “Heart of the Community” to CBB friend Adam McKaig. Adam heads up “Adam’s Angels,” the organization he founded in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. [...]
I was sitting at Carlitos Mexican restaurant last Thursday with friends drinking a Margarita, staring across the street and taking photos of the “Barbie” Marque— because newspapers have really liked my Barbie shots—when suddenly men appeared with a ladder, and “Barbie” began to transform before my very eyes! I was wondering what movie was [...]
This National Make-A-Will Month, I wanted to share why Steve and I decided to include CBB in our estate plan and become members of the Children of the Covenant. Belonging to a vibrant Jewish community has always been an important part of my life. As a young girl growing up in a conservative Chicago congregation, [...]
Almost seven years ago I went searching for a meaningful professional opportunity and a place to belong. During these years I’ve had the privilege of working alongside wonderful colleagues and lay leaders, each having a significant impact in my life. I have been a partner, teammate and supporter. Each congregant, young and old alike, allowed [...]
Rachel Segalman: On Being the first B'Mitzvah Family at Trinity Lutheran When I was a child, my family belonged to Congregation Beth Torah in Richardson, Texas. At the time, Beth Torah was still raising a building fund. My earliest fond memories of this very inclusive, family-focused community were in the sanctuary that they shared [...]
PHOTO ABOVE: Lindsay and Todd Pellegrino with their younger son, Reece, at the BHY Consecration. Not pictured: older son Maxon. The Althea Stroum & Pat Glazer Memorial Family Camp Weekend is made possible by philanthropic support that offsets the cost of attendance for families with financial need. If you’d like to learn [...]
A Note: I’ll be starting my maternity leave at the end of this week, on November 4th. I'm currently 38 weeks' pregnant, but started writing this essay a bit before my 20th week of pregnancy. In my 20s, the “do not get pregnant” advice translated in my mind like a neon sign screaming at [...]
Recently, we asked longtime CBB member Marilyn Weixel to reflect on her recent travels to Israel, and the connection that keeps her returning. Below is her response. “When a Jew visits Jerusalem for the first time, it is not the first time; it is a homecoming.” Elie Wiesel People often ask me, when they hear [...]