Los Angeles

August 27, 2008

P. S. Tikkun Olam: Veteran Jewish educator opens charter school driven by vision of a community

By Rachel Heller

"We want to nurture a diverse body of students who are passionate about learning, engaged in their community and have respect for themselves and others."

Featured

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Stars come out for Jews in Cuba; Fall in love with Judaism

By Danielle Berrin

Hundreds of well-dressed, young Jewish philanthropists packed Cuban restaurant La Bodeguita de Pico the night of Aug. 14 to show off their support of the Cuban Jewish community.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

USC Muslim group removes anti-Semitic passage from Web site

When Rabbi Aron Hier, director of campus outreach at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and Reut Cohen of the Horowitz Freedom Center discovered the passage, they sent a letter to Alan Casden, a USC trustee and co-chair of the Wiesenthal Center's board, urging him to have the university remove that portion of the Hadith

Latest

Craig TaubmanThursday, August 21, 2008

‘Jewels of Elul’ offers candidates’ wisdom

By Tom Tugend

What is the dream of the future president of the United States? For the answer, check out your e-mail or a pocket-sized, 36-page booklet called "Jewels of Elul IV," which is subtitled "29 Dreamers and Their Dreams." Among the dreamers who sent in their thoughts and hopes are the presumed presidential candidates, Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Pelosi pilloried, garden party for Israeli art and artists

By Danielle Berrin

Pelosi, on a break from her post as the first female Speaker of the House, landed at American Jewish University (AJU) on Aug. 11 to promote her new book, "Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters" (Doubleay). Faced with an acrimonious audience, one of Congress's most outspoken critics of the Bush administration was lambasted for opposing impeachment proceedings against the president

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Alperts endow Jewish studies at CSULB, ADL en Espanol

Ten years after its creation, the Jewish studies program at Cal State Long Beach has received a $1 million endowment for a chaired professor.

Photos by Rachel HellerMonday, August 18, 2008

Ohr HaTorah ends 15-year trip in a walk down Barrington to a new home [VIDEO]

By Rachel Heller

It was a sight Mar Vista doesn't see every day -- a guitar-studded procession of more than 100 Jewish revelers marching jubilantly down South Barrington Avenue with five Torah scrolls.

Cynthia LooWednesday, August 13, 2008

How to judge judges on judgment (election) day

By Tom Tugend

"Every election, I get calls from around 15 people asking my advice on how to vote in specific judicial races," said Wapner, whose son, Fred, is a current judge

Latino pastors visit a YMCA in JerusalemTuesday, August 12, 2008

Jewish Community Foundation announces $1.6 million in grants to ‘Cutting Edge’ orgs

By Brad A. Greenberg

The largest recipients of the Jewish Community Foundation's (JCF) Cutting Edge Grants, announced this week and totaling $1.6 million, were three programs promoting Jewish identity and connection with Israel through art, music and community leadership

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Activists champion Darfur in pre-Olympic vigil at Chinese Consulate in Koreatown [VIDEO]

By Jay Firestone

A day before the scheduled opening ceremonies in Beijing, Jewish World Watch (JWW) hosted at the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Checklist: What to do when someone dies

By Molly Binenfeld, Contributing Writer

Job one: Contact the hospital or mortuary so that you can fill out any paperwork, i.e., death certificate, as soon after the death as possible

Kamenir Chapel, Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Simi ValleyWednesday, August 6, 2008

The high cost of dying

By Jane Ulman

A traditional Jewish funeral is simple and not ostentatious -- good news for people concerned about the high cost of dying. But while Jewish law doesn't require embalming, elaborate floral displays or 16-gauge metal caskets with tufted crepe interiors, it does require Jews to be buried in the ground. And that costs money.

Cover photo illustration: Dan Kacvinski Photos: Jeff LoweWednesday, August 6, 2008

Trendy, traditional and taboo:
An incomplete guide to Jewish funerals and burial

By Jane Ulman

While not everyone is jumping on the 'I gotta be me' funeral bandwagon, a funny thing is happening on the way to the mortuary. When it comes to thinking about the end of life, be it in the business of funeral homes or in the minds of Jews everywhere, the world is changing.

Event co-chair Max Aronson, Mike Binder, event co-chair Eli Sussman, event co-chair Aaron KaczanderWednesday, August 6, 2008

Motown Jews invade Hollywood

By Danielle Berrin

For the young Jews of Detroit now living in Hollywood, Bob Aronson might as well be a movie star. The gentle-voiced CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit has the money, power and prestige to throw a respectable Hollywood party. More importantly, he knows the magic ingredient required to attract young, aspiring industry types to the much-stigmatized Jewish mixer: Make it free.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Picture looks bleak for mural adorning former JCC

By Rachel Heller

The mural was meant to be a collaboration: A public arts agency led the bid for its creation, the surrounding community approved its design and Chicago artist John Pitman Weber stayed in the homes of local residents while he and a team of volunteers painted it during the summer of 1993.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Valley Cities JCC opens doors at new site—a church

By Lee Bamathan

On July 8, when Valley Cities Jewish Community Center (JCC) began operating at its new site -- a former church in the heart of a heavily Latino area of Van Nuys -- it did so with little fanfare. Instead, the focus was on making the reception comfortable and warm.

Jordan Farmar, a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers and the only Jewish player in the NBA, demonstrates his dribbling skills at a basketball clinic he conducted for Israeli and Palestinian children in Kiryat Gat on Aug. 5, 2008. The boys participate in the Peres Center for Peace Sports Schools. Photo by Nir Keidar.Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Laker Jordan Farmar starts peace ball clinic in Israel; India, and Korea and Israel @ 60

Monday, August 4, 2008

Temple Beth Haverim bankrupt, ADL condemns rise in anti-Semitic incidents

Temple Beth Haverim, an Agoura Hills-based Conservative congregation, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week in an effort to restructure its debts.

(From left) Russell Simmons; the 2008 Joseph Papp Racial Harmony Award winners, Vicangelo Bulluck, Daphna Ziman and Jay Faires, Rabbi Marc Schneier, President of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. Photo by Ed KriegerWednesday, July 30, 2008

Daphna Ziman praised, Justice Ball raises big bucks for Bet Tzedek

By Danielle Berrin

Swimmer Dara TorresWednesday, July 30, 2008

Southland Olympians go for the gold

By Lee Barnathan

Perhaps the most famous Jewish competitor with ties to the Southland this year is swimmer Dara Torres, who is competing in an unprecedented fifth Olympiad at age 41

Adam SterlingWednesday, July 30, 2008

Don’t just sit there—do something

By Laura Donney

Among the candidates for the $100,000 Teen Choice prize is Adam Sterling, a UCLA graduate raised in Oak Park who is now director of the Sudan Divestment Task Force

Blogs

8/29
The God Blog: On the road again
8/28
The God Blog: Don Miller and Barack Obama exchange emails
8/28
The God Blog: Rick Warren’s very own magazine
8/28
The God Blog: Handicapping the McCain and Co. ticket

Opinion Section

8/27
Opinion: A school with attitude
8/20
Opinion: First Impressions
Arts In L.A.
Joan HylerTuesday, August 19, 2008

Joan Hyler’s condition stabilizes

By Danielle Berrin

Hollywood talent manager Joan Hyler’s critical condition has stabilized, three days after she was struck by a car on the Pacific Coast Highway and nearly lost her life.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

JDub throws off the label and opts for change

By George Robinson

JDub was never supposed to be just a record label, and as JDub records celebrates its fifth anniversary with a free concert on July 27 downtown at California Plaza, it is more clear than ever that the organization's founders have greater ambitions than merely putting out good Jewish CDs

Thursday, June 12, 2008

The ‘Chronicles’ of the musical rabbi

By Rick Schultz

An early special rehearsal of Stephan Koplowitz's "TaskForce" in the L.A. River Photo by Scott Groller/CalArtsThursday, June 12, 2008

CalArts dance dean creates site-specific ‘Fluid’ movements

By Susan Josephs

At 52 and the new dean of California Institute of the Arts dance program, Koplowitz is currently preparing to make his Los Angeles debut with what he calls his most ambitious project to date

Circuit
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Stars come out for Jews in Cuba; Fall in love with Judaism

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Pelosi pilloried, garden party for Israeli art and artists

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Debating Presidential politics, Chanukah in August

Community Briefs
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

USC Muslim group removes anti-Semitic passage from Web site

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Alperts endow Jewish studies at CSULB, ADL en Espanol

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Jewish Community Foundation announces $1.6 million in grants to ‘Cutting Edge’ orgs

San Fernando Valley
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Jewish Community Foundation announces $1.6 million in grants to ‘Cutting Edge’ orgs

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Trendy, traditional and taboo:
An incomplete guide to Jewish funerals and burial

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Picture looks bleak for mural adorning former JCC

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Community Calendar

8/30/08 9:00 am
Adult Shabbat Torah Study

8/30/08 10:00 am
TORAH STUDY

8/30/08 10:00 am
Picturing the Process: Landscape Through Time and Space

8/30/08 10:00 am
Humanitas: Images of India by Fredric Roberts

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8/29 7:04 p.m. PDT


Featured Stories

Arts
Q&A with author Jonathan Kirsch: Is Bush bringing back the Inquisition?

I did say in my book that many of the same rationales that are articulated by the Bush administration and the Bush Justice Department were first articulated by the Inquisition

Elections
Obama says GOP ‘tough talk’ doesn’t help Israel; Transcript of speech

"You don't protect Israel and deter Iran just by talking tough in Washington. You can't truly stand up for Georgia when you've strained our oldest alliances ... "

Israel
In the J-blogosphere, everybody knows your screen name

"I didn't know there were non-Jewish bloggers," joked Likud leader and blogger Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, who made a last-minute appearance to speak to the bloggers.

U.S.
Agriprocessors rebukes Obama, Israel sends flood aid to Ukraine

Nathan Lewin, who is representing the largest kosher meat producer in the United States, in a statement released early Tuesday wondered whether Barack Obama had weighed the evidence in the case or considered the company's repeated denials.

Los Angeles
P. S. Tikkun Olam: Veteran Jewish educator opens charter school driven by vision of a community

"We want to nurture a diverse body of students who are passionate about learning, engaged in their community and have respect for themselves and others."

World
Will new ‘Cold War’ play out in Middle East?

With talk of a new Cold War in the offing following Russia's recent military successes in Georgia, Israel is worried Russia might reassess this policy and use the sale of new weaponry to Syria -- or the threat of it -- to strengthen Russia's hand vis-à-vis Israel's primary

Kids & Teens
Back to school, Yiddish for kids

Do your grandparents ever talk in Yiddish when they don't want you to know what's going on?

Music
Master of horror Cronenberg ‘Flies’ into opera

Cronenberg will direct the United States premiere of the opera based on what is perhaps his best-known work: his 1986 remake of the 1958 film, "The Fly," which in turn was based on a 1957 George Langelaan short story.

Los Angeles
P. S. Tikkun Olam: Veteran Jewish educator opens charter school driven by vision of a community

"We want to nurture a diverse body of students who are passionate about learning, engaged in their community and have respect for themselves and others."

Calendar
Calendar Girls Picks and Clicks Aug. 30-Sept. 5: Painting, a benefit, jazz, flies

Singles
True confessions of an online dating addict #4: Ben sounds cool and he lives nearby

Torah Portion
Taking time for yourself

Parshat Re'eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17) The parsha begins: "See [re'eh, singular] I place before you [lifnei'chem, plural] today blessing and curse". Why begin in the singular and finish in the plural?

Religion
PETA slams N.Y. kapparot ritual [VIDEO]

For the second year, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has complained about the High Holy Days ritual of swinging a chicken over one's head, a sin-transference ceremony

Opinion
A school with attitude

If Barack Obama and John McCain wanted to elevate the level of discourse of their presidential campaigns, they could do worse than check out the last election campaign at Shalhevet High School