JEWISH HOME LA

By Estee Cohen.

Can you believe this is the Pre-Purim What’s New? Didn’t we just start the school year? This article is packed with tons of new businesses, restaurants, kids’ activities and summer camps. Camp registration starts around now, and many are full right after Pesach. So, try to figure out what you want to do with the little ones this summer and meanwhile, and enjoy your Purim- blink and it will be Pesach.

There’s two new healthy places to eat that I’m very excited about. First off there’s a new vegan restaurant in the La Brea area. Chickpeas is under Kehilla Kosher supervision and offers vegan cuisine. They are in PitaWay’s former location at 7275 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Second, inside Stan’s Produce there’s a new juice bar. Isn’t that clever? I love juicing, but I want it to be convenient, so while buying your produce you can slurp up healthy, pure smoothies, vegetable juices, and vitamin shots. Stan’s Produce is at 9307 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035, their phone number is 310-550-1454.

Valley Torah High School Boy’s Division has a new general studies principal, Dr. Eliezer Jones. Dr. Jones was a Valley Torah alumnus in 1993 and is currently the Director of Educational Innovation for the Yeshiva University School Partnership. He has a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology and is well known in the field of Jewish Educaiton. Congratulations and Hatzlacha!

For our younger valley folks, KidzCity is an excellent resource. It’s an indoor play place that has equipment for babies and children up to 14 years old. They also offer tutoring with credentialed teachers, enrichment classes, after school activities and birthday parties. Great place to bring your kids Chol Hamoed or air them out pre-Pesach. Check out http://www.kidzcity.us. They are located at 20841 Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills and their phone number is 818-887-7516.

There’s a new camp in Valley Village for boys ages 10 through 16 that includes both serious learning and serious fun. Rabbi Shmuel Lalezarian is the director of Camp Lala Land and enrollment is open now. The camp is a very reasonable $200 per week and there is carpool from the La Brea and Pico neighborhoods for only $25 per week. Camp starts June 23rd and spaces are filling up fast. See http://www.camplalaland.com for more information. You can reach Rabbi Lalezarian at 805-419-5252 or email him at fun@camplalaland.com.
The ultra-creative teacher, photographer, and camp director Mrs. Chaya Tenenbaum has created a new camp for pre-teen girls entering 6th through 8th grades. I’ve been friends with Chaya for over twenty years, and I guarantee that this camp will be a blast. Camp Chayalot will be jam packed with trips, projects, and surprises. Space is very limited and filling up quickly, please call 323-718-1030 or email CampChayalotLA@gmail.com for more information.
For frum high school aged girls there is a new traveling camp called Camp Nesiyah. They will be traveling through California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah and hiking and touring through some of the most beautiful places on the west-coast including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Lakes, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The activities will include mountain biking, horseback riding, jet skiing, boating, hiking, Alcatraz Prison, Zip Lining, Disneyland and much more. The dates this year are from August 10-28 and the price is $3200. For more information please contact Deena Fireman at 818.391.8903
Start getting organized for your Pesach guests! Baby Chic LA Baby Gear Rentals solves a common Yantef issue: babies are coming to visit and they can’t spend the week without their favorite swing, crib, toy, etc . . . At Baby Chic you can rent what you need for your littlest guests. They have a massive selection of baby equipment and furniture for rent including cribs, organic mattresses, organic sheets, portable cribs, pack and plays, strollers, car seats, high chairs and toys. They also have a concierge service that provides diapers, wipes, bottles and formula along with customers’ rental. I think this is brilliant and frees you from calling around to borrow. Visit http://www.babychicla.com or call Alissa Moeseson-Kroll any time at 424-257-0181 or toll free 1888-571-0800. I used a similar service in Las Vegas when one of my babies were addicted to the swing and it was a lifesaver.

As your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews gather together this Chag, I know what you’re thinking: family band. Fulfill your dream of children playing the piano with Ms. Rebeca. She teaches piano lessons in your home anywhere in the West San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, or Beverly Hills. She specializes in customized lesson for very young children- your 3 year old could start lessons! She also works with students with special needs and ADD. Over 95% of her students learn to read and play a song within the first 3 hours. If you don’t have a piano, don’t worry- she can get you a wholesale price on a piano, or even rent a piano for $40 a month. Call or text Rebeca at 818-277-8805 or see her Facebook page Study Piano.

It’s not just pre-Pesach season, it’s also tax season! Brothers Hillel and Eli Kamionski are the friendly duo behind Tax Bros. They have a combined 15 years of experience and will do your taxes quickly, honestly, and for a fair price. They also do accounting for small businesses and bookkeeping and are versed in international tax law. For more information call 323-989-2829 or visit http://www.taxbros.com.

Since the women in your life will be needing new clothes this Pesach, here’s a unique event that in my opinion is totally awesome. Carol Banayan, a La Brea area local, created “Carol’s Day of Styling” which will feature tznius, spring clothing at the Nordstrom’s in the Westside Pavilion mall. Isn’t that great? I’ll meet you there on Sunday, March 9th at 11 AM, on the second floor in studio 121.

I hope this Purim and Pesach bring you and your families much joy.