Shalom ECLC Families,
- "When Adar begins, joy increases." Indeed, the halls of ECLC have been filled with joy as all our classes delve deeper into the Purim story, exploring themes of justice, bravery, and freedom. This week brought special excitement as I had the honor of leading our Cooking Academy. It was the perfect occasion to introduce our students to my own Sephardic/Mizrachi heritage, particularly the Iraqi Purim traditions.
Instead of the typical Hamantaschen, we made “Zangula,” a delightful Iraqi treat, known as “Zulbia” in Persian cultures. I shared how, in my family, we never had Hamantaschen for Purim. Instead, we enjoyed Zangula and Ba’ba B’Tamar — round dough filled with dates, representing our version of Hamantaschen. As a child, I envied my other friends' traditions, and now I cherish them deeply on my own, and I feel privileged to share them with our students as part of our “Jews Around The World” unit. Despite a few initial attempts, the students succeeded in crafting beautiful, fried spiral shapes, which we then glazed with a sugar and rose water mixture. The result was absolutely delicious!
What are your family’s Purim traditions? We’d love to hear about the unique ways you celebrate and connect with this festive holiday.
Thank you to all who will be joining us tonight for our 2nd ECLC Shabbat of the year. We are looking forward to seeing you and celebrating Shabbat as one united ECLC community!
Mishloach Manot
There is still time to participate in our annual Mishloach Manot mitzvah!
Valley Beth Shalom will gift every VBS Member Family, Teacher, Clergy, and Staff person with a Mishloach Manot gift package!
You can participate by contributing to our Mishloach Manot campaign in honor and recognition of a person or a group that has impacted you HERE
ECC & DS students will go home with their gifts and ECLC pick up will take place right after Shira on Tuesday, 3/11!
Please remember one gift per family.
Purim at VBS
Join me and Emily on Thursday, March 13, 2025!
Come dressed up in your favorite costume and sing along with our Purim performers.
BRING YOUR OWN GROGGERS!
Bring a box of NOISY FOOD like pasta or rice to use as a GROGGER when we "BOO HAMAN!" Then, donate the box to the VBS Food Bank! You can decorate your grogger however you'd like before Purim!
5:00pm Tot Purim Celebration & Costume Parade
5:30pm Community Pizza Dinner RSVP HERE (Free; RSVP Required)
6:00pm Traditional Megillah Reading (Yossi's Minyan)
7:00pm Wicked Shpiel featuring VBS Youth Choir and Community Megillah Reading
Shabbat Shalom, and thank you for your continued support. Your active involvement enriches our vibrant ECLC community and helps us build a nurturing environment for all.
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ECLC AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITY!
CRAFT & KARAOKE NIGHT ON TUESDAY 3/18!
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Join us for a night of Crafts, S.T.E.M. Activites and of course Karaoke!
Drop-off for regular school and come back at 8pm.
TK- 7th Grade are all welcome!
$25 for one child. Sibling discount available!
$45 for two children!
$55 for three children!
Kids will make their own sub with turkey, salami and veggies for dinner!
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PURIM AT VBS ON THURSDAY, MARCH 13TH!
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Purim Celebrations and Megillah Readings
Thursday, March 13, 2025 at VBS
Come dressed up in your favorite costume and sing along with our Purim performers.
BRING YOUR OWN GROGGERS!
Bring a box of NOISY FOOD like pasta or rice to use as a GROGGER when we "BOO HAMAN!" Then, donate the box to the VBS Food Bank! You can decorate your grogger however you'd like before Purim!
5:00pm Tot Purim Celebration & Costume Parade
5:30pm Community Pizza Dinner (Free; RSVP Required)
6:00pm Traditional Megillah Reading (Yossi's Minyan)
7:00pm Wicked Shpiel featuring VBS Youth Choir and Community Megillah Reading
Emily and I can't wait to see you all there!
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Participate in the Mitzvah of Mishloach Manot!
Mishloach Manot
Participate in our annual Mishloach Manot mitzvah!
Valley Beth Shalom will gift every VBS Member Family, Teacher, Clergy, and Staff person with a Mishloach Manot gift package!
You can participate by contributing to our Mishloach Manot campaign in honor and recognition of a person or a group that has impacted you.
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ECLC PURIM AND 3RD ANNUAL MITZVAH DAY
ON SUNDAY, MARCH 16TH
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Please mark your calendars for March 16th, when we will host our 3rd Annual ECLC Purim Celebration and Mitzvah Day. This day has become a cherished tradition, turning one of the four Purim mitzvot Into a vibrant day of community service and learning. Our students will be leading activities designed to embody the spirit of Tikkun Olam, helping those in need within our community. The 4 Purim Mitvot, the 4 M’s are:
- Matanot La’evyonim - Gifts to the Poor - מתנות לאביונים
- Mishloach Manot - Sending Food Gifts to Friends - מקרא מגילה
- Se'udat Purim - Purim Feast - משתה ושמחה
- Reading the Megillah - משלוח מנות
For this Mitzvah Day, we are collecting old clothes (for men, women, and children), jackets, blankets, dry and canned foods, granola bars, energy bars, and travel-size hygiene items (shampoo, soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, wet wipes, nail clippers, cotton swabs, and women’s hygiene products). These items will be donated to the New Friends Homeless Center in Encino, demonstrating our commitment to repairing the world. We also encourage you to support our efforts by purchasing items from our Amazon Wish List.
Thank you for your continued support. Each of you plays a vital role in enriching our vibrant ECLC community.
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CJA FREE COMMUNITY COOKING WORKSHOP
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Happy Purim!
As we increase our joy this month, we're excited to share another delicious recipe for this special holiday!
We’re making CJA’s Black and White Hamantaschen.
Join us on Sunday, March 9th at 1:00 p.m. (PST) and 4:00 p.m. (EST) on Zoom as we celebrate the strong women role models in the Purim Story, whose qualities we can all emulate today! Cook, Learn and Connect!This is a complimentary, kid-friendly workshop, so invite your family and friends and bring CJA to your Jewish organization today!
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UPCOMING SHALOM INSTITUTE FAMILY FUN DAY!
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Please Join Us to Celebrate Passover!
This event is FREE, registration is required.
NO PETS.
Please tour Camp JCA Shalom in our summer home, Gold Creek Center, and ask Camp Director Allison David your questions!
Enjoy Passover-themed activities AND your favorite camp activities with a Passover twist!
Please look at our schedule for the day:
11:30 am - TASC-style service project: For teens in 8th-11th grades interested in TASC (Teenage Service Camp) or who have done TASC and want to return!
Participate in a group-oriented service project centered around giving back to Camp JCA Shalom.
12:30 pm - Camp Tour led by Camp Director Allison David
1:30 pm - Robbo Sing-A-Long: Enjoy Passover-themed songs, nostalgic camp tunes, and Robbo originals.
Be prepared to sing, dance, and have a fun time!
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VBS YOUTH DEPARTMENT EVENTS
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VBS Youth Department Presents:
6th-7th Grade Candy Pizza Partyyyyy!
- Date: March 9th
- Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
- Location: VBS Youth Lounge
- Price: $20
Get ready for a sweet and crazy adventure with the VBS Youth Department! Kick things off with fun icebreakers and a bagel lunch, then dive into decorating your very own candy pizza—loaded with Rice Krispie treats, chocolate sauces, sprinkles, fruit, and candy! Plus, hang out with friends, play games, and vibe to some great music. Don’t miss out—it’s gonna be a slice of fun!
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4th-5th Grade Game Day!
- Date: March 16th
- Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
- Location: VBS Youth Lounge
- Price: $20
Game on! The VBS Youth Department is bringing you an afternoon packed with snacks, laughter, and friendly competition. Start with cookie decorating and lunch, then jump into three rounds of epic games like Uno, Codenames, Exploding Kittens, and Anomia—20 minutes each, so you get to try them all! Wrap up with a high-stakes trivia showdown, and yes—there will be prizes! Bring your game face and get ready to play!
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ECLC CLASS WEEKLY UPDATES
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It has been a challenging 519 days since the attack on Israel, a time that has tested our strength and resilience as a community. We are heartened by the successful return of 147 hostages, a testament to our unwavering hope and determination. However, we mourn the loss of 8 brave souls—men, women, and children—who were tragically taken from us by the violence of Hamas.
As we continue to stand together, we must keep the remaining 59 hostages in our prayers, channeling our collective strength into support and compassion. Let us unite in our efforts, fostering a spirit of inclusivity and solidarity, as we lift up those affected by this crisis and work towards bringing every single hostage home. Together, our prayers and actions can truly make a difference, reinforcing the warmth and kindness that define our community.
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The Click HERE for the official The Hostage and Missing Families Forum website
Help bring them home.
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TAKE A LOOK AT THE YEAR AHEAD
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This year is jam-packed with fun events for the whole family!
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Enjoyed Your Experience at the ECLC This Year? Help Us Continue to Grow
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We have big dreams! Just like the 7th-grade curriculum was able to grow, we know we can expand the rest of our classes! VR goggles in Tech, Sports Academy tournaments, and ECLC band, and many social programs for both students and parents, just to name a few! Help us accomplish those goals quicker! Every little bit helps!
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STAY IN TOUCH WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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Stay Connected on Facebook and Instagram
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15739 Ventura Boulevard, Encino CA 91436
(818) 530-4043 | etzchaim@vbs.org
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ECLC | 15739 Ventura Boulevard | Encino, CA 91436 US
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