AREA JEWS CELEBRATE COMMUNITY.Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer Good deeds were abundant in the Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by on Sunday, as the area's Jewish population celebrated Mitzvah Day. This marks the third year for the daylong Mitzvah Day event, which saw participation from 37 synagogues and organizations within the Conejo, San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. , Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, and Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. . The day is designed to foster a sense of togetherness within the Jewish community, while participants do something good for others, said Debbie Leshon, one of the event's organizers. On Mitzvah Day, denominational differences are set aside for the good of the community. ``A day like this is a day where we all come together as one family,'' Leshon said. ``We all work together to benefit others.'' A variety of events kept people busy. At the Conejo Valley Jewish Community Center in Agoura Hills, children drew holiday cards that will be included in monthly kosher meal gift baskets for AIDS patients. Grandparents grandparents npl → abuelos mpl grandparents grand npl → grands-parents mpl grandparents grand npl helped with the decorating and read the children stories. The grandparent reading event sought to link two generations, Leshon said. At the Edat Elohim temple in Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. , children made tzedakah Tzedakah (Hebrew: צדקה) is a Hebrew word most commonly translated as charity, though it is based on a root meaning justice (צדק). boxes, which will be used to gather donations for charity throughout the year. In the temple's parking lot, a bloodmobile blood·mo·bile n. A motor vehicle equipped for collecting blood from donors. gathered about 30 pints of blood for use all throughout Ventura County. Edat Elohim also sponsored a T-shirt sale and food drive. The various charitable causes helped by the Mitzvah Day events are easy to rally behind, said Cindy Tooredman, the social action chairwoman of Edat Elohim. ``People can relate to the homeless because they see them walking around,'' Tooredman said. The day included a kickoff breakfast and kosher tour of Bristol Farms, as well as a sing-along at Hillcrest Royale, a senior retirement home. A planned cleanup of trails in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: see National Parks and Monuments (table). had to be canceled because the trails were too muddy. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos PHOTO (1--color) Joshua Isaac, 3, of Agoura Hills listens to a fable read aloud Sunday as part of Mitzvah Day at the Conejo Valley Jewish Center. (2--color) Erica Blitstein, left, amazes Samantha Flaum, both 6, with her holiday card design. (3--color in Simi edition only) Nancy Sadwick of Westlake Village uses her shirt to teach daughter Rebecca, 5, about Jewish communities' Mitzvah Day celebrations. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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