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.
