For Murray Koppelman, a distasteful Tehran scene inspires a gift to New Israel Fund

Published on April 23, 2012

Murray Koppelman saw women pushed onto the back of a bus in Tehran and had a nightmare about Israel’s future.

$20 million gift to L.A. Federation is its largest ever

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on April 18, 2012

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles has received its largest gift ever — a $20 million bequest from Geri Brawerman to create a scholarship and fellowship program for needy Jewish college students from Los Angeles. Brawerman is a Westwood resident who, along with her late husband, Richard, has long been a major force in funding educational initiatives.

Heschel Day School receives $1.1 million in gifts

By Ryan Torok
Published on November 22, 2011

Two alumni families of Heschel Day School in Northridge gave major gifts to establish endowments at the school in honor of its 40th anniversary, one for $1 million, the other $100,000. Both families wish to remain anonymous.

Marseille befriending Jerusalem with gift of fountain

Published on March 16, 2011

The city of Marseille, France, has given a bronze fountain to the city of Jerusalem as a show of friendship. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Tuesday thanked Marseille Mayor Jean Claude Gaudin for his gift of the "Fontaine Longchamp," which stands more than 11 feet high. The fountain, which is on its way to Israel, is an exact replica of the famous fountain on Marseille's Boulevard Longchamp.

Shop local!

By Mihal Levy
Published on February 15, 2011

More Jewish teens attacked in Paris, Adelson gives $30 million to Birthright

Published on September 11, 2008

Three Jewish teenagers were attacked in the same Paris district where another Jewish teen was beaten severely in June.

The latest pledge consists of a $20 million contribution for 2009 and $10 million for 2010, said Michael Bohnen, president of the Adelson Foundation, in a news release Tuesday announcing the gift.

Man, oh man! What a difference 10 years make

By Jay Firestone
Published on May 10, 2007

I know now the bar mitzvah ceremony didn't instantly make me a man, but if I am one today, after 10 years, its because of the lessons I learned throughout the entire experience.

Getting Out Before Katrina Still Painful

By Julie G Fax
Published on September 15, 2005

It's hard for Gideon Daneshrad to imagine himself on the receiving end of tzedakah (charitable giving). In the 30 years since he arrived from Iran to study computer science at North Louisiana University in Monroe, Daneshrad, 56, has built himself a full life -- with four children, a lakefront home and New Orleans' only kosher restaurant.

"Just close your eyes and imagine that you wake up in the morning and you are stripped of your identity," Daneshrad says. "You are nobody. You are nothing. You have no money coming in. You don't have clothes. You don't have food. And all the people you knew are scattered around the world."

Daneshrad and his family have been in Los Angeles for more than a week, and he still finds himself imagining this is all a nightmare.

Happy Birthday, Me!

By J. Keith van Straaten
Published on July 28, 2005

In a few weeks I'll turn 33 and, sadly, I realize I'm long past being anything "for my age." I'm no longer cute for my age, talented for my age, a good reader for my age. All qualifications and special considerations have long passed. There's nothing I can get away with now because, "After all, your honor, he's only 33."

Gifts for Grads That Will Make the Grade

By Emily Pauker
Published on June 9, 2005

Gifts for Grads That Will Make the Grade

Yeladim

By Abby Gilad
Published on April 7, 2005

Inch by Inch, Row by Row! This week's Torah portion, Tazria, means: "If a woman gives birth," but it can also mean "plant." And so, being the beginning of spring, that is exactly what it is time to do!

New Tallit Bag Trend Threads Family Ties

By Jane Ulman
Published on March 10, 2005

Every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a group of eight mothers and grandmothers meets at Lani's Needlepoint in Studio City. There, under Lani Silver's expert guidance -- one diagonal, tied-down or decorative stitch at a time --they have cumulatively needlepointed more than 20 tallit bags.

Memo to Oscar: Just Say ‘No’ to Swag

By Gloria Baran
Published on February 24, 2005

The contrast was just too much. On one channel, I watched as tens of thousands of people struggled to survive the devastating impact of the tsunami that left more than 250,000 dead and countless others injured and homeless, and on another channel, presenters at last month's Golden Globe Awards leaving the ceremonies with their "travel-themed" gift baskets worth $37,890 each.

Gifts Galore From Bubbe to Baby

By Sarah Price Brown
Published on December 2, 2004

When it's time to celebrate Chanukah, nobody should be left out of the fun. We've scoured the holiday gift scene to find the perfect presents for Mom, Dad and the whole family.

Confessions of a Bar Mitzvah Teacher

By Ted Roberts
Published on August 12, 2004

It is a job that demands a great deal of patience with parents as well as kids. Everything depends on: a) the cranial size of the student, and b) the size of the bribes offered by the parents to the kid.

Psychic Channels Her Gift Into Novel

By Sandee Brawarsky
Published on June 3, 2004

I don't know how many Jewish psychics there are in Great Neck, N.Y., but Rochelle Jewel Shapiro is easy to spot in the lunchtime crowd at Bruce's, a restaurant and bakery in the heart of the Long Island town.

Thou Shalt Eat Pound Cake

By Lisa J. Solomon
Published on May 20, 2004

I saw a simple loaf cake wrapped nice and tight on the kitchen counter. My sister gladly parted with a thick portion, as she said she couldn't afford to keep eating it. With one taste, I understood.

Do Party Invites Right

By J. G. Friedman
Published on March 11, 2004

The index-card box is one of the most important items in your home and is referred to each time an affair is coming up -- as well as when you need a gift for that person's party.

Eight Crazy Lights

By Leora Alhadeff
Published on December 18, 2003

A kosher menorah can be fashioned out of any material, so why not get creative?

A Journey to Home

By Heather Fuller
Published on October 2, 2003

Christmas '95 I received the most ironic of gifts -- Rabbi Morris N. Kertzer's "What Is a Jew?" The book was given to me by a friend, who originally bought it as a gag gift for her boyfriend. He had Jews in his family somewhere but apparently wasn't too proud of his Hebrew roots. He rejected the book and it became mine.

"What Is a Jew?" spoke to me. This characteristically Jewish way of questioning stood out in weekly Sunday school at church, where a large leap of faith was required. I don't remember exactly what my Sunday school teachers said to me, but phrases like "Don't question," "That's the way it is" and "Jesus died for our sins" were the answers I remember receiving to my most deepest questions on faith.

Tzedakah for Chanukah

By Journal Staff
Published on December 5, 2002

The Chanukah effort is one of the first outcomes of Morasha's involvement with a three-year national research project of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles.

Once Upon a ‘Nail’

By Beverly Levitt
Published on November 21, 2002

"All Jewish stories have a deeper meaning," reflected Judy Aronson, a graduate of Brandeis University and Harvard Divinity School. "It's the community that makes the latkes, the people that create the celebration. If nobody had contributed anything, all they'd have was an iron nail. Because everybody cooperated, they not only had a feast, they had peace of mind forever more."

Eight Crazy Delights

By Michael Aushenker
Published on November 21, 2002

It’s Just a Present ... Really

By Carin Davis
Published on December 6, 2001

Legend tells us that Judah and the strapping young Maccabees faced the mighty Syrian army and defeated it against all obstacles.

Personal Shopper

By J. D. Smith
Published on May 3, 2001

I had to buy a present for my sister recently. Shopping for women, if you don't happen to actually be a woman yourself, is a nightmare.

I've noticed that when men go shopping for clothes, there is a sense of purposefulness about it. We're going to the store to buy something, some specific thing in response to a specific need. A shirt. I need a shirt. We march in, try something on. If it fits, we buy it and march back out. No squealing, no cooing, no fanfare. We take care of our needs. There is a sense of accomplishment. We live from shirt to shirt.

A Gift That Keeps on Giving

By Marilyn Brown
Published on December 21, 2000

Chatter Matters is the kind of present one person gets and the whole family benefits from.

Making Light

By Michael Aushenker
Published on December 21, 2000

Looking to buy something kind of demented this Chanukah? Faithful Journal readers may recall Up Front's dish on the Punching Rabbi Puppet earlier this year.

Wrap Party in Redondo Beach

By Ruth Stroud
Published on December 7, 2000

Debbie Simmons earns her living as a CPA in Brentwood. But evenings, weekends and every other spare minute during the holidays and many other free moments during the year find Simmons shopping for bargain toys and wrapping paper, scanning the shelves or standing in checkout lines at Toys 'R' Us, Target, the 99 Cents Only store and Party World. She's buying Power Rangers and Barbie dolls a dozen at a time and picking up donated wrapping paper 50 rolls at a clip.

Sites of Passage

By Jewish Journal Staff
Published on August 10, 2000

Sites of Passage

Out to a (Matzah) Lunch

By Helen Schary Motro
Published on April 20, 2000

Passover in Israel is a blockbuster week when the country acts not only Israeli, but overwhelmingly Jewish as well. The air turns electric far in advance. Supermarkets are jammed, ringing up the highest sales all year. Matzahs are sold in packages the size of small suitcases, with people buying more than they could ever possibly need. Thirty million dollars are expected in wine sales alone.

Baskets Full of Joy

By Julie G Fax
Published on March 16, 2000

Rabbi Avrohom Czapnik, director of the Jewish Learning Exchange and assistant principal at Yeshiva Rav Isacsohn-Toras Emes, says the unity and friendship that results when we exchange gifts is a theme central to the Purim story.

Old Friends

Published on February 25, 1999

I have just emerged from a four-day conversational jag with an old friend who was visiting me from New York.

Chanukah with the Spielbergs

By Tom Tugend
Published on December 10, 1998

When Steven Spielberg and his three sisters were growing up in Scottsdale, Ariz., the Spielbergs celebrated Chanukah like any other Jewish family -- well, almost.

The Chief of Staff

By Diane Arieff
Published on January 22, 1998

Abraham Joshua Heschel said that he prayed for one thing: the giftof wonder. He prayed for astonishment, for the capacity to besurprised. As he wrote, "I try not to be stale. I try to remain young. I have one talent, and that is the capacity to be tremendously surprised at life and at ideas. This is to me the supreme Chassidic imperative."

Honoring Thy Mother

By Linda Feldman
Published on January 15, 1998

Honoring Thy Mother.