`THE VALLEY WAS SOMEWHAT OF A DESERT, IT HAD TO BE PLOWED.' RABBI WATCHED VALLEY JEWS GROW.Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Teacher, role model and friend. These are the ways in which the members of Shaarey Zedek Congregation describe their rabbi, Marvin Sugarman. These words will also be used to honor Sugarman and his wife, Avis Sugarman, at his retirement banquet Sunday. ``What is so special about him is he's a very honest man and he practices what he preaches. He has a tremendous commitment to Judaism. You can fashion your life after him,'' said Doris Levy, a member of the Orthodox synagogue for more than 30 years. Levy said it's not just the synagogue's own members who will comprise the estimated 500 people attending the banquet, but also Jews from other Orthodox communities in the Greater Los Angeles Area The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is the agglomeration of urbanized area around the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. There are two "official" definitions—the Los Angeles metropolitan area consisting only of the Los Angeles and Orange . ``Rabbi Sugarman is well-known and active in the Jewish community and people respect him. I think it's very rare to find someone who puts community first. The Sugarmans are the essence of what it means to be a rabbi and a rebitzen,'' Levy said. Even though Sugarman, who has been a rabbi for 44 years, will deliver his last sermon in July, due to the constraints of the Jewish calendar Jewish calendar n. The lunisolar calendar used to mark the events of the Jewish year, dating the creation of the world at 3761 b.c. See Table at calendar. Noun 1. the banquet was planned for Sunday. Appropriate times for celebrations are but one aspect that govern the life of an Orthodox Jew. Orthodox Jews also observe all the laws governing the celebration of the Sabbath, the dietary laws and laws of family purity. Sugarman said the Orthodox community in the Valley is much stronger today than it was in 1967 when he first came to Shaarey Zedek. ``The Valley was somewhat of a desert, it had to be plowed,'' he said. ``It was difficult to get a minyan min·yan n. pl. min·ya·nim or min·yans The minimum number of ten adult Jews or, among the Orthodox, Jewish men required for a communal religious service. of 10 back then. Now we have close to 300 who come on Friday night and over 200 at the Saturday morning services.'' Sugarman recommends that anyone who would like to visit an Orthodox synagogue for the first time for a Shabbat service to prepare themselves before going since they might feel estranged es·trange tr.v. es·tranged, es·trang·ing, es·trang·es 1. To make hostile, unsympathetic, or indifferent; alienate. 2. To remove from an accustomed place or set of associations. if they walk in cold. ``My advice is call up the rabbi first. Tell him what your concerns are. Some people are concerned about how much Hebrew is used. We use Hebrew for all the prayers but the English translation are on the other side in our prayer book. My sermon is in English,'' he said. Sugarman said the newcomers should also be aware of seating arrangements seating arrangements npl → distribución fsg de los asientos seating arrangements seat npl → Sitzordnung f seating arrangements . ``We have separate seating for men and women. We realize that there can be an attraction between males and females. This separation in no way implies that we are looking down on women. But when we come to pray, we are focused on God and the prayers to our creator. We need to pray with our heart and soul,'' he said. Retiring from the oldest surviving and largest Orthodox congregation in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , Sugarman plans to continue to teach, travel with his wife and visit with their five children and 29 grandchildren GRANDCHILDREN, domestic relations. The children of one's children. Sometimes these may claim bequests given in a will to children, though in general they can make no such claim. 6 Co. 16. . He remains optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op for the future of Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Judaism Religion of Jews who adhere strictly to traditional beliefs and practices; the official form of Judaism in Israel. Orthodox Jews hold that both the written law (Torah) and the oral law (codified in the Mishna and interpreted in the Talmud) are immutably in the San Fernando Valley. ``My prediction is that it will increase tremendously. Orthodox Judaism is the only branch that has grown in numbers in numbered parts; as, a book published in numbers. See also: Number recently. I see a bright future for Orthodox Judaism,'' he said. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Rabbi Marvin Sugarman and his wife, Avis, above left, will be honored Sunday during a retirement banquet at Shaarey Zedek Congregation. Sugarman, first came to the congregation in 1967. Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer |
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