WHY WL? – From North by Northwest Region Having grown up on the East Coast, living in Jewish neighborhoods where public schools are closed on Jewish holidays, where one’s neighbors, classmates, teachers and friends are Jewish, and all Jewish amenities are close by, Howard and I married, lived in Vestal, N.Y. for 3 years, had a baby, and moved to Northern California. We quickly learned that to experience having a Jewish community in California one needs to join a synagogue because there are no Jewish neighborhoods in Northern California. Therefore in 1974, our young family of four joined Congregation Beth David in Saratoga, CA. I began teaching Kita Alef in the religious school, which I loved, and continued to do for 30 years, and immediately became an active member of the Beth David Sisterhood. Between teaching in the school, attending Shabbat services regularly, and assuming a position on the Sisterhood board, it was easy to quickly acquire friends and find the Jewish community my...