Video links at bottom of post
The inaugural event and banquet last night were just wonderful. I’m proud to be part of such an open and diverse Jewish community that honors traditions and values.
The first part of the event was a ribbon cutting and official unveiling of the building. Although the building used to be a restaurant and
therefore needed many renovations, we’ve been using it while “in progress”. But yesterday, everything was done. For the unveiling the block we’re on was blocked from traffic and there was a stage and chairs set up for the rabbi to speak and for Rabbi Kunin to speak. Kunin is the big Chabad guy of S. California. Honestly, I felt the public street thing was a bit awkward but it was a beautiful ceremony nonetheless. Afterwards we went inside to unveil other sections. One of the speakers was council member Tom LaBonge.
There are dedication plaques over the adult and children’s libraries. There is one in the small back building which is now our youth center. 
The unveiling of this was quite special. It was dedicated to a woman who died from cancer. My rabbi new her well. The woman had 4 children and they were all there for the unveiling. The new Aron Kodesh and mechitzas and everything look lovely.
In the back there were beautiful tables set up with a coffee bar and pastries. Inside there were buffet stations with sushi, some fried pastry treats, and an ever unique 
mashed potato bar. Basically you get a martini glass and the woman fills it with mashed potatoes and your choice of 6 toppings. Some of the toppings were roasted garlic, pesto, grilled onions. Yum. Simply put.
In the evening there was the shnazzy cocktail party and dinner. I was flabbergasted by the classy event my rabbi and his wife put on. The event was actually the brainwork of Monica Rosenthal who donated a large portion of the building fund and whose name is on the building. For the record, she was at odds about the whole buidling naming thing but was encouraged to do it. For her birthday she wanted to have a fundraiser for my community. So she did. We are by no means a wealthy congregation and survive solely on contributions and volunteer work. The beautiful thing is this small community has supporters that spread far and wide from the community.
The dinner was tasty. I had a vegetable pastry entree with a tomato sauce of some sort. The dessert was quite delicious. I think the best part, besides some great speeches, good company, and great service, was the 
performance of Johnny Yune. He is a pretty well known Korean comic who is probabally most famous for the movie “They Call Me Bruce”. Shockingly, he also sings phenomenally in Hebrew and Yiddish. I couldn’t stop cracking up and posted a few videos of him singing “Oseh Shalom”, “Yerushalyim Shel Zahav”, and some Yiddish tune which I have no clue what it was about but he kept laughing while singing it. (I didn’t post the thumbnails because they are sideways and look silly, but you can click those links). You can see pics of the event and of the food There is also this video of a Chasidic dancer.
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Unfortunately, when many Jews came to this country, they changed their name and identity. Johnny Yune is really Jonathan Yunewitz.
Looks like it was a great shindig. Glad you had fun.
Looks like it was a great time.
Nothing like an Asian who sings in Hebrew – heh!