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Hezbollah in big Syria battle, Obama ‘concerned’
Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas have fought their biggest battle yet for Syria's beleaguered president, prompting international alarm that the civil war may spread and an urgent call for restraint from the…
What happened to Obama?
You know things are getting rough for President Barack Obama when even The New Yorker, that bastion of liberal thought, starts ridiculing him. Reacting to how the president is distancing himself from his administration’s three emerging scandals—the mishandling of the…
ZOA regains tax-exempt status
After 15 months, the nonprofit pro-Israel Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has regained its tax-exempt status.
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Mel Brooks’ top 10 Jewy Jewish scenes [VIDEO]
Monday night marks the national premier broadcast of the American Masters installment on Mel Brooks. To mark the occasion, we’ve put together a collection of Brooks’ best Jewish clips.
Alan Dershowitz sends ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ episode to Netanyahu
Comedian Larry David has been called a lot of things over the course of his long and successful career, but we’re pretty sure “peace maker” has never been one of…
James Franco paints ad for ‘This is The End’
Proving once again that there isn’t anything he doesn’t do, James Franco has created marketing material for his upcoming film “This is The End.” The actor/artist/Ph.D. candidate was spotted in…
- LIFE & CULTURE
7 Rules for Perfect Hummus
When was the last time you opened a tub of hummus and swooned? When was the last time a restaurant put a plate of hummus in front of you, and…
Survivor: Irene Rosenberg
“Mommy, I’ll be right back.” Irene Rosenberg — then Irene Grunfeld — said as she was leaving the apartment of her cousin Mancy Weiss, where she and her mother were…
The Divine Wedding and Kiss - Parashat Naso
“O for your kiss! For your love / More enticing than wine, / For your scent and sweet name – For all this they love you. Take me away to…
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7 Rules for Perfect Hummus
When was the last time you opened a tub of hummus and swooned? When was the last time a restaurant put a plate of hummus in front of you, and…
What would my Israeli grandmother think?
When I hear about the latest events in Israel – the air strikes on weapons facilities in Syria, the flare-ups over women donning prayer shawls at the Western Wall –…
A hot topic, a great panel, and chance to learn and discuss—immigration at issue
It's a critical time for immigration reform in this country. Washington is getting set to make major changes, the likes of which haven't been seen since the 1980's under President…
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Marc Ballon
Daniel Pipes fights the worldwide threat of Islamism—from Malibu
Like his father, Daniel Pipes has a reputation for bluntness and a willingness to go against conventional wisdom -- both in the academy and elsewhere. Whereas Richard Pipes sounded the alarm against appeasing the Soviets, Daniel Pipes preaches against working with radical Muslims, no matter how law-abiding, scholarly or open-minded they might appear.
StandWithUs offers Israel 101 guide to help students confront anti-Zionist rhetoric
More than a year in the making, "Israel 101" offers a short but comprehensive primer on Israel, addressing such subjects as the recent war in Lebanon, terrorism and the modern Zionist movement, said StandWithUs education research director Roberta Seid, who helped oversee the project.
Divided we fall? A once-united Jewish Los Angeles breaks apart again
Super Sunday volunteers hope to ring up big bucks
Book reveals secrets from the Patriarchs of Punk: CBGBs was really Heebie Jeebies
Federation fires chief fundraiser Craig Prizant
The announcement comes as the Federation is ramping up its fundraising efforts for several major events that are always held during the first few months of the year. The dates are arranged to avoid competition with beneficiary agencies, most of which schedule their events later in the year.
Progressive values propel Daniel Sokatch’s rising star
Sokatch is the founding executive director of Los Angeles-based Progressive Jewish Alliance (PJA), a nondenominational group dedicated, in his words, to "connecting Jews to the critical social justice issues facing our city, such as criminal and economic justice and interfaith dialogue."
Breaking new ground: Jewish, Muslim groups’ program encourages leaders to see the ‘other’ as friend
Is it possible for Los Angeles Jews and Muslims to talk to one another, to share peacefully at the table?
This is the question that some leaders of both groups locally are asking themselves.
Despite past sparks, Al-Marayati wants Jewish dialogue
"I want my children to have a future of hope, a future where they can contribute positively to American society as Muslims," Al-Marayati said. "I don't want a future of prejudice, fear and victimization."
Marilyn Harran: A Modern Righteous Gentile
Looking forward, Harran dreams of establishing a visiting scholars' program at the university and growing the Holocaust library's small collection, although raising the needed money might prove difficult, she said, given her distaste for fundraising.
Family foundations pave new philanthropic path
There was a time when Jewish philanthropists would crack open their checkbooks at least once a year and make a big contribution to Jewish federations and other Jewish agencies. That was just how it was done.No more.
Many aging Shoah survivors are living a new nightmare
Moscovitz is one of the tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors living in abject poverty in the United States. These witnesses to the 20th century's worst atrocity are enduring a second nightmare, often struggling just to feed and clothe themselves.Their wartime experiences, which included malnutrition and physical and psychological abuse, have made them prone to costly medical and mental problems as they age.
Federations and Israeli leaders converge on L.A.
The 75th annual General Assembly (GA) of United Jewish Communities, which begins Sunday and continues through Wednesday, will feature prime ministers, award-winning journalists and celebrated academics, among the nearly 4,000 Jewish leaders expected to attend.
JCRC’s Schwartz-Getzug picked to head Jewish World Watch
Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug has been named executive director of Jewish World Watch (JWW).
Anti-Israel UTLA committee gets sent to the corner for a time out
The United Teachers Los Angeles committee that came under intense criticism for planning to host a gathering calling for economic sanctions against Israel, including a boycott and divestment, has shut down its Web site and agreed to undertake a monthlong "self-evaluation."
UTLA quashes Israel divestment push
UTLA President A.J. Duffy said he advocated canceling the planned Oct. 14 pro-Palestinian gathering because it would have served only to "polarize our union members and members of our community." Instead, he said he supports convening a gathering for a dialogue between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian forces.
United Teachers Los Angeles just says ‘no’ to Israel divestment push by union commitee
Under a tidal wave of pressure from the local Jewish community, the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) has decided to deny use of its headquarters to a UTLA committee planning to host a meeting to discuss the launch of a local boycott of sanctions against and divestment from Israel.
Rabbinical marriage counseling works—up to a point
Although rabbis can play a positive role in brokering a reconciliation in couples with relatively minor problems, they are generally ill-equipped, both educationally and often temperamentally, to grapple with spousal abuse, depression, bullying and other serious issues that can destroy marriages and souls.
Comedy director David Zucker goes to GOP? You can’t be serious!
David Zucker sees threats to America and Israel mounting, and he believes the Democrats are unable or unwilling to confront those challenges, so he has decided to go public with his belief that the Democrats have lost their way.
Area synagogues weigh benefits, pitfalls of High Holidays security
Throughout Southern California, congregations will spend untold thousands on armed guards, private patrols and high-tech security cameras to protect from real or imagined threats.
Maher Hathout—partner for peace or anti-Semite in centrist clothing?
Dr. Maher Hathout, like no other local Muslim leader in recent memory, has divided the Jewish community, exposing fissures between Jews who fervently believe in reviving the frayed Jewish-Muslim dialogue and those who have lost faith.
Israel Donations Stimulate—and Don’t Hurt—Local Fundraising
Israel's military campaign in Lebanon has left the Jewish state spiritually and financially drained. The overall cost of the conflict, including the amount spent on the war and business losses in northern Israel, exceeds $7 billion, according to The Israel Project, a nonprofit, pro-Israeli advocacy group.
R.E. Hard Crash? Soft Landing? Bursting Balloon? Leaking Balloon?
The Jewish Journal spoke to Cohen about the recent reversal in the local housing market.
GOP Sees Israel as Way to Woo Democratic Jews
"It's going to be harder and harder to be on the left and be pro-Israel," Kotkin said. "I think many Jews are going to have to choose between their leftism and their Judaism."
Local Christian Leaders Maintain Support for Israel
Even in the face of recent international criticism of Israel's war tactics, American Christians, especially Evangelicals, have remained steadfast in support of Jews and the Jewish state. Whereas vicious anti-Zionist attacks in much of Europe and the Arab world have lately bled into rank anti-Semitism, even those American Christians critical of Israel's recent actions have gone to great lengths to stress their support for the nation's right to exist.
Cracks Appear in Jewish Support of Israel Offensive
At a time when the majority of Jews around the world have banded together as perhaps never before to support beleaguered Israel, cracks of dissent have appeared as Israel's two-front war in Lebanon and Gaza becomes increasingly bloody and costly.
Mideast Fighting Strains Fragile Interfaith Ties
Overall, though, Jewish-Muslim relations are strained, and tensions will likely worsen before getting better, predicts Rabbi John Rosove, senior rabbi at Temple Israel of Hollywood.
Thousands Rally in L.A. to Support Israel
Schwarzenegger told the gathering that he has long, deep affection for Israel. He said that he has visited the country several times, including in the 1970s as a body building champion; the 1980s as "The Terminator;" and in the 1990s to open a Planet Hollywood restaurant. He added that his first trip abroad after being elected governor was to Israel.
ACLU Dispute Shows Tension Among Interfaith Friends
As local pro-Israeli and pro-Arab groups hold ever larger and more heated demonstrations, relations among Los Angeles Muslim and Jewish groups threaten to go into a deep freeze. In one reflection of the changing climate, a longtime Jewish member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has blasted the group's local chapter for planning to honor a Muslim activist whom he characterizes as an anti-Israeli propagandist.
Large-Scale Israel Solidarity Rally Planned for Sunday
The attacks on Israel by Hezbollah and Hamas represent nothing less than the latest step in radical Islam's quest for world domination, said Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Standing up to the threat, whether on the frontlines of Israel or the streets of Los Angeles, is a needed challenge to the forces of darkness.
Worst Fears Come to Pass for Foes of Gaza Pullout
Leaving Gaza also made sense morally, said Daniel Sokatch, executive director of the Progressive Jewish Alliance.
"For Israel to remain a democratic and Jewish state, it cannot occupy and control millions of Palestinians indefinitely," he said.
Sderot Attack Interrupts Villaraigosa’s Call
"This experience shook all of us to our core," Villaraigosa said in a statement. "I have tremendous respect for Mayor Moyal and the people of Sderot, who live their lives in the shadow of terror. It makes you grateful for the peace and safety that we have here in Los Angeles."
Sderot Attack Interrupts Villaraigosa’s Call
On Thursday, July 6, at 9 a.m., Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a longtime supporter of Israel, was interrupted twice in attempts to place a call to Eli Moyal, mayor of the Israeli city of Sderot.
An Unexpected Love
When I joined The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles in late 2002 after 3 1/2 tumultuous years at the Los Angeles Times, I expected to stay at the paper a maximum of six months. My plan was to use The Journal as a safe haven while I hunted for a prestige magazine gig. But a funny thing happened on my way out the door. I fell in love with The Jewish Journal and nearly everything about it, including the myriad opinionated readers who never hesitate to let me know when they think I've blown it.
A Harvest of Conflict
The South Central Farmers group and supporters have emphatically denied engaging in anti-Jewish posturing, noting that many in their ranks are Jewish, including rabbis. They accuse Horowitz of playing the anti-Semitism card to divert criticism from him and to splinter an alliance of Westside Jews, environmentalists and South L.A. farmers that coalesced around saving the farm.
Young Lawyer Has a Ball With Bet Tzedek
Founded in 1997, the Justice Ball has grown into one of the nation's most successful nonprofit fundraisers/parties targeting young professionals, Jews and non-Jews alike. Over the past nine years, more than 16,000 attorneys, financiers and others have attended the soirees, and scores of them have gone on to become Bet Tzedek contributors and volunteers.
Federation Support of Civic Group Wanes
Critics say that starting in the mid-1990s, the JCRC slowly began losing its voice and shirked a core mission: to be as visible and forthrightly active as possible.
Visit to Ethiopia Changes His Life
"John has given real leadership to the issue of Ethiopian Jewry," said Barry Shrage, president of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, who earlier this year went to Ethiopia with Fishel and 100 American Jewish federation members. "He's always been the first one to speak up and stir the conscience of the federation movement."
John Fishel
"He's the James Brown of the Jewish community, the hardest-working man in L.A. Jewry," Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss said. "I see him everywhere."
Although in some ways, Fishel is everywhere but nowhere. A bearded, slender man with a direct gaze, the shy Fishel seems to prefer keeping his own counsel. He sometimes materializes at events in his well-tailored suits and then slips away after talking to but a handful of folks.
Views Differ on Role in Centers Crisis
The local Jewish community, unlike those in other cities, neither supported most existing centers nor clamored for the types of state-of-the-art facilities that have proven so successful elsewhere, he added.
Time to Watch and Learn at the Zimmer
A new exhibit at the Zimmer Children's Museum shows that when sliced, diced and deconstructed by artists and humanitarians, timepieces can edify, entertain and even inveigh against social injustice.
Touring With Lévy a Dizzying Experience
Rocker Grrrl Memoir Charts Swift Decline
Zeroing in on 30, rocker Jen Trynin gave herself an ultimatum: either make it now or get out of the game. Her youthful looks belied the years she spent slogging through the Boston music scene without much to show for it besides too many hangovers.
Community Briefs
Community Briefs; Displaced Gaza Resident Raises $5,000 in L.A.; Father, Daughter Each Earn Book Awards; Preteen Ambassadors From Beverly Hills.
Cartoon Tension at UC Irvine
The showing of three cartoons of the prophet Muhammad at a conference last week on radical Islam at UC Irvine attracted a near-capacity crowd of about 400, including leaders of some local Jewish groups, while protesters demonstrated outside.
Spirit Up, Tally Down on Super Sunday
Leon Weinstin has spent much of his life fighting on behalf of the Jewish people.
Fishel to Play Key Falash Mura Role
John Fishel took his seat on the jetliner and glanced across the aisle. Seated near the president of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles was an Ethiopian woman. Resplendent in traditional garb, she cradled an infant in her arms and looked lovingly at her toddler son seated beside her.
Super Sunday Aims at Aiding Programs
"The Federation improved our lives," said Khananashvili, now a 48-year-old social worker and Beverly Hills resident. "They gave us our start here and protected us under their shield. We're very grateful."
Disputed Film Draws Muted Response
In a measure of the acclaimed movie's respectability in some quarters of the local Jewish community, the University of Judaism recently sponsored a screening of and panel discussion on "Paradise Now" that featured the film's director, Hany Abu-Assad.
Libraries: The New Mideast Battlefront
"Libraries have become the latest battleground in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," said Andrea Rapp, a Judaica librarian at the Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati, who has compiled examples of alleged anti-Israel bias appearing in children's books.
Library Group Draws Fire Over Web Site
With more than 64,000 members, the American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest organization of its type in the world. The group aims to improve the quality of libraries and to ensure equal access to information for all. This mission has included advocacy when libraries or librarians are in danger.
Library Collection of Judaica Stands Out
Many of Los Angeles County's 84 libraries carry Jewish-flavored works, but Culver City has the only stand-alone Judaica collection. Among other Southland public libraries, Agoura Hills Library has a Holocaust and Hebrew language collection, and the Los Angeles Central Library in downtown -- part of the city of Los Angeles' library system -- has a Yiddish collection with 3,000 books.
David Karp: A Guide for Unity in Scouting
"David Karp made it possible for us to have this program," said attorney Yacov Greiff, scoutmaster of Troop 613 at Shaarey Zedek. "Aside from personal kindness and modesty, exemplary menschlichkeit and tireless efforts on behalf of the Jewish community, he deserves particular recognition for going out of his way to reach across sectarian lines."
Steven Firestein: Making Magic for Children
In 1994, a year after his brush with mortality, Firestein founded a nonprofit that would eventually become the Kids Cancer Connection. A descendant of cosmetics magnate Max Factor -- whose family has donated millions to local charities -- he invested $10,000 to get the project going.
Driven Sax Man Puts His Mark on Music
When Steve Berlin gained early admission to a university premed program as an 11th-grader, his mother and father had visions of their little boy becoming a physician. Much to their chagrin, the young Berlin had other ideas. He told them he dreamed of becoming a rocker -- not a doctor. They worried about his future.
Agencies Join to Aid Special-Needs Kids
In November, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles brought together seven other agencies, including, the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Los Angeles, the Jewish Free Loan Association and Etta Israel Center, to create Hamercaz, a central resource for Jewish families raising special-needs children under 22.
Music Exec Rocks Philanthropy World
Growing up, Richard Foos dreamed of becoming a social worker, a reflection of his bedrock belief in the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, or healing the world. As a college student at USC in the early '70s, he helped establish an organization called The Free Store, which gave residents of South Los Angeles free clothes, tableware, plates and other household items.
Lincoln’s Party Parties
The party of Lincoln has indeed made some inroads with its strong support for Israel and an assertive foreign policy. For many at this November gathering, the terror attacks of Sept. 11 and the radical left's strident rhetoric against Israel led them to do the formerly unthinkable.
Car Crash Claims Beloved Northridge Rabbi
The beloved rabbi of a Northridge synagogue apparently committed suicide in the wake of personal disclosures that jeopardized his job. These disclosures had to do with allegedly "inappropriate" actions by the rabbi, but nothing that was criminal or illegal, said officials of Temple Ramat Zion.
A Local Witness to Darfur Tragedy
The president of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles recently visited refugee camps in the African country of Chad to bear witness to the pain and suffering of more than 250,000 victims of genocide from neighboring Sudan.
What Makes Bombers Tick in ‘Paradise’?
In his riveting new film, "Paradise Now," Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad paints an ugly picture of Israeli occupation and the harsh consequences he believes flow from it, namely suicide bombers.
How to Polish a Tarnished Image
For decades, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has successfully worked behind the scenes to influence U.S. policymakers to pass pro-Israel legislation.
Groups Pitch in With Housing, Tuition
Critics have long derided Jewish federations as functionally outdated and overly bureaucratic -- the organizational equivalent of dinosaurs on the brink of irrelevance, if not extinction.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's devastation, though, the array of Jewish organizations under the umbrella of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles have shown that they are far from moribund. They have raised large sums of money, moved critical resources to devastated areas and coordinated Jewish agencies to address victims' needs.
Q & A With Richard Z.Chesnoff
n his decades as a journalist, foreign correspondent Richard Z. Chesnoff has reported from around the globe, including the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. Over the years, Chesnoff -- a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report, columnist for the New York Daily News and author of several acclaimed books, including "Pack of Thieves: How Hitler & Europe Plundered the Jews" (Anchor, 2001) -- has chronicled such historic events as the birth of the PLO, the Vietnam peace talks, the 1967 Six-Day War, the fall of the Berlin Wall and, more recently, the rising tide of Islamic terrorism.
Community Briefs
Fallout From Holy Day Ballot and Panitch Killer Denied Parole.
Teaching in the Temple of Nature
Gabe Goldman wanted to believe in miracles, wanted to believe in the power of prayer, wanted to believe that God had spoken to prophets. But Goldman, an Orthodox Jew, felt burned out on Judaism. He would perform the rituals with perfect technique, but no heart. A change, he thought, was in order.
At the time, a little more than a decade ago, Goldman held a prestigious job as curriculum director of the Bureau of Jewish Education in Cleveland. He earned $70,000 annually, enough to own a comfortable home and provide for his wife and four children.
O.C. Election Set for Rosh Hashanah
Jewish groups are expressing anger that government officials, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, have scheduled a special election in Orange County to fall on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year for Jews.
UCI Talks on Bias Charge Break Down
Mediation has broken down between UC Irvine and a Jewish group that accused the university of tolerating campus anti-Semitism.
After just two meetings, the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) called off summer talks with university officials, ending negotiations to settle the first-ever federal civil rights complaint filed against a university on the basis of alleged anti-Semitism.
Krayzelburg Dives In to Save JCC’s Pool
Ely Pouget had a solid reason for trekking down last week from her home in the Hollywood Hills to the Westside Jewish Community Center (JCC) on Olympic Boulevard. She wanted her twin daughters to take swimming lessons with Olympic gold medalist Lenny Krayzelburg.
Tentative Deal to Save Valley Cities JCC
The Valley Cities Jewish Community Center received a new lease on life late last week when its parent organization agreed in principle to sell the center property to a local partnership that will keep the JCC going. Without the agreement, the center could have shut down at the end of June, probably for good.
The parent organization, which is called the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Los Angeles, said it would accept a $2.7 million bid for the Sherman Oaks property.
The condition for this "discounted" price was that any developer must also agree to renovate the JCC building or construct a new facility, insiders said. Four developers are believed to have expressed interest in putting senior housing and a state-of-the-art JCC on the land. A formal purchase offer could materialize by the end of July.
Several sources close to the deal declined comment because of ongoing negotiations.
Krayzelburg Dives in to Rescue JCC Pool
When Lenny Krayzelburg immigrated to the United States in 1989, he dreamed of a better future. Krayzelburg, a Ukrainian emigre who would go on to become a four-time Olympic gold medalist, found that future at the Westside Jewish Community Center. Despite his broken English and newness to the country, he said JCC members quickly took him under their wing and immediately made him feel like he had found "a second home."
Tentative Deal to Save Valley Cities JCC
The Valley Cities Jewish Community Center received a new lease on life this week when its parent organization agreed in principle to sell the center property to a local partnership that will keep the JCC going. Without the agreement, the center could have shut down at the end of June, probably for good.
The parent organization, which is called the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Los Angeles, said it would accept a $2.7 million bid for the Sherman Oaks property. The condition for this "discounted" price was that any developer must also agree to renovate the JCC building or construct a new facility, insiders said. Four developers are believed to have expressed interest in putting senior housing and a state-of-the-art JCC on the land. A formal purchase offer could materialize by the end of July.
Group Honors Jewish Professional Efforts
One person who's been instrumental in securing funds for home visits by social workers and transportation to doctor appointments is Jessica Toledano, director of the Jewish Federation's advocacy arm. She's this year's winner of the Special Award from the Jewish Communal Professionals of Southern California, which held its 25th Annual Awards Dinner this month at Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel in Westwood.
Through Her Lens
A tradition holds that as Abraham walked the land of Israel, he called out the name of every Jew who would one day follow in his steps upon the earth.
The Battle Over Gaza in America
Demonstrators rally in May against Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Gaza pullout plan in New York.
Jewish Interns Get Peers to ‘Come Out’
A group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender UCLA students recently gave Queen Esther, Haman and Queen Vashti a radical makeover.
Saved His Soul With Rock ‘n’ Roll
Rock 'n' roll saved Gary Stewart.
Q & A With Joel Kotkin
Cities are “humankind’s greatest creation,” asserts Joel Kotkin in his new book, “The City: A Global History” (Modern Library). A contributing editor to the Los Angeles Times Sunday Opinion section and contributing writer for this paper, Kotkin traces the rise of urban centers from Mesopotamia to Byzantium and the cities of the Middle East; from the rise of Venice and other commercial centers to the suburban sprawl of Los Angeles.
Right of Return—War of Words in L.A.
The Orange County engineer often thinks about returning to his father's old house in Jaffa. It was a family jewel, Abuljebain said, telling how Israeli forces expropriated that home more than 50 years ago to make room for Jewish residents. As the 54-year-old Kuwaiti-born Palestinian sees it, the illegitimate, racist and imperialist state of Israel is the barrier standing between him and the realization of his homecoming.
Bishop Helps Save Silver Lake JCC
In the end, it wasn’t a Jewish organization that saved a valuable Jewish community center, but a forward-thinking Christian cleric.
Bishop J. Jon Bruno, head of Los Angeles’ Episcopal Diocese, has stepped in with the money needed to rescue the Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center, which had faced an imminent shutdown and the sale of its property.
Episcopal Church Saves Silver Lake JCC
"I'm thrilled. I'm in heaven. It's still hard to believe we did it," said Silver Lake president Janie Schulman, who spearheaded efforts to save the center, which has more than 100 children enrolled in its preschool and kindergarten and offers many social, education and cultural programs.
Battle on Future of Gaza Spreads to L.A.
The battle over the future of the Gaza Strip has come to Los Angeles.
Here and Gone
After less than 10 months on the job, the president of the Brandeis-Bardin Institute has announced plans to step down, a development that surprised board members and raised questions about the health and future of the Jewish-owned camp, retreat and conference center.
Rabbi Isaac Jeret insisted his departure was voluntary and amicable. He said he enjoyed his time at Brandeis but wanted to move on to a more spiritually fulfilling job.
Young Adults Heed the Leadership Call
"I think it's important for Jews to help other Jews," said Heather Greenberg, explaining one of the reasons behind her work on behalf of Jewish charities.
Fight Against Hate Hits High School
From firebrand anti-Israel speakers to demonstrations calling for divestment from the Jewish state, American universities have increasingly become bastions of anti-Israeli sentiment that occasionally bleed into anti-Semitism. Many newly minted freshmen are unprepared for such a hostile environment and often feel besieged or worse, experts say. That Muslim student activists often know more about the Middle East conflict and present their case more persuasively than Jewish students do only exacerbates their frustration.
CampusTurmoil
In the center quad at UC Irvine, Amir Abdel Malik Ali stands before a crowd of 150, his hands clutching a podium bearing the message, "Desperation of the Zionist Lobby."
Super Sunday Seeks to Top $4.5 Million
n Feb. 13, an estimated 1,600 volunteers will place thousands of phone calls to community members with the hopes of making this the most Super Sunday ever.
Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn will inaugurate the daylong fundraising drive at 9:30 a.m. at the headquarters of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles in Mid-Wilshire. Actor Josh Molina of TV's "West Wing" will be on hand to show his support.
Q & A With Lewis Black
Lewis Black is back. The New York Jewish comic with a razor-sharp tongue and even sharper social and political observations returns to the Southland Feb. 5 at the Wiltern LG after selling out The Grove of Anaheim last year.
Bus No. 19 Making Controversial Stop
When hundreds of Jews and non-Jews gather at the Museum of Tolerance this Sunday (Jan. 30) to protest against suicide bombings , they will stand before a grisly reminder of this global scourge: the charred remains of Bus No. 19, which a Palestinian bomber blew up one year ago in Jerusalem, killing 11 and injuring more than 50.
Jewish Big Brothers Gets a New Parent
Lately, the tears have fallen easily from Margy Feldman's eyes. It's not that the new president and CEO of Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters (JBBBS) of Los Angeles is frustrated or depressed. Far from it. Hers are tears of joy, a feeling that comes from knowing that her work makes a profound difference in the lives of young people.
Rescuing Dollars for Seniors, Immigrants
With many health care programs threatened because of cutbacks in government funding, Jessica Toledano and other members of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles' advocacy arm have redoubled their work on behalf of the elderly, immigrants and other vulnerable groups. In at least three recent instances, those efforts have paid off and saved imperiled programs from debilitating cuts or untimely demises.
Friendships Add Life to Scholarships Role
As a young man, Bernie Axelrad learned two invaluable lessons: family and education are everything.
Charities Seek Ties to MTV Generation
If Jewish federations and agencies fail to forge a close relationship with this highly independent generation of Jews, Jewish charities, experts say, might struggle greatly in years to come.
Westside JCC Bash Celebrates 50 Years
arshall, 92, served as the center's first public relations director five decades ago. For an instant, he allowed himself to become lost in remembrance of things past.
"There was always so much going on back then," he said. "Never a dull moment."
And so it was on Sunday, Dec. 12, when the Westside JCC threw a 50th anniversary party for itself, and 250 of its friends came. Septuagenarians and octogenarians who hadn't seen each other for years reminisced about the good old days, when the Westside JCC was considered one of the country's state-of-the-art Jewish community centers.
Jewish Poor Fear Stigma of Poverty
A recent report by The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles found that nearly one in five local Jews, or 104,000 out of 520,000, earns less than $25,000 a year, with 7 percent living beneath the poverty line. Los Angeles' high cost of living makes it especially difficult on poor Jews, who often go without health insurance and are reluctant to ask for assistance.
Agencies’ Funding Cuts Hurts Assistance for Southland Poor
Like their clients, several local Jewish agencies that serve the poor are struggling mightily.
Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) and other Jewish nonprofits have recently lost millions in government funding at a time when demand for their services has skyrocketed. That has strained their ability to care for the indigent and threatens the health of existing programs.
Bush Win Inspires Local GOP Leader
George W. Bush wasn't the only Republican to win big on election night. Larry Greenfield, director of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) of Southern California, also fared quite well.
Surrounded by a crowd of 250 Jewish Republicans partying at Beverly Hills' Level One club, a beaming Greenfield looked more like a giddy teenager than a 42-year-old man in a dark suit. As news of the Republican triumphs came in, RJC members hugged and high-fived Greenfield, who has become the public face of Southern California's Jewish Republicans.
Negev to Blossom Under JNF Blueprint
A prominent Jewish organization wants to turn the mostly barren desert that is the Negev into a string of tree-lined, thriving communities dotted with verdant parks, flowering fields and pristine waterways.
Federation Vows to Help Jewish Poor
Jews have long had a reputation as being among the most successful minority groups in the country. For the most part, they are. But as a new report from The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles makes clear, not all Southland Jews live large.
L.A. Jewish GOP Parties, Dems Despair
Stress and disappointment gave way to jubilation at the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) of Los Angeles' election night party as President George W. Bush piled up the electoral votes and turned the map of the United States Republican red.
American Red Cross Seeks Image Rehab
Howard Parmet, community outreach consultant for the American Red Cross (ARC) of Greater Los Angeles, wants to build bridges to a Jewish community that has largely shunned the organization because of a belief that it is anti-Israeli at best and anti-Semitic at worst. Parmet wants to rehabilitate the organization's image, dispel misperceptions and recruit legions of local Jewish volunteers.
Patriot Act: Does Security Trump Rights?
American Jews have long been among the staunchest supporters of civil and immigrant rights. Jews stood at the forefront of the civil rights movement and continue to account for a disproportionate share of American Civil Liberties Union members.
Q&A With Jamie Court
Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, worries that multinationals are systematically whittling away our privacy, freedoms and safety. Unless society can curb big business, Court thinks we risk living in a world where profits trump all else, including individual liberty and happiness.
Wal-Mart Stops Selling Hate
Bowing to mounting pressure from Jewish groups, Wal-Mart has decided to stop selling "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" at its Web site.
‘Toddler’ Guide for Tantrum-Free Kids
The Happiest Toddler on the Block" by Harvey Karp and Paula Spencer ($22.95, Bantam). Three-year-old Freya Wood wanted a Hershey's Kiss. And she wanted it now.
Exhibit Celebrates Century of Dignity
To celebrate 100 years of offering interest-free loans to the needy, the Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA) has put together a traveling photo exhibit that chronicles its growth from bit player to an integral part of the city's Jewish philanthropic network.
Father of the Leftist Guard
Stanley Sheinbaum is in his element. As 40 members of Americans for Peace Now and their allies sip white wine, nibble brie and heatedly discuss the economic and moral injustices of Israel's occupation, the éminence grise of liberalism watches and listens with the rapt attention of the Stanford University graduate student he once was. When guest speaker Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) says that the "ethical aspiration of Judaism is to stand up for the downtrodden," including African Americans, homosexuals and Palestinians, Sheinbaum nods his head in agreement.
Federation to End Donor Subscriptions
Starting next year, Jewish Journal readers who received their weekly newspaper by donating to The Jewish Federation will still be able to get it, but not as part of their Federation donation.
Kosher Condos Take Aim at Orthodox
Saadin, 42, is nearing completion on a 16-unit condominium project on Cashio Street that targets traditional Jews. The kosher condos, believed to be the largest and among the first such developments in the Southland, will each feature two dishwashers, two separate counters and two sinks to allow religious Jews to cook and clean dairy and meat products separately. The units will also have programmable timers to automatically turn lights off and on during Shabbat and a netila station -- a sink for ritual handwashing.
The Days and Nights of Berkowitz
On a recent bus ride through the outskirts of St. Petersburg, Russia, Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz ignores the rustic scenery surrounding him.
Kazan’s Residents:
A Sunday in the park. A brilliant, bright sun warms the air. The frozen tundra has given way to seedlings, flowers and patches of green.
Federation Faces Underfunded Pension
Faced with a pension shortfall of $20 million, the organized Jewish community's largest philanthropy finds itself forced to divert millions of donor dollars to employee retirement benefits, rather than to needed social services.
Brother Emphasizes Kerry Israel Support
A crowd of 150 well-heeled, mostly liberal Jews paid $250 apiece to hear Cameron Kerry, Sen. John Kerry's Jewish brother and top adviser, speak about the Democratic presidential candidate's commitment to Israel and the Jewish people.
Lewis Black Hits It Big by Seeing Red
Lewis Black is pissed off.
In his HBO special, "Black on Broadway," the black-clad Jewish comic from New York with the tobacco-tinged rasp unleashes a torrent of four-letter words and razor-edged observations about the world around him -- a world that could be so much better, so much kinder, so much gentler. But isn't.
Esther Netter: A One-Woman Dynamo
Time is running out for Esther Netter. On June 6, the Zimmer Children's Museum will unveil its most ambitious art exhibit in its 14-year history to an expected sellout crowd of 300. As if that wasn't enough, the Zimmer's executive director must simultaneously ready her organization for independence from the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Los Angeles (JCCGLA), an outfit that for years has provided important services to Zimmer at heavily discounted rates.
Seated in a conference room with two Zimmer executives, Netter gave a progress report on the last-minute preparations for "Show & Tel: Art of Connection," which will feature 179 telephones transformed into artworks by the likes of musician Alicia Keys, actress Elizabeth Taylor and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The funky phones, up for auction, will benefit youTHink, an art-based social issues program for third- to-12th-graders (see sidebar below).
‘Show & Tel’ Dials the Right Artwork
"Show & Tel: Art of Connection," the Zimmer Children's Museum's exhibition of 179 telephones decorated and deconstructed by painters, sculptors, politicians, athletes and others, features an array of artworks ranging from the whimsical to the confrontational.
Grouped by such themes as sports and color schemes, the often funky and always surprising phones fill several rooms at the Zimmer. Taken together, they show that a little imagination can go a long way toward transforming a prosaic object into something compelling and original.
All the phones are up for sale. Proceeds will go to youTHink, a Zimmer program for students that uses art to discuss important social issues.
Civil Rights Goes Beyond Ethnic Lines
When the nation's largest and oldest Mexican American civil rights group selected a new leader recently, the committee that recruited her included the organization's chairman, a man who is neither a Mexican American nor an immigrant. Meet Joe Stern.
More Jews May Hop on Bush Bandwagon
Chaim Mentz is a registered Democrat who has voted Democratic in the past five elections.
Vocational Service Gains Career Center
To Vivian Seigel, Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) is a living, breathing entity that must grow with the times or risk irrelevance.
Conejo JCC Red Ink to Bring Closure
In a reflection of the continued struggles of the area's Jewish community centers, the Conejo Valley JCC is slated to close its doors forever on June 30, the second announced center closure in recent months.
Meanwhile, the beleaguered Silverlake Independent JCC might survive. The group that operates the center said that keeping it afloat is now a major priority.
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May 17-23, 2013
What does it mean to be your brother's keeper? Lessons from the Cleveland kidnappings
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