Beyond sicko

By Marty Kaplan
Published on July 17, 2008

Beyond sicko

By Marty Kaplan
Published on July 16, 2008

Because this was happening a short taxi ride from the White House, I half expected someone from Dick Cheney's office to burst in at any moment, grab the
microphone and proclaim the conference kaput, dissolved like an inconvenient parliament.

My December visit with ‘lady’

By Gina Nahai
Published on February 22, 2007

When I first started writing, I sat with Khanum for hours at a time, asking questions. I was 21 and on leave of absence from law school. I had no idea what I was going to do with my life, but I knew some stories from Iran, and had begun to write them. They were scattered pieces of people's lives, bits of conversations I had overheard through the years, rumors that had been whispered too many times and taken on a reality that may or may not have been deserved.

The fab fundraising fifth-grader

By Amy Klein
Published on January 18, 2007

Many people took it upon themselves to raise vast sums of money for Israel during the conflict with Lebanon this summer, but how many were still in elementary school?

Today’s Task: Be an Angel

By Amy Klein
Published on December 28, 2006

"God has a to-do list for you," the book opens. "You are God's partner. God needs you to continue the ongoing creation of the world."

Laura’s Smile

By David Suissa
Published on December 28, 2006

Laura has never spoken a word, but she can coo, laugh, sigh and cry. At her best, she has taken steps with the help of a walker. She has a thin body with a smallish, sweet face framed by dark-brown hair. She gets 24-hour home care, with three rotating nurses monitoring her breathing and other vital signs.

Oh yeah, and she loves to smile.

Mayor implores people of faith to fight homelessness

By Naomi Glauberman
Published on December 7, 2006

"Homelessness is curable and we must cure it," Leo Baeck Senior Rabbi Kenneth Chasen said in his welcoming remarks. "Jews know too well the experience of being strangers and outsiders. We have lived in countless places where there were no homes for us."

Wanted: someone to help suffering Jews

By Amy Klein
Published on October 12, 2006

Who will provide spiritual care for the needy?

Congress OKs bill barring military chaplains from mentioning Jesus in official prayers

Published on October 5, 2006

Briefs courtesy of Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Measure ‘R’ contains curious ‘reform’

By Jill Stewart
Published on October 5, 2006

On November's ballot, tucked among the local measures affecting only Los Angeles, is curious Measure R, a plan by the Los Angeles City Council to provide each of the 15 council members an extra $570,000 in pay.

How YOU Can Help Israel; Electronic Devices

By Shoshana Lewin-Fischer
Published on July 27, 2006

Kids

Advice and Reality Face a Moment of Truth in Israel

By Susan Freudenheim
Published on July 13, 2006

My first instinct in any new city is to mingle. I like to walk the streets, stop into ordinary shops -- grocery stores and electronic shops, not just the Judaica stores or Dead Sea skin care outlets for tourists. I like to take public transportation.

Visit to Ethiopia Changes His Life

By Marc Ballon
Published on May 25, 2006

"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."

We Must Treat Others With Kindness

By Rabbi David Wolpe
Published on May 18, 2006

The Haggadah tells us "you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Here is the interesting thing -- because we were strangers, we are supposed to learn not how the Israelites should have acted, but -- how the Egyptians should have acted. We are supposed to learn how not to oppress others. Don't treat others the way we were treated.

Life More Ordinary

By Rabbi Lisa Edwards
Published on April 27, 2006

In this week's double Torah portion, Tazria-Metzorah (Leviticus 13, in particular), God instructs Moses and Aaron on the role of priests when people take ill.

Throw a Party With a Purpose

By Sharon Duke Estroff
Published on April 13, 2006

It's not that glitz, glamour and secular themes at b'nai mitzvah are inherently problematic, like in the soon-to-be-released one-upsmanship film, "Keeping Up With the Steins," but when they're inadequately balanced with Jewish values we can be left with an empty shell of a party that undermines the entire point of these meaningful milestones.

PASSOVER: Try to Avoid Asking the Fifth Question

By Rabbi Stewart L. Vogel
Published on April 6, 2006

While there are only four questions posed in the haggadah, most seders struggle with the unasked fifth question, "When are we going to eat?" It is asked, not only by hungry children, but also by adults who feel disconnected to the rituals of their ancestors.

The Circuit

By Norma Zager
Published on March 30, 2006

Circuit

Center’s Studies Aid Care for Frail Elderly

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on March 9, 2006

Weight-loss prevention is one of the principal areas of investigation at the Borun Center, a joint venture between JHA and UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. Housed on the JHA campus in Reseda, the center was established in 1989 to identify and test nonmedical measures that could improve daily care and quality of life for nursing home residents.

Home Pampering Easy as 1, 2, Ahhhhh

By Beth Gilbert
Published on February 16, 2006

No one deserves a spa experience more than you do. Just picture it -- warm tubs scented with essential oils, invigorating body scrubs, refreshing botanical blend face masks smoothed on in soothing circular massaging motions and misty showers with luscious gels.

How Green Is My Shul?

By Jane Ulman
Published on February 9, 2006

At Temple Beth Israel, the planting project, which is being done in phases with funding and physical assistance from a Jewish environmental group, has transformed congregants' preconceived notions of drab native plants.

Ways to Care for a Parent Who Didn’t

By Dr. Rachelle Zukerman
Published on February 2, 2006

Some 10 million older Americans need some kind of assistance to get through every day. Family members (mostly grown children) provide about 80 percent of that help. Lots of those adult children welcome the opportunity to give back to their parents a portion of the love and care they received as a child.
But what happens when an abusive or absent parent, now well along in years, turns to his or her adult child for help? How in the world do you care for an elderly mother or father who showed you no love, compassion or understanding when you were young?

Israeli Government Gets on With It

By Dan Baron
Published on January 12, 2006

As the prime minister lay in a post-operative coma Sunday, his temporary replacement, acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting.

"We hope that the prime minister will recover, gain strength and with God's help will return to run the government of Israel and lead the State of Israel," Olmert said.

Agencies Join to Aid Special-Needs Kids

By Marc Ballon
Published on December 15, 2005

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.

Senior Moments - Great-Grand Marshal

By Ellie Kahn
Published on November 24, 2005

One thing that pleases Harmatz about being the grand marshal is riding in a convertible. In fact, last year when it rained on the parade, someone suggested they put up the top, but Harmatz wanted it left down.

A Local Witness to Darfur Tragedy

By Marc Ballon
Published on November 3, 2005

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.

Juvenile Offenders Taste Teshuvah

By Sue Fishkoff
Published on October 13, 2005

Four years ago, the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles funded the joint project between Centinela and two L.A.-based Jewish groups, the Progressive Jewish Alliance (PJA) and Beit T'Shuvah, a Jewish recovery program.

Feeling Squeeze of Long-Distance Care

By Ronda Wilkin
Published on May 5, 2005

Dad's first bypass surgery was 25 years ago. I don't think any of us realized he was living on borrowed time.

Protection Does Grow on Trees

By Andy Lipkis
Published on January 20, 2005

Well, no. Tu b'Shevat is an annual celebration for a reason.

Thousands of years ago, our rabbis knew that we would need to be reminded on a regular basis about how important trees are to our lives. We must always remember to protect, plant and care for more of them.

Passion to Help Sick Spawns Wider Effort

By Gaby Wenig
Published on October 28, 2004

When Lori Marx-Rubiner underwent a bilateral mastectomy two years ago, she lost the use of her arms for a few weeks. She couldn't brush her teeth, let alone tackle cooking dinner or driving her son to school.

Community Braces for Flu Shot Scarcity

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on October 21, 2004

Michael Gabai is on a quest. The owner and administrator of Ayres Residential Care Home has spent the last two weeks calling physicians, senior centers, grocery stores and pharmacies in search of flu shots for about half of the 18 residents in his facilities who have been unable to get one.

Russian Community Fundraises for Israel

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on October 7, 2004

When obstetrician-gynecologist Ludmila Bess and her husband, a civil engineer, immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1977, they came with only $600 in their pockets.

A 5765 Resolution

By Maurice J. Elias
Published on September 30, 2004

Cornell University psychologist Uri Bronfenbrenner agrees with Julius Segal, and adds that children crave the respect, acceptance, patience and feeling of being cherished from at least one parent or other significant adult in their lives.

Twins Bring Hope to Paralyzed Couple

By Gaby Wenig
Published on September 30, 2004

As a couple, they bonded over their shared disabilities, their commitment to religion (they are both Orthodox) and their desire to have children.

"When Shmuel and I were dating that was one topic we discussed," Rivkah Klein said. "We both wanted children, and it wasn't a question of whether we would be able to, but rather finding the right way to have them."

L.A. Resident Loses Family in Bus Bombing

By Julie G Fax
Published on September 9, 2004

Aviel Atash was the entire world for his mother, Rachel.

Israel Has Rx for U.S. Health Care

By Mordechai Shani
Published on August 19, 2004

Israel and the United States each have successes and failures in their respective health care systems, but the younger of the modern nations, rooted in its tradition of helping the needy, has much to teach its American ally.

Russian Kids’ Home Has Fashionable Help

By Lauren Korduner
Published on August 5, 2004

The Ohr Dessa Project was established 11 years ago by Rabbi Shlomo Bakst to rebuild Kiev's Great Choral Synagogue, completed in 1997. During reconstruction, Bakst became aware of numerous homeless Jewish orphans in Odessa. The Tikva Children's Home was created in 1996 as a spin-off of the Ohr Dessa Project.

Plan Seeks to Cure High Cost of Drugs

By Idan Ivri
Published on April 22, 2004

In this presidential campaign year, the figure is ubiquitous: One out of four Americans, about 70 million people, do not have health insurance.

Bill Seeks to Cure Health-Care Plague

By State Sen. Sheila Kuehl
Published on March 11, 2004

Today we are beset with a series of health-care plagues, each seeming worse than the one before. The number of Californians without health-care insurance coverage hovers between 6 million and 7 million people -- that's about one in five of us. About 85 percent of those people are working in jobs where health care is not provided. Nationwide, health-care costs are the second largest cause of personal bankruptcy.

Vote No on 57, 58: They Erode Duty

By Douglas Mirell
Published on February 26, 2004

A 55 percent vote still requires a larger majority to pass our budget than 47 other states and the federal government. Arkansas and Rhode Island are the only other states that currently require a two-thirds vote to pass a budget.

My Mikvah Lady

By Toby Klein Greenwald
Published on September 11, 2003

For the 27 years of my married life, I measured all the mikvah ladies I met by Rachel. It was unfair competition. Had Agnon known her, he would have written a story about her, like he did about Tehila. But, of course, he couldn't have known her like we, the women, did.

Summer Tzedakah

By Sandy Schachter
Published on September 4, 2003

The rabbis say that the world stands on three things: learning, prayer and righteous deeds.

Promoting Medical Care in Israel

By Beverly Gray
Published on September 4, 2003

Even when Jews packed medical school classrooms, there were few organizations dedicated to their special concerns.

Give a Little Bit

By Abby Gilad
Published on June 12, 2003

Kids Page

California Jews Lobby for Medi-Cal

By Marc Ballon
Published on May 22, 2003

Nearly 200 Jews descended on Sacramento this week to lobby California's most powerful politicians to protect major programs that serve the poorest and frailest Jews and other Californians from the budget ax.

Director, Neighbors Rescue ‘Collector’

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on May 8, 2003

In 1998, Alice Elliott received a disturbing call from Larry Selman, the remarkable man with developmental disabilities she was profiling in her Oscar-nominated short documentary, "The Collector of Bedford Street."

Kids Page

By Abby Gilad
Published on May 8, 2003

There is a lot of teaching going on in Parshat Emor.

Lawmaker Sees Plan to Cut Funds Failing

By Marc Ballon
Published on April 30, 2003

State Assemblyman Lloyd E. Levine (D-Van Nuys), 33, sits on the influential Assembly Budget Committee. He recently spoke with The Jewish Journal about the possible impacts of Gov. Gray Davis' proposed 15 percent cut in Medi-Cal reimbursements.

Press Fight for Care Funds

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on April 30, 2003

Budget cuts are inevitable. The deficit is huge.

Health Care Requires Resuscitation

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on April 24, 2003

"We have a continuing crisis in this country of millions of Americans without health insurance, and that's just plain wrong," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles), who will speak Friday, April 25 at Leo Baeck Temple as part of a series on health care.

Humanist Approach a Must in Medicine

By Dr. Arnold P. Gold
Published on April 24, 2003

Research examining the attitudes of 3,500 entering medical students from across the nation concluded that most were indeed empathetic and humanistic when they began their studies. Clearly, some time during medical school and the end of the residency experience, many caring young doctors change. Why do some students maintain a humanistic orientation while others lose it?

Bringing Caring and God to the Sick

By Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub
Published on April 24, 2003

"So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom...." (Psalm 90:12)

Citizen Canine

By Michael Aushenker
Published on April 3, 2003

A Wish Is Granted

By Marc Ballon
Published on February 27, 2003

NORCs have cropped up around the country, with an estimated 5,000 now dotting the U.S. As the population grays -- an estimated 75 million Americans will be over 55 in 2010 -- the number of NORCs is expected to jump, said Andrew Kochera, senior policy advisor at AARP in Washington.

Russia’s Jews Rediscover Roots

By Lev Krichevsky
Published on December 26, 2002

Roughly 175,000 Jewish elderly in Russia are now served by the 88 Heseds across the former Soviet Union. These centers, run by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), account for about one-half of all Jewish social and welfare organizations in the former Soviet Union.

Planning Ahead Can Save on Health Care

By Gaby Wenig
Published on December 26, 2002

Because elder care can be an enormous drain on an individual's resources, with nursing homes costing in excess of $100 a day and home care costing even more, planning ahead and buying long-term-care insurance is one way of preventing the costs from being too overwhelming.

Koala Makes Aliyah

By Henry Benjamin
Published on December 5, 2002

Didgee is looking forward to the day he can leave the quarantine cage to snuggle up with his two Sheilas in the shade of a eucalyptus tree, and learn to say "Shalom" as well as "G'day."

Caring Across the Miles

By Lisa M. Petsche
Published on November 14, 2002

At the best of times, caregiving involves a certain amount of stress, but often, the anxiety is compounded when there are many miles between the caregiver and care recipient.

About a Boy

By J.D. Smith
Published on April 18, 2002

Several years ago I became a Jewish Big Brother. The decision to do so followed fast on the heels of a breakup with my girlfriend, in one of those "search for meaning" moments of introspection that only getting tossed out of the house can provide.

Still Kicking

By Wendy J. Madnick
Published on April 4, 2002

Residents and staff of the Jewish Home for the Aging (JHA) gathered March 26 at Eisenberg Village on Victory Boulevard to celebrate the institution's 90th anniversary. About two dozen residents participated in blowing out the 10 candles (one for each decade and one for good luck) on the massive birthday cake.

The decorous moment was not without humor. As one bright-eyed resident in her 80s hovered nearby, a staff member asked if she wanted to move closer to watch her friends blow out the candles.

"Oh, yes," she replied. "I want to make sure they don't spit on the cake!"