MAGEN DAVID CONGREGATION
OF BEVERLY HILLS
322 North Foothill Road
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Tel: 310-274-0808
Fax: 310-274-0608
 
August 27, 2009
 
TO THE DEAR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF OUR MAGEN DAVID FAMILY:
 
        Tizku, Le’Shanim Rabot, Tovot v’Neimot! Time truly flies by and actually seems to be speeding up. It is amazing to realize that another year gone by and the Yamim Noraim are here once again, bringing with it bountiful new blessings and new opportunities for growing and giving and sharing all that goodness Hashem has showered upon us. On behalf of our Board of Directors - Michael Fallas, Dr. Moses Fallas, Albert Katri, Albert Khodari, David Laham, Marco Sayeed and me, it is my great and sincere honor to extend my heartfelt greetings to each of you as your new President. 
 
        We have witnessed astonishing advancements under the enlightened guidance of our esteemed Rabbi and Chacham Haim Ovadia. On September 1, 2008, our Kahal welcomed the arrival of Rabbi Haim Ovadia, his very special wife, Edna, and their entire family. Rabbi Ovadia has brought a strong new focus and abundant energy to Magen David, with extensive new programming for new and existing members, young adults, young married families and their children.  
 
        In the eleven months since his arrival, Rabbi Ovadia has instituted and nurtured a renewed and community-wide commitment to Torah, Tefillah and Mitzvot, the precious fruits of which we are see and enjoy on a daily basis. May Hashem continue to guide him and bless and establish the works of his hands. 
 
        Among the many new and ongoing programs that fill our Kahal with life and action are the following:
 
1.    We are now beginning our second year of the Rabbi Ovadia’s Daily Gemara Daf Yomi shuir. Daily attendance is strong and growing stronger;
 
2.    Our daily minyanim for Shacharit, Minha and Arvit are solid, timely and reliable. Each of these daily minyans is sweetened by Rabbi Ovadia’s stirring and relevant Divrei Torah and Divrei Halacha, including daily classes based on Chok L’Yisrael;
 
3.    Rabbi Ovadia’s Wednesday Night Class has a committed following of eager and active participants of who benefit greatly from the Rabbi’s keen insights into the life lessons embedded in Tanach, the Siddur and the Machzorim;
 
4.    Our Shabbat Kiddush and Seudah Shilishit are now certified institutions whose fame has spread far and wide. Supported by the active sponsorship of our members, these gala and festive gatherings where we all share good friends and good food are weaving together the fabric of our Community;
 
5.    Now entering its third year, every Monday morning at 8:30 a.m., the women of Magen David share an in-depth Torah shiur guided with great care and profundity by Rabbi Boruch Suffrin; 
 
6.    Mrs. Levy’s excellent Shabbat Morning Children’s Program has now been augmented by our new Shabbat Morning Childcare Program for younger children, ages 2 to 5. Parents can now concentrate on their prayers, with peace of mind and confidence, knowing that their young ones are in good hands.
 
7.    To ensure that your children acquire the skills and knowledge they need to become proud and committed Sephardic Jews, Magen David also offers personalized tutoring and instruction in Hebrew language, Tefillot, and Kriat HaTorah, under the kind tutelage of Rabbi Ovadia and Rabbi Levy.
 
        It is also my great pleasure to acknowledge publicly the hard work and constant dedication of our Rabbi Naftali Levy. His kind and positive presence, often behind the scenes, touches everything that we enjoy about Magen David. Cookies and coffee with milk and sugar (or Splenda) for all of our Minyanim, recording, collecting, and acknowledging of your generous donations, challah, grape juice, and home-made Hamin for Shabbat Morning Kiddush and Seudah Shelishit, and candlelight for Havdalah, are all the result of Rabbi Levy’s constant care and attention to the details. His presence is truly a blessing for our Kahal.
 
        Magen David exists to provide the environment and means to express our individual and communal devotion and commitment to Hashem, and His Torah and Mitzvot. We have beautiful tefilot, for Shaharit, Minha and Arvit, each and every day. We pray as our ancestors prayed, and with G-d’s help, as our children and grandchildren will continue pray. And, as everyone knows and agrees, the beauty of our tefilot has been safeguarded and enhanced daily, for decades, by the sublime hazanut of the founder and pillar of our Kahal, Mr. Joseph Fallas, may Hashem grant him long life, good health, and continuing inspiration.
 
        You will find a Schedule of Regular Daily and Weekly Classes later on in this Guide to the Haggim. Resolve to make the year to come a year of learning and growth. Regular Torah study is your springboard into meaningful observance and a productive and blessed New Year. 
 
        Also, please keep Magen David in mind when the time comes to celebrate your simachot. Magen David offers ample and beautiful facilities for bar mitzvahs, britot, weddings, and all the other milestones of Jewish life. Please accept my invitation to make Magen David your spiritual home. Working together, and with Hashem’s help, we can and will fulfill the dreams and hopes of the Jewish People, our families, and ourselves.
 
        On behalf of the entire Kahal, and on behalf of myself, my faithful and ever supportive wife, Debby, and our entire family, we wish you all a Shanah Tovah U’Metukah. We look forward to seeing and greeting each of you during the Haggim and throughout the coming year.
 
Tizku, v’Tichyu L’Shanim Rabot,
 
 
Jacob N. Segura,
President
Magen David Congregation of Beverly Hills
 
 

 
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