Melanie Reynard

Printmaker Jacob Samuel Works ‘Outside the Box’to Capture Artists’ Visions

Published on July 6, 2010

“All I do here is a series of repetitive, boring tasks,” master printmaker Jacob Samuel says with a shrug as he stands in his Santa Monica studio, red apron over a white T-shirt.

Teens Transform Troubles Into Musical Drama

Published on July 6, 2010

In a recreation room in Venice, 30 teens from throughout Los Angeles are belting out:

What’s happening with Kagan today

Published on June 28, 2010

Online Dating: Behind the Scenes

Published on June 21, 2010

Pico/Robertson Neighborhood on Father’s Day [VIDEO]

Published on June 14, 2010

Chihuly:  Looks Cool on Google.. and in Israel?

Published on June 10, 2010

Israel Flotilla Crisis at sea:  Man on the L.A. Street [VIDEO]

Published on June 2, 2010

We asked passersby at the Third Street Promenade on Wednesday afternoon, June 2, 2010 what they knew and thought of the Israel flotilla crisis that has been breaking international news this week.

BODYTRAFFIC Forges an International Connection

Published on June 1, 2010

It’s a Monday afternoon in an upstairs studio at the Westside Academy of Dance in Santa Monica. “One, two, three, four ...” With each count, Tina Finkelman Berkett demonstrates a series of gestures. A male dancer behind her imitates each move. Lillian Barbeito, watching from the back of the studio, also makes subtle references to the choreography with twists of her hips and feet, but her movements are restrained as she cradles a 2-month-old baby in her arms.

Four Pressman Academy Students at State Science Fair

Published on May 25, 2010

What is the effect of caffeine on plant growth? How does fat content in ice cream affect the rate that it melts? What is the effect of phototropism on gravitropism in plants? Which foods are best to eat when taking aspirin or other NSAID medications? These questions were addressed in science projects by four students at Pressman Academy of Temple Beth Am, a Conservative Jewish day school. The students were invited to the 59th annual California State Science Fair, which took place May 17-18, after competing in the Los Angeles County Science Fair Junior Division, where more than 100 schools and 709 students participated.

A whale tale, Knesset finishing school, Burger King falls

Published on May 24, 2010

Here are some recent stories from Israel that you may have missed.

Making a trip to the stars of Memorial Day

Published on May 24, 2010

What stands for those who have fallen?

Sinai Akiba Students Visit Islamic Center [VIDEO]

Published on May 7, 2010

Seventh grade students and faculty from Sinai Akiba School in Westwood filed into the Islamic Center in Los Angeles at noon on Friday May 7 for a lecture on Muslim culture and to observe an afternoon prayer session.

Krav Maga in LA

Published on May 5, 2010

Four Pressman Academy Students at State Science Fair

Published on May 4, 2010

What is the effect of caffeine on plant growth? How does fat content in ice cream affect the rate at which it melts? What is the effect of phototropism on gravitropism in plants? Which foods are best to eat when taking aspirin (or other NSAID medications)? These questions were addressed in science projects by four students at Pressman Academy of Temple Beth Am, a Conservative Jewish day school. The students have been invited to the 59th annual California State Science Fair, which takes place May 17-18. They were invited after competing in the Los Angeles County Science Fair Junior Division, in which 709 students from more than 100 schools participated.

Sinai Temple Honors Second — and First — B’nai Mitzvah

Published on May 4, 2010

At 83, Victoria Mertes was one of the youngest participants during a b’nai mitzvah service held April 23 at Sinai Temple in Westwood.

Sinai Temple Honors Second — and First — B’nai Mitzvah

Published on April 27, 2010

At 83, Victoria Mertes was one of the youngest participants during a b’nai mitzvah service held on Saturday, April 23, at Sinai Temple in Westwood.

Milken Students Win Green Competition

Published on April 27, 2010

Five students with the Mitchell Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) at Milken Community High School took top honors in the Green Schools division of the Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation competition, at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View on April 10.

Ira Glass: Why do we all like the storytellers?

Published on March 29, 2010

Young Philanthropists Host Haiti Fundraiser

Published on March 16, 2010

Los Angeles residents Alexis Alagem, 25, and Jackie Winnick, 27, pulled together the support of their social networks at a private back lounge of Bar 210/Plush in Beverly Hills the night of March 12, as a fundraiser for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s (JDC) relief program in Haiti.

Family of Cancer Patient Hopes for a Stem Cell Miracle

Published on March 16, 2010

Jeff Tohl endured testing, five months of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant during the three years that followed his cancer diagnosis — a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. With a clean bill of health and regained strength, he thought he was out of the woods.

But when his white blood cell count dropped again in November 2009, Tohl, who was treated for mantle cell lymphoma, discovered he was part of an unlucky minority: Following a stem cell transplant, 7 percent of patients are at risk for developing leukemia. To keep the leukemia at bay, he’d need another stem cell transplant, this time from a donor. But as a Jew, he soon discovered that finding a donor would prove nearly impossible.

A View from the Mountaintop: A Celebration of Civil Rights Event

Published on March 10, 2010

JewishJournal.com taped "A View from the Mountaintop: A Celebration of Civil Rights Event" which took place on the evening of March 4, 2010 at the Skirball Cultural Center. The evening featured an exciting, topical conversation about social justice and civil rights moderated by acclaimed author Gina Nahai. Also honored at the event were Judy Glass, PJA Founder, and Sam Yebri, PJA Jeremiah Fellow and Founder of the Iranian-Jewish organization Thirty Years After.

“Manifest Equality” Exhibit in Hollywood [VIDEO]

Published on March 6, 2010

Yosi Sergant was raised Jewish in Culver City. The 30-something year old gained recognition working on Obama's campaign and moved on to become Director of Communications at the National Endowment for the Arts, until he resigned last fall, after backlash from conservatives, with the belief that he could do more outside of the political wrangles in DC.

He just came back to LA three weeks ago. He says all his belongings except for 2 bags, are currently on a truck on their way from DC to LA.

Sergant and public relations friends Apple Via and Jennifer Gross, have put together an exhibit with over 200 artists in Hollywood called "Manifest Equality" to demonstrate against Prop 8, and "to turn up the dial on this creative community," he said in a conversation over the phone.

Milken Robotics Team to Compete in Israel

Published on March 2, 2010

Milken Community High School’s robotics team is headed to Israel to compete in the regional FIRST competition this year, which is set for March 15-17 in Tel Aviv. The theme of the competition this year is soccer. In preparation, Milken’s team participated in a practice scrimmage with other teams in which they could see what last-minute repairs needed to be made before shipping the robot.

Luminario Ballet:  Hollywood performance

Published on February 26, 2010

Two Jews Were Classmates in Berlin:  80 Years Later, They Reunite At LAX [VIDEO]

Published on February 18, 2010

Israel Policy Forum joins up with Middle East Progress

Published on January 22, 2010

The Israel Policy Forum has merged with Middle East Progress.

In a letter this week to its friends and supporters, IPF announced that it was "embarking on its next chapter" by becoming a part of MEP, which is a project of the liberal Washington-based think tank Center for American Progress.