Ayala Or-el

The pawn king

Published on November 18, 2011

A day in the life of pawnshop owner Yossi Dina looks something like this: A customer strolls in looking for a collar for his beloved dog, who is celebrating his fourth birthday. He finds a Gucci diamond-studded choker, pays $45,000 for it and leaves the store delighted at the great bargain he scored.

Young women—Bat Ami Girls—bring Israel to Los Angeles schools

Published on August 27, 2008

When Jewish day schools open their doors next week, along with old friends and new teachers, students will greet a new batch of "Bat Ami girls," young Israeli women who bring a touch of Israel to Jewish schools.

For Israeli ex-pats, the homeland is calling

Published on May 15, 2008

Merav and Roy Lobel are going back to Israel. Since the birth of their baby boy, now eight months old, they have longed to be with their families. Each time they've hung up the phone after a call to Israel, they've felt as if part of their heart was still there.

Egypt-born Arab-American woman fights Islamic culture of hate

Published on May 1, 2008

Before Sept. 11, 2001, Nonie Darwish led the quiet life of a suburbanite with three kids, a husband and a dog. But that all changed when Darwish, just returned from a trip to Egypt the day before, discovered that one of the terrorists responsible for the attacks on the United States was Muhammad Atta, an Egyptian from Cairo, her hometown.

Israelis build new traditions at L.A. seders

Published on April 17, 2008

Nitzan and Shaul Barakan had to come all the way from Israel to the United States to learn words like "afikoman" and "seder plate."

The couple, both born and raised on Kibbutz Kinneret, didn't have a clue that there is a haggadah that looks nothing like the one they used on the kibbutz.

Henna party adds colorful touch to the happy couple

Published on April 10, 2008

Sareet Rimon grew up knowing she wanted to have a henna party when she got married. For the local singer it meant carrying on a Moroccan tradition that had been honored by her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

L.A. displays eco efforts to Israeli delegation

Published on March 13, 2008

Gil Yaakov and Sagit Rogenstein arrived in Los Angeles on March 2 to address an awakening among American Jews to the environmental threats to Israel. The two were among a group of 18 academics, environmentalists and politicians participating in the Friends of Israel's Environment exchange program. The goal of the exchange, which is sponsored by the Tel Aviv-Los Angeles Partnership of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, is to share solutions for environmental problems that plague both cities, such as air pollution, wastewater treatment, recycling and planning green spaces.