Ben Lee Properties — September 2017 Newsletter
This Month's Article
By BEN LEE W e celebrated a pretty significant milestone in our family last month: the bar mitzvah of our eldest son, Mason.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what made this such an emotional experience.
We’re not a particularly religious family, more an enjoyer of the cultural (and culinary) aspects of the faith.
I’m not even sure what prompted the decision to have our son enter into the three year process of attending Hebrew School before becoming a bar mitzvah.
Probably because I had one and his grandfathers had one, we thought it would be nice to see our boys have one, also.
To continue the long line of ancestral tradition felt like the right thing to do.
Witnessing our son ‘become a man,’ was a phenomenon felt by the entire family.
For the few weeks leading up to the big event, every time we vacillated between two options (beef or chicken?
Small or large? Mundane errands or special outing?) one of us would shout out the acronym we created: “UBAMO!” which stood for: You only Become A Man Once!
This word became our rallying cry for just going for it.
The weekend of celebrations took on the feel of a wedding and we started having flashbacks to sixteen years ago, stressing about the last minute cancellations or seating arrangements.
We anxiously anticipated the family members coming into town, hoping flights would be on time and thoroughly grateful for the effort we knew it took to travel to Los Angeles from all corners of the country (as well as two who came from London!).
I think the fact these relatives came from so far to witness this event in our lives really added to the emotional weight of the occasion.
Then, when it came time to sit in the pew and watch our son get up there and read straight from the Torah, scared out of his mind yet poised and brave, it kind of knocked the wind out of me a bit.
Here is this kid who I’ve known since the second he was born.
I’ve seen him through just about every diaper change, late night feeding, school project and silly squabble with his brothers.
I’ve tried to gently guide him through life’s greatest disappointments, its most tragic losses as well as the happiest moments.
I knew how nervous he was to stand up in front of every person our family holds dearest to us and not only read a language he was still largely unfamiliar with but to also analyze text and teach us something new.
He went from being not just a boy to a man but also from a student to a teacher.
Until this moment, I hadn’t yet experienced the emotion that fills a parent with the pride that comes from watching a child take what feels like a herculean task, embrace the responsibility, confront his nervousness head-on, conquer the fear and ultimately/thankfully succeed.
All in the course of one ninety minute service.
Maybe another reason why this bar mitzvah carried a heavier emotional weight was the fact that this was the first major family milestone/celebration without my mother there.
Looking out at all the faces in the audience, knowing that nothing would have thrilled her more than to be there witnessing this event, too, her absence was really all around us and I think we all felt a certain obligation to make her proud.
I hesitate to say my son’s spiritual journey is complete, but rather his goal in becoming a bar mitzvah has been realized.
And now, as he sets aside Torah study for the arduous task of handwriting thank you notes, he can contemplate how he wants to further his religious education.
I think his two younger brothers have witnessed this experience with equal parts fear, jealousy and anticipation.
Whether they both put in the work it takes to stand up there and chant Hebrew and analyze ancient stories to a congregation remains to be seen.
I’m hoping that they will follow in the footsteps of their older brother and father and dozens of ancestors.
I hope that they learn to appreciate the importance of tradition and recognize that while it’s takes a great deal of effort, through hard work often comes great reward.
I also hope they know how much my wife enjoys planning a great party and how many times she will threaten to eliminate said party if a certain boy doesn’t get off his phone to practice his speech!
Oh, Moses, I think I’m having flashbacks to the last six months of (zero) peace and harmony.
I’m thankful the next in line to go through this blessed event is only eleven.
I don’t think we can handle another beautiful spiritual journey quite so soon!
Featured Listings
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Westwood - IN ESCROW! 5 Bed/ 4 Bath S tunning Spanish hacienda in Little Holmby Hills. Dramatic 2-story entry. Living room with stained glass windows, exposed beams, dark hard wood floors and oversized fireplace. Generous formal dining room with an abundance of light. The kitchen is a true showstopper with Subzero stainless refrigerator, La Cornue range, brick backsplash, colorful tiled floor framing the island and a large breakfast nook with a wall of windows and overlooks the great room complete with built-ins. Guest room and private office downstairs. Beautiful backyard with mature landscaping, covered patio as well as the swimming pool/spa. An outdoor fireplace and separate entertaining space with built in bar-b-que makes this yard ideal for parties. Up the Spanish tiled staircase with wrought iron banister is an enormous master bedroom suite with dressing room, walk-in closet and gorgeous, marble/Spanish tiled bathroom. Two additional bedrooms are on this level. 10 out of 10 rated Warner Avenue Elementary. 846 Warner Ave – $4,495,000
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Pacific Palisades - COMING SOON! 5 Beds / 4 Bath 4,100 Sq. Ft., 8,276 Sq. Ft. Lot N ewer Mediterranean set on a quiet loop street with unobstructed ocean, canyon & mountain views. Bright & dramatic entry leads to wide open living & family rooms with bar/lounge area. Step down to the spacious dining off center-island kitchen – all opening up to huge entertaining deck & views. Five large bedrooms, 4 baths + several balconies, view decks & covered patios. Lower level storage area, etc. (additional 1,200 sq. ft.) with 12-ft. ceiling opens to patio & view. 515 Muskingum Ave – $3,350,000 10377 Monte Mar – $2,950,000
Cheviot Hills - IN ESCROW! 4 Bed/ 4 Bath 3,359 Sq.Ft., 8,707 Sq.Ft. Lot A gracious Mediterranean retreat in the heart of Cheviot Hills’Country Club Estates,this exquisite villa offers an air of old-world romance to newly built construction. The ultra-private front courtyard entry featuring mature, Italianinspired landscaping, fire pit and tranquil water feature sets the tone for the house beyond. There’s a formal living room with exposed beams and imposing fireplace.This leads to the handsome wood-paneled study that doubles as a guest room suite. There is a formal, circular dining room with a path through the traditional butler’s pantry leading into the chef’s kitchen and great room. The kitchen presents three dishwashers, two Subzero refrigerators in addition to the full sized wine fridge. Walk-in pantry, custom copper Farmhouse sink, oversized island, two sinks and a cozy breakfast banquette that overlooks the backyard. The suite also includes massive his and hers walk-in closets, a bathroom with two toilet rooms, enormous shower, spa tub and dual vanities. Conveniently located in the award winning Castle Heights School District,this is a truly impressive property that deserves your immediate attention. 3087 McConnell – $3,799,000 Cheviot Hills - JUST SOLD! 5 Bed / 5.5 Bath 4,205 Sq. Ft., 9,444 Sq. Ft. Lot GRAND MEDITERRANEAN RETREAT OPEN SUNDAY OPEN SUNDAY
Community & More
By Michael Harris T he San Fernando Mission, located in the San Fernando Valley at 15151 San Fernando Mission Blvd., was one of the later missions (number 17 out of 21) begun by Father Junipero Serra although this one was built after his death.
The missions were designed and were intended to convert the natives to Catholicism.
This mission did not readily receive shipments by sea so it was self-reliant based on farming and animal husbandry worked by the native Californians.
As with most restored missions there is art work, heirlooms, exhibits and interesting grounds to explore.
The movies that have used this locale for filming include Dragnet, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, and as a further connection to Hollywood the tomb of Bob Hope is there.
It was one of the later missions (number 17 out of 21) begun by Father Junipero Serra although this one was built after his death.
The missions were designed and were intended to convert the natives to Catholicism.
The mission is open daily from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.
Beverlywood happenings Westside Places By BEN LEE M uchas gracias to all of you who entered our raffle to one of the most delicious Mexican restaurants in our neighborhood: El Nopal.
Congratulations to Sarah Jacobson! You are the lucky winner of a $50 gift certificate and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
If you entered the raffle this time but didn’t win, don’t despair!
This month we are giving away a $50 gift certificate to Regular Guy’s Pizza (please see article on this page to learn more about this new restaurant inspired by a famous Westside institution).
To win, simply send an email to: ben@benleeproperties.com and write PIZZA in the subject line.
That’s it! We will pick a winner at random at the end of the month and notify you soon after.
Good luck! Regular Guy’s Raffle San Fernando Mission By BEN LEE H ow many of you remember the iconic Brentwood landmark restaurant, ‘Regular Jons?’ Many of us native Los Angelenos spent countless weekends there after Little League games or birthday parties, sharing a bench on either side of those long red & white checkered tables, sawdust on the floor, fire truck permanently parked out front- enjoying the thinnest-crusted, yummiest pizza known to mankind.
Regular Jons closed more than twenty years ago but one person, a fan since childhood, never let go of the dream to one day bring that delicious pizza back to the thousands of fans who remember it well.
Steve Goldberg spent years trying to duplicate the original recipe and has now miraculously recreated the delicacy once made famous by Regular Jons, but now under a new heading: Regular Guy’s Pizza.
Until Regular Guy’s finds that perfect Westside location, you are only able to order the pizzas on-line through a delivery service such as Postmates or UberEATS.
Trust me, though- you may miss the fire truck, you may miss the sawdust but as soon as you take one bite of this crispy-thin delightful brand of pizza, you will be transported right back to 1980’s Brentwood without ever having to leave your living room.
It’s a tastebud’s trip down memory lane and if you would like to enjoy pizza on me, read the raffle article on this page to see how you can win a few.
Deeeelicious!! Regular Guy’s Pizza El Nopal Regular Jons is BACK!
