The Chabad of Pacific Palisades’ held its annual women’s luncheon, “In Celebration of the Jewish Woman,” on a recent afternoon at the Luxe Hotel in Brentwood and 180 women attended.
According to organizer Zisi Cunin, co-director with husband Rabbi Zushe of the Palisades temple, “The luncheon was started six years ago as a day of celebrating the Jewish woman, and as a day for women to stop their day-to-day activities and enjoy a morning together in a relaxed atmosphere with other women.”
All Jewish women are “Eishet Chayil’s” (women of valor) Cunin explains, and every year two local women are honored as such. This year’s recipients were Alice Grant and Dr. Alisa Bromberg. Cunin stressed that the women were recognized for being positive role models in the community, not for one particular event or reason.
Grant, a Highlands resident, is 85 and a Holocaust survivor who at age 80 took the March of the Living trip back to camps with several other survivors and 100 teens. “When she returned, she was a different person,” Cunin said. “She started sharing her experiences with people here and has been a true inspiration to many, especially how to overcome challenges.”
Due to a fall the morning of the luncheon, Grant was unable to attend, so her daughters Valerie Goldstein and Cheryl Grant, accepted the award for her.
Pacific Palisades pediatrician Bromberg appreciated the tribute. “I was deeply touched to be recognized by the community,” she told the Palisadian-Post. “What I realized from this experience is that every woman, every person here, has her own story, and each story, each history, is unique and remarkable. And I think the beauty of this idea of honoring both an older and younger member in our community is that we get to learn and be inspired by the people we see every day and learn that each person’s contribution is meaningful.”
Bromberg lives in the Palisades with her husband Roy Shaked, a family practice doctor in West Los Angeles, and sons Levy, 8, and Micah, 4.
Kehillat Israel Cantor Chayim Frenkel’s daughter, Mandi, sang a cappella; Elka Baitelman led the assembled women in prayer for the welfare of the world; and in keeping with the theme of gratefulness, Cunin presented her mother, Mrs. Yocheved Baitelman, with an award for being inspirational in her daughter’s life.
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