Unity and Compassion for Everyone!

WESTWOOD, CA - The anticipation in Lenny’s Deli heightened for the Shabbos Buddies when Cantor Estherleon Schwartz began Friday Night Shabbat service leading into traditional prayer, music, and well – a festive evening celebrating life and God.

For many unaffiliated attendees, Friday night Shabbat at Lenny’s Deli with Cantor Schwartz and Shabbos Buddies is a place to reconnect with their spirituality while meeting new friends, having fun and creating community, while helping the community.

“Everyone is welcome no matter their background or faith.  We ask for a $7.00 cash donation at the door.  For every 7 dollars collected, one dollar goes to a SOVA food bank.  Each dollar provides 4 meals,” says Gail Blair, Executive Director for Cantor Schwartz.  “Our local food banks are depleted. We need to restock them. I can’t emphasize this enough. CantorSchwartz is a voice for a hungry community.”

Lenny’s Deli owner, Lenny Rosenberg, provides the Shabbos Buddies an extensive, open menu with no minimum purchase.  Rosenberg even provides the challah and wine for the evening which happens like clockwork every Friday night except the last Friday of the month.

Welcoming attendees with open arms and a lovely smile, Cantor Schwartz paints the evening with joy, song and love.  It’s an evening of healing and uplift unlike the Cantor’s young childhood.

If you didn’t know Cantor Schwartz’s history you wouldn’t know of her horror, barely escaping Nazis soldiers during the Holocaust and the sadness caused by discrimination when her and her family fled Europe and settled in New York.  "I believe that by understanding other cultures, religions and beliefs, we can dispel discrimination and bullying.  Then we have a shot at peace," she said, surrounded by a unison of Shabbos Buddies nodding their heads in agreement.

"We need more people like the Cantor and more groups like this one," said one Shabbos Buddy who wanted to remain anonymous. "Shabbos Buddies encourages us to reach out to others. I feel like we are messengers of hope."

As an advocate for peace and anti-hunger, Cantor Schwartz’s goodwill extends to our youth, as well.  The Cantor’s most recent activities include proposing gratitude circles to further unity between children and fostering peace between all cultures, which she hopes will continue through their adulthood.