Comfort during a crisis

Published on March 20, 2013

In the summer of 1999, a self-proclaimed white supremacist walked into the North Valley Jewish Community Center and started shooting. The bullets hit the school’s secretary, a teen counselor and three children, all of whom survived. But the trauma of the shooting rippled beyond the immediate victims and throughout the community — to parents and other children present, and to every witness and bystander of every age.

Remembering Ira Skolky

By Beit T'shuvah
Published on February 15, 2013

Iranian Jews honor local Jewish nonprofits, HIAS

By Karmel Melamed
Published on February 13, 2013

Nearly 500 local Iranian Jews packed two auditoriums at UCLA’s Fowler Museum on Jan. 28 for an event honoring three prominent Los Angeles-area Jewish nonprofits and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS).

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.

JFS announces program, staffing cuts

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on October 24, 2012

Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles (JFS) announced layoffs in some areas and expansion in other areas of its operation Oct. 16, saying it was looking to position JFS for success as it responds to shifts in how programs are funded.

Holy harvest

By Rachel Heller
Published on October 11, 2012

It’s a Tuesday evening, and Rabbi Craig Wyckoff is turning the compost in a wire bin next to rows of kale, tomato and cucumber plants on the grounds of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City (UUCSC).

Northridge mother pleads guilty in syrup swastika vandalism

By Ryan Torok
Published on July 19, 2012

A Northridge mother pleaded no contest Wednesday to a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for helping her teenage daughter and two friends deface homes with maple syrup swastikas, human feces and toilet paper, according to the L.A. city attorney’s office.

HEALTH CARE DECISION — Jews react: Jewish Family Service CEO

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on June 28, 2012

Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles CEO Paul Castro lauded the announcement of the Supreme Court's decision this morning to uphold President Obama's Affordable Care Act, saying it will benefit JFS's target population.

This year, more Angelenos than ever get Passover aid from local agencies

By Ryan Torok
Published on April 11, 2012

This year, more than 1,000 Los Angeles families in need received food from organizations that provide assistance specifically for Passover.

The Circuit: Jewish Family Service, BJE, Lainer Distinguished Educator Award

By Adam Wills
Published on March 1, 2011

The Jewish Family Service (JFS) Family Violence Project raised funds and awareness on Jan. 27 during its second annual Empowerment Celebration, which honors the birthday of Abby J. Leibman, co-founder of the California Women’s Law Center and newly named CEO of MAZON, and the memory of Nina C. Leibman, who was murdered by her husband in 1995 just after a court order had gone into effect to force him to move out of her home. At the event, JFS recognized former state Sen. Sheila J. Kuehl for her decades of work to help victims of domestic violence.

Federation Campaign Seeks to Feed L.A. County’s Hungry

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on April 16, 2009

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles has never organized a campaign quite like this. Size, scale, vision, ambition — it’s all uncharted territory, and not just for Los Angeles’ umbrella organization for local Jewish social service agencies, but for federations like it across the country.

Gaza conflict means local anti-Semitism, JFS gets new logo

Published on January 8, 2009

Los Angeles Jewish day school official is at the center of an investigation that forced Bill Richardson to withdraw from consideration for a Cabinet post.

Holocaust survivors in L.A.  are still struggling

By Jane Ulman
Published on November 29, 2007

There are an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 Holocaust survivors living in Los Angeles, according to Federation spokeswoman Deborah Dragon. Of these, 3,000 are determined to be financially needy, a figure based on a United Jewish Communities Report published December 2003, which found 25 percent of Holocaust victims in the United States living in poverty.

Kitchen Stadium meets the Skirball, Miri Ben-Ari glows downtown, Jona Goldrich tells his story

By Danielle Berrin
Published on October 11, 2007

Circuit briefs.

Night Music, JFS, Tobin et al.

By Danielle Berrin
Published on July 19, 2007

Circuit.

It’s all about Queen Esther, Life after the Nobel

Published on March 29, 2007

Circuit.

Wanna drink? Think again!

By Louis Keene
Published on March 1, 2007

Recognizing alcohol's long-standing presence in Jewish custom, tradition and culture -- especially on Purim, when drinking is a mitzvah -- and hearing from some rabbis that it would be impossible to have shuls go completely dry, Aleinu has tried to work directly with the shuls and parents to take responsibility for their teens.

Substance Abuse a Senior Problem, Too

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on May 18, 2006

When Amy Kaplan heard about Betty (not her real name), a Jewish Family Service client in her early 70s who said she couldn't afford all of her medications, Kaplan suspected there was more to the story.

Q & A With Paul Castro

By Marc Ballon
Published on January 15, 2004

Paul S. Castro, executive director of Jewish Family Service (JFS), has spent his career working on behalf of the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. The 22-year JFS veteran, who became chief executive in 2000, has watched the agency grow exponentially over the past couple decades. Under his direction, JFS has worked aggressively to diversify its funding sources and has increased its endowment from $2 million to more than $7.4 million. JFS, which employs 430 full- and part-time employees at 25 locations throughout Greater Los Angeles, offers counseling, supports the elderly and disabled, provides housing for the homeless and feeds the hungry, among other services.

Art Brings Life to Old Case Studies

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on January 15, 2004

The eight stark photographs show scenes from a decaying mansion in West Adams, where a homeless parent and child "squat" amid dust and detritus. A microwave oven sits on a peeling bureau; a wall has crumbled between the toilet and living room.

The images -- featured in "Still Listening: 150 Years of Jewish Family Service" -- are photographer Albert Winn's present-day response to an old Jewish Family Service (JFS) case history. The 1934 report describes an impoverished family living in squalor behind a tin shop.

Coping With Cancer Proves Family Affair

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on November 27, 2003

In the first moments after Lori Marx-Rubiner was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, several fears ran through her head. The Jewish community social worker, who was 35 at the time, wondered about her mortality and worried about the prospect of pain and nausea induced by treatment. However, her deepest concern centered on her then 3-year-old son, Zachary.

Schools Adopt Guide to Block Sex Abuse

By Julie G Fax
Published on June 19, 2003

A national group representing more than 700 Orthodox day schools recently adopted sexual abuse prevention guidelines that were developed by a department of the Jewish Family Service (JFS) in Los Angeles.

Stepping Out

By Debbie L. Sklar
Published on October 3, 2002

Time does move on. When Irwin Greenfield's wife died 16 years ago, he figured he had two choices: either stay alone behind closed doors curled up on his couch or get out and mingle with the rest of the world. He chose the latter, and he hasn't looked back.

JFSHelps Holocaust Survivors

By Journal Staff
Published on August 1, 2002

A grant of $120,000 over three years from the newly established PIMCO Foundation will help Orange County's Jewish Family Service (JFS) expand its services to about 45 elderly Holocaust survivors who reside locally.

JFS Picks Up Several JCC Services

By Michael Aushenker
Published on December 20, 2001

Effective Jan. 1, Jewish Family Service (JFS) will take over some key JCC services -- SOVA Kosher Food Pantry, Israel Levin Senior Adult Center, and Westside JCC's Social Day Care Center for seniors and people with disabilities. At the annual JCCGLA meeting, Jewish Federation President John Fishel told The Journal that his outreach organization wants to preserve the continuity of these JCC programs.

Open for Discussion

By Ellen Jaffe-Gill
Published on February 1, 2001

When Kelly Smith and Brian Bloch met at a convention in Long Beach in 1999, sparks flew. As they developed their long-distance relationship via e-mail -- Brian at his computer in Houston, Kelly at hers in the Valley -- they were astounded to find out how much they had in common.

Settling In

By Michael Aushenker
Published on November 16, 2000

It's the obvious first topic of conversation, and Paul Castro has no problem addressing it. As the newly minted executive director of Jewish Family Service of Greater Los Angeles (JFS), Castro now runs a Jewish social outreach organization - and yet he is neither Jewish nor holds a degree in social work."It was more of a challenge for the organization than for me," Castro told The Journal. "I've never really not felt part of the family at JFS. The fact that I've not been Jewish has not been an issue in the day-to-day operations or in my interactions with people."

King Departs

By Michael Aushenker
Published on July 6, 2000

Last Friday was bittersweet for Sandra King. Closing a chapter in her professional life that has lasted a quarter of a century, King stepped down as executive director of Jewish Family Service (JFS), a beneficiary agency of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

Car Alarm

By Tom Tugend
Published on December 11, 1997

You've read the newspaper ads or heard the pitches on the radio: Donate your old car to our worthy charity, which aids orphans/immigrants/homeless/the halt and the lame, and enjoy a generous tax write-off.