Moving and Shaking

By Ryan Torok
Published on May 8, 2013

Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard named Board of Rabbis SoCal president, Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel is opening early childhood center, Harry Corre and Janice Kamenir-Reznik honored

LaunchBox: Federation releases tool kit for Jewish journey

By Ryan Torok
Published on December 19, 2012

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles has released LaunchBox, the winner of its Next Big Jewish Idea contest in 2011, the first in an effort to garner community ideas to strengthen Jewish life. LaunchBox was one of more than 300 submissions to the contest.

Schools amp up safety precautions following Sandy Hook tragedy

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on December 18, 2012

When Sarah Shulkind, head of school at Sinai Akiba Academy in Westwood, was a child in Winnetka, Ill., a woman walked into the elementary school four blocks from Shulkind’s house and opened fire, killing one student and injuring five, as well as a college student.

Holiday help, Jewish Federation style

Published on December 12, 2012

Traditionally, the holiday season is a time to think about others. This year, several events focused on the continuing need to address social issues, especially feeding the hungry and appreciating veterans.

New Fishel Fellowship

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on December 12, 2012

John Fishel says one of his favorite parts of his 17-year tenure as president and CEO of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles was visiting communities around the world, where he could tap into his background as an anthropologist and social worker to determine how Jews in Los Angeles could have a global impact.

Joe Sherwood: Honoring good police work

By Rachel Heller
Published on November 20, 2012

It started with the morning paper. Every day, when Joe Sherwood read the news, he was struck by an imbalance he saw in law-enforcement reporting.

Richard Sandler: A philanthropic life

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on November 20, 2012

In 2007, when philanthropist Stanley Gold was asked to become board chair of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, he knew he would need an effective partner to accomplish the reinvention of Federation he envisioned.

Attracting Gen Y at GA

Published on November 13, 2012

A dozen officials from The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles flew to Baltimore this week to attend the annual conference of the national body representing 155 federations, where they discussed many of the urgent challenges confronting American and Canadian Jewry.

B.D.S. activists inject Middle East debate into L.A. bus contract discussion

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on September 15, 2012

Federation offers $2 million for educational programs

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on August 15, 2012

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles has some money to give away for programs targeting Jewish youth. Federation has put out a request for proposals for formal and informal Jewish educational programs based on four age groups it has identified as needing the most attention: birth to preschool, preschool to first grade, the years surrounding bar and bat mitzvah, and the later teen years leading into college.

Lessons from Israel’s programs for the disabled

Published on August 15, 2012

In a crowded living room in the dilapidated suburbs of Jaffa, the delegates from the Special Needs Study Mission from Los Angeles gathered closer to hear the testimony of an Israeli woman with severe disabilities tell the story of how proper intervention changed her life in countless ways. The program, which is subsidized by the State of Israel, provides Etty S. with home visits from a social worker, an emergency button to contact round-the-clock medical help, and perhaps most importantly, organized excursions with other disabled people in the vicinity.

Board of Rabbis stands with Sikh community after shooting

By Ryan Torok
Published on August 6, 2012

Anti-Muslim activist barred from speaking at Jewish Federation headquarters

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on June 25, 2012

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles barred anti-Muslim activist Pamela Geller from delivering a previously scheduled speech at its Wilshire Boulevard headquarters on June 24.

Fueling the jFed generation

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on May 30, 2012

Jennifer Rheuban wasn’t exactly plucked from Jewish obscurity. Rheuban is a self-described “JCC kid from a JCC family.” She grew up at the West Valley Jewish Community Center and went to Camp JCA Shalom in Malibu for years. But in college she dropped out of Jewish life, and then she never quite re-entered Jewish life as an adult.

‘The Orphans’ Club’

By Rabbi Mark Diamond
Published on May 25, 2012

“Welcome to the orphans’ club.” Many well-intentioned people have said this to me in the last two weeks. On one level, they’re spot on, since my father died fifteen months ago and my mother died earlier this month. I am an orphan, a reluctant inductee into one of the oldest and largest clubs in the world.

From Bar Mitzvah to Yahrzeit, Breed Street Shul comes full circle

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on May 2, 2012

Milton “Muttie” Siegel celebrated his bar mitzvah in 1937 at the Breed Street Shul, the largest synagogue in Boyle Heights.

Hundreds of volunteers help Federation kick off ‘Super Week’

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on February 15, 2012

On Feb. 12, more than 700 volunteers convened at sites from Manhattan Beach to the Conejo Valley for a day of community service projects and fundraising to support The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

February is Inclusion Awareness Month

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on February 1, 2012

Jay Sanderson visited Vista Del Mar’s Ness Gadol Shabbat services last week, and it was a personal as well as communal inspiration for him to see kids and young adults with autism and other disabilities lead prayers for the wider community.

Opinion: Imagine

By Susan Freudenheim
Published on December 7, 2011

On a particularly beautiful day like last Sunday, I, to be honest, had a hard time facing the prospect of spending the afternoon in windowless conference rooms at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.

Federation day of learning to look at the next 100 years

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on November 30, 2011

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is capping off its year of centennial celebrations with a day of Jewish learning and culture called “Imagining Our Future.”

Top 10 Not-So-Big Jewish Ideas

By Lauren Bottner
Published on May 4, 2011

10 big Jewish ideas in final round

By Lauren Bottner
Published on May 3, 2011

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles this week announced the 10 finalists for the Next Big Jewish Idea contest, which offers a $100,000 prize to the winner. The finalists include a Jewish superheroes game, Jewish care packages for those in the military, social service resources and a plan to make day school free. Nearly 112,000 votes were cast for more than 300 submissions during the first round of voting, Jan. 11 to March 31. The finalists include the top five vote-getters along with the five chosen by a panel of judges. The final round of voting opened on May 2 and will end on June 3.

Operation celebrate

Published on April 25, 2011

There are as many reasons to visit Israel as there are people who make the trip. Some want to establish a deeper connection with an ancient homeland; others are excited to explore a unique modern nation. As part of a massive trip this fall that is being coordinated by The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Rabbi Don Goor wants to do even more than that. He wants to send a message.

Etta Israel expands programs

Published on April 20, 2011

By the time they hit 18, most kids are anxious to get out into the real world. Headed to college, to travel or into a career, they’re ready to test the waters of adulthood. But for kids with special needs, the transition from home to independent living isn’t always easy. And for some Jewish young people in Los Angeles, that’s where the Etta Israel Center comes in.

Jay Sanderson pushes for change but some lose heart in the face of his leadership style

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on March 30, 2011

“I want everyone to be a LeBron James.” It’s early January, and Jay Sanderson is talking in his corner office on the 11th floor of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles’ headquarters about his first year as president of Federation, explaining the versatility and passion he expects of his staff.

At 100, Federation’s goal is $100 million

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on January 19, 2011

The existence of a State of Israel or the notion of raising $100 million would have boggled the minds of the founders of the Federation of Jewish Charities in 1911. But as the 100th anniversary celebrations of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles launched this month, Israel is not only a fact, but also a draw for a proposed 1,000-person trip to Israel, and the founding of a $100 million community endowment seems imminent. Federation president Jay Sanderson, who just completed his first year on the job, sees the centennial as an opportunity to help the community understand Federation’s evolving role. “The idea is to use this not only to celebrate 100 years and raise a whole lot of money, but to bring the whole community together,” Sanderson said.

What’s the Big Idea?

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on January 11, 2011

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is convinced that someone out there has an idea that can transform Jewish life, and it is willing to pay for it. This week, Federation launched “The Next Big Jewish Idea,” part of its centennial celebration for 2011. “There have been a lot of great Jewish ideas that have transformed Jewish life. There has been everything from the blue-and-white tzedakah box to Hadassah to Birthright Israel, and these have all become firmly entrenched in our Jewish life,” said Scott Minkow, Federation’s vice president of partnerships and innovation. “So our thinking is the next idea is out there. What is next?”

Giving

By Rob Eshman
Published on February 22, 2001

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is one of our city's most successful philanthropies. Yet, nationwide, it ranks behind New York, Chicago, Detroit, the Bay Area, Philadelphia and Baltimore in the Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual listing of the 400 not-for-profit organizations with the largest revenues from individual contributors.

Congregational Directory

Published on September 7, 2000

The listings below are for Jewish congregations within the geographic area of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Congregations in areas adjacent to Los Angeles Federation can be found by calling neighboring federations:

Having a Ball

By Michael Aushenker
Published on July 20, 2000

Call it the war room. On the 40th floor of a Century City office building, in an empty conference room of the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, 25 young professionals from the legal world and online community assemble. It's after work, and the cause for which they are gathered is a good one. They are the planning committee for The Justice Ball, a young-skewing fundraiser benefiting Bet Tzedek, a beneficiary agency of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles that provides free legal services for the elderly and the impoverished.

Networking with Net Workers

By Michael Aushenker
Published on June 15, 2000

As June began, so did The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles' new Hi-Tech Division. The Federation officially booted up its Web-surfing coalition by the surf, with a shindig at the Santa Monica Beach-combing Casa del Mar Hotel.

Passing the Torch

By Michael Aushenker
Published on December 9, 1999

Looking back on the last year-and-a-half, Lionel Bell feels satisfied with what the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles has achieved during his term as chairman of the board. He cites the reestablishment of 6505 Wilshire as Federation headquarters and the launching of its $20 million capital campaign as two accomplishments that he is proud of. Bell is also happy about the Leadership Council he started, which has united the organization's young leadership presidents, and facilitated an exchange of ideas and the creation of overlapping programs.

Chanukah Calendar

By Rob Kutner
Published on December 2, 1999

When the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles celebrated the launch of its anti-illiteracy program KOREH Los Angeles in September, the focus was on educators and celebrities to read children's books to kids. Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the spotlight at that event were some local women who are equally vital in the campaign against illiteracy: the creators of the children's books themselves.

Four for Chanukah

By Michael Aushenker
Published on November 25, 1999

When the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles celebrated the launch of its anti-illiteracy program KOREH Los Angeles in September, the focus was on educators and celebrities to read children's books to kids. Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the spotlight at that event were some local women who are equally vital in the campaign against illiteracy: the creators of the children's books themselves.

Jewish Covenant

By John R. Fishel
Published on October 8, 1998

As we approach the new millennium, we often discuss the unity of the Jewish people, seeking those aspects of Jewish life that will hold our diverse communal elements together after the year 2000. Rabbi Joseph Soleveitchek has referred to our Jewish covenant as including our shared history, shared suffering, shared responsibility and shared action.

My First Trip to Israel

By Ruth Stroud
Published on December 4, 1997

"I know your relatives all think you're crazy, but we're gladyou're here," our tour guide, Zvi Lev-Ran, said as 36 tired Angelenospiled onto a bus after a 13-hour flight aboard a chartered El Al747-400 from Los Angeles. We were part of the largest mission eversponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. More thanhalf of the 430 participants were first-timers, including myself.Having been born almost exactly one year after the birth of Israel,in 1948, it seemed fitting that I participate in this mission, whichwas timed to coincide with festivities launching the Jewish state'sgolden anniversary celebration.