Jewish Federation’s Fund Drive Tops Its $2-Million Goal

The Jewish Federation of Orange County has set a record by raising more than $2 million in its annual campaign for Jewish community services in Orange County, Israel and around the world.

“Our goal was to meet $2 million and we exceeded it,” said Charles Karp, federation president. “This translates into more good deeds and more services.”

Local agencies that receive funding from the Jewish Federation include B’Nai B’Rith Youth Organization, Bureau of Jewish Education, Hillel Foundation, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service and three Jewish day schools: Hebrew Academy, Morasha and Tarbut V’Torah.

Recognizing special needs in the local Jewish community, the federation gave funding to the Orange County Task Force on Youth and Teens for communitywide programs and a resource guide, to national Hillel for “birthright” trips to Israel for college students, to the Jeremiah Society for people with developmental disabilities, for a chaplain to serve the unaffiliated Jews of Orange County in times of illness and crisis, to the Jewish Educators’ Assn. for ongoing professional development of synagogue religious school teachers and principals, and to Jewish Education for All for a community-based program to help synagogues offer Jewish education to children with learning disabilities.

“Eight hundred new donors gave $250,000 of this year’s annual campaign,” federation Executive Director Bunnie Mauldin said. “We will continue spreading the word of how important it is with the goal of every member of the Orange County Jewish community becoming a meaningful contributor.”

Hiring

* Junipero Serra High School at Rancho Capistrano has hired Stephen J. Hammond as the school’s president. Hammond has been the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Nashville since 1984. He also served on the board of trustees for a new diocesan high school, Pope John Paul II, scheduled to open in 2002.

“Steve Hammond has all the qualities and experience we were looking for in a president,” said Timothy Busch, Junipero Serra High founder and chairman. “It’s a big coup that we got him.”

Junipero Serra’s 35-acre campus is scheduled to open in fall 2002 for the ninth and 10th grades and will eventually be home to 1,800 students. Unlike a principal who handles the day-to-day operations of a school, Junipero Serra’s president will be involved in every facet of the school’s development. The president acts as the chief administrator overseeing all financial operations, programming and interviewing of all faculty and staff.

Special Events

* Josh McDowell, a Christian apologist and best-selling author, will speak this weekend at Mariners Church in Newport Beach. The topic of his message will be “Truth or Illusion: the Gospel of Christian Faith.”

McDowell is author of “The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict” and “Jesus, More Than a Carpenter.”

The church’s services are at 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday. Children’s programs will be offered at each service.

McDowell will also be the guest speaker for a three-evening series sponsored by Mariners Public Square. His topics for the 7 p.m. meetings are: “The Bible: Fact, Fiction or Fable?” on Sunday, “If Jesus Was Not Dead, He Deserves an Oscar” on Monday, and “The Resurrection: Did it Happen?” on Tuesday. The church address is 5001 Newport Coast Drive. (949) 854-7030.

* Impressionist Peter M. Small will perform a one-man show on the life of the late Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir at 2 p.m. Sunday at Temple Isaiah of Newport Beach. The show is part of an open house to welcome new members. The show begins at 1 p.m. The temple is at 2401 Irvine Blvd. (949) 548-6900.

* “Our Christian Response to the Energy Crisis,” a conference Sunday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Orange, will explore how people can be good stewards of God’s natural resources and their own financial resources. The Rev. Ginny Erwin, rector of Trinity, will discuss the creative ways that her church has found to significantly cut electricity use. The event takes place from 8:45 a.m. to noon. The church is at 2400 N. Canal St. (714) 573-7801.

* Members of Rock Harbor Church in Costa Mesa will stage the play “An Inspector Calls” Aug. 16-18 at the Lyceum Theater at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased before Wednesday for $5 at the church office, 1718 Monrovia Ave., and during church services Sunday at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, 695 W. 19th St. Tickets will be $10 at the door. The college is at 55 Fair Drive. (949) 548-2600.

* The Huntington Beach Christian Women’s Club will host a “Good Ole Summertime” luncheon at Los Caballeros Sports Village Ballroom in Fountain Valley Aug. 22. Orpha Cade will discuss “Delightful Thoughts.” Norma Roberts Wilson will present “Summer Sounds.” In addition, there will be a hair fashion presentation, “Styles by Janet.” The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $14 and reservations are required by Tuesday. Child care will be provided with early reservations. Los Caballeros is at 17272 Newhope St. (714) 960-2211.

* The North Orange Christian Church will hold its annual chili cook-off from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18. Contestants, judges and all others can enjoy music, fellowship and children’s games. Chili cooks must bring their creations by 3 p.m. All others are encouraged to bring chili fixings--onions, cheese or anything creative. The church is at 1001 E. Lincoln Ave. (714) 998-3181.

Education

* A summer lecture series focusing on basic life questions will be hosted by Calvary Baptist Church of Huntington Beach. The free series runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 26. The church is at 8281 Garfield Ave. (714) 962-6860.

* “Tuesdays in the Word,” a summer family series, continues Tuesdays at Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Tustin and runs through Aug. 21. Jesus’ “outrageous humor and whimsical playfulness” displayed in the parables of the Gospel will be studied. The program is free, and child care will be provided. The programs are from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $3. The church is at 17th Street and Prospect Avenue. (714) 544-7850.

* Temple Beth El of Aliso Viejo will open its new preschool Sept. 10. Terry Fierle, the preschool’s director, said the opening is “the beginning of the religious school experience at Temple Beth El.” The program serves families with children up to age 5. In September 2002, Temple Beth El will expand its curriculum to include a kindergarten class. Temple Beth is at 2A Liberty. (949) 362-3999.

Music

* The Christian music group the Continentals will give a concert Sunday evening at the United Methodist Church of Garden Grove. The concert is the final performance of the group’s national summer tour, “2001: The Grace Odyssey.” The concert begins at 7 p.m. A freewill offering will be taken. Also, the church will have a luau with food and entertainment sponsored by the church’s English, Korean and Samoan congregations on Aug. 18. Entertainers will include the Tahitian group Hiti O Te Ra, Soul Vibrations and karaoke by Bennett. Cost is $20 for adults and free for children 7 and younger. The event will begin at 4 p.m. in the church’s Stanford Youth Park. The church is at 12741 Main St. (714) 534-1071.

* Learn why a healthy body can lead to spiritual tranquillity and inner peace during services and a workshop held this weekend at Unity Community Church in Laguna Hills. Health and fitness expert Susan Smith Jones will discuss “Choose to Be Healthy and Celebrate Life” during Sunday’s 9 and 10:30 a.m. services. From 12:30 to 3:45 p.m., Jones will lead the workshop “A Fresh Start: Rejuvenate Body, Mind and Spirit.” Cost for the workshop is $12.50 per person or two for $20. Smith has served as a health and fitness instructor to UCLA students, staff and faculty for 28 years. She is the author of 10 books, including “Choose to Live Peacefully.” The church is at 22911 Mill Creek Road. (949) 472-9230. https://www.unity-lh.org.

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Religious event notices of countywide interest may be sent to Gena Pasillas at The Times’ Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa 92626. They also may be faxed to (714) 966-7711 or sent by e-mail to gena.pasillas@latimes.com