Center for faith

Suzie Harrison

It’s only been at its new location for a few months but Rabbi

Mendy Paltiel is excited about the response the Chabad Jewish Center

of Central Orange County is receiving in Costa Mesa.

“We started off about three months ago,” Paltiel said. “At the

time we knew only a handful of people -- at this point we’ve reached

out to many hundreds of people within the central Orange County

area.”

He said that people have taken to the center because it provides a

home away from home where people can feel comfortable in a

nonjudgmental environment.

“Our objective and goal is to reach out and make available the

customs and traditions of our faith,” Paltiel said. “We’ve

implemented various programs that are geared for all age groups and

for people of all backgrounds.”

The philosophy is that every Jewish person is entitled to be a

part, to be included -- though Rabbi Paltiel is Orthodox, the temple

extends its welcome to all Jewish people.

“It’s the only Chabad synagogue in the city,” Paltiel said. “After

doing a little investigation there’s a sizable number of Jewish

families within this immediate area.”

The center celebrates the traditional holidays and customs and

also offers services and classes. Friday’s service is at 6:30 p.m.

and on Saturday there is a 10 a.m. service for the Sabbath followed

by a lunch. Every Monday at 7:30 p.m. there are weekly adult classes

that explore the Torah’s teaching and discuss how its teachings are

relevant for all times.

For children there’s Hebrew School from 9:30 a.m. to noon on

Sunday.

“We have a two-and-a-half-hour period of action-filled activities

and studies where the children are given lessons in Hebrew, in Hebrew

reading, as well as learning about the holidays and the festivals,”

Rabbi Paltiel said.

Paltiel said that the kids have been really receptive because they

are taught in hands-on fun filled ways.

Paltiel’s wife Kreinie teaches Hebrew School as well as a class

called “Mommy and Me” for women.

“It’s an hour of fun multi-sensory, hand-eye Jewish activities for

development,” Kreinie said. “It gives the kids a chance to grow,

develop, meet each other and socialize.”

The rabbi looks forward to the center growing and someday moving

to its own temple. The Chabad Jewish Center of Central Orange County

is at 3303 Harbor Blvd., No. F2. Information: (714) 966-0553.