Turning teens into police officers

By Ryan Torok
Published on May 1, 2013

Roberta Weintraub, a 77-year-old political activist and former president of the L.A. Unified School District Board of Education, has always had a soft spot for the men and women in blue.

L.A.’s top cop debates gun laws

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on March 6, 2013

In the ongoing debate over proposed laws aimed at reducing gun violence, the main decision-makers work in Washington, D.C. In cities and state capitols across the country, legislators, advocates and lobbyists push for new limits on gun ownership or advocate for a broad interpretation of the constitutionally protected right to bear arms.

Developing: LAPD pursuit of burglary suspects led to brief lockdown at Milken School

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on March 5, 2013

Christopher Dorner in Good Spirits at Local Motel

By Andrew Dugan
Published on February 12, 2013

Missing Israeli found in North Hollywood

By Ryan Torok
Published on January 23, 2013

Syril Zimand, a 28-year-old Israeli thought to be missing by his father, turned up in North Hollywood on Jan. 20, approximately 25 days after the father, Henri Zimand, a philanthropist and entrepreneur who lives in Israel and Monaco, told the Jewish Journal and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) that he had lost track of his son’s whereabouts and was concerned for his safety.

Syril Zimand, aspiring Israeli filmmaker, missing in Hollywood [UPDATE]

By Ryan Torok
Published on January 7, 2013

According to Detective L. Saiza of the Los Angeles Police Department's missing-person unit, as of Jan. 7 Henri Zimand has not filed a missing-persons report with the LAPD about his son, Syril Zimand. This despite the fact that Zimand has asked the LAPD, the Israeli consulate in Los Angeles and family living in Los Angeles to help find his son.

Israeli missing in Los Angeles

By Ryan Torok
Published on January 2, 2013

The son of an Israeli businessman and philanthropist is believed by his father to be missing in Los Angeles.

A shooting: Just like yesterday

Published on December 20, 2012

When I heard about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I shut my office door and wept. And I couldn’t help but remember another day 13 years ago.

Arrest made following Wilshire Boulevard Temple bomb scare, vandalism

By Ryan E. Smith
Published on December 20, 2012

A naturalized citizen from South Korea was arraigned today on charges related to the numerous bomb threats made Dec. 18 against Wilshire Boulevard Temple (WBT) in Koreatown and a police squad car parked adjacent to its campus, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Man arrested in connection with Wilshire Boulevard Temple bomb threats

Published on December 20, 2012

The man arrested in connection with fake bomb threats made against a Los Angeles synagogue was also charged with vandalizing it earlier this month.

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.

Suspect in custody in bomb threat investigation, says Wilshire Blvd. Temple statement

Published on December 18, 2012

We have an update on the bomb threat at the Temple’s Mid-Wilshire campus today.

Wilshire Boulevard Temple target of bomb threats

By Ryan E. Smith
Published on December 18, 2012

Police responded to multiple bomb threats targeting the Koreatown home of Wilshire Boulevard Temple (WBT) and a police squad car parked adjacent to the campus on Dec. 18, disrupting life for much of the workday at one of Los Angeles’ largest synagogues and its surrounding neighborhood.

Statement from Wilshire Blvd. Temple on bomb threat

Published on December 18, 2012

Early this morning, we received a bomb threat specific to the Temple campus in the Mid-Wilshire district. Our immediate action was to close the facility and make sure all of our families and staff who attend school and work there were informed of the closure, and stayed at home.

BREAKING: LAPD investigating bomb threat near Wilshire Boulevard Temple

By JewishJournal
Published on December 18, 2012

LAPD units on the scene at Wilshire Blvd. Temple‘s Koreatown synagogue are deploying bomb disposal units and robotic devices “to assess the situation” following a series of three bomb threats.

LIVE STREAM: LAPD investigating Wilshire Blvd. bomb scare

By JewishJournal
Published on December 18, 2012

Clergy object to LAPD’s methods of clearing Occupy L.A.

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on December 7, 2011

The members of an interfaith group of clergy who ministered to Occupy Los Angeles protesters throughout the two-month occupation of the lawn around Los Angeles City Hall are objecting to what they call a distressing “level of violence and brutality” used by the 1,400 Los Angeles Police Department officers who cleared the encampment from City Hall Park in the early morning hours of Nov. 30.

Interfaith leaders condemn LAPD tactics in shutting down Occupy L.A.

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on November 30, 2011

Occupy L.A. ends

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on November 30, 2011

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” Q & A with Author Eric Greene [VIDEO]

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on August 5, 2011

Month of Diamonds and Demons

Published on April 5, 2011

The birthstone for April is a diamond. In ancient Greek, the meaning of diamond is “unbreakable.” As the month begins, we look to the state of civil rights and intergroup relations in this city and are reminded that, while our bonds are strong, the diamond days of April hold many imperfections.

IKAR successfully pushes revision of LAPD’s car impoundment policy at DUI checkpoints

By Ryan Torok
Published on March 23, 2011

Following six months of advocacy work by the congregation of IKAR, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officials announced that they would no longer impound unlicensed drivers’ cars at sobriety checkpoints, a victory for undocumented immigrants who cannot obtain drivers licenses under state law.

LAPD bomb squad officers to train in Israel

By Ryan Torok
Published on March 8, 2011

Four Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) bomb squad technicians are visiting Israel to train with their counterparts in the Israeli National Police Bomb Squad. Ronald Capra, an LAPD bomb squad officer who will accompany three other officers for the training, said LAPD’s “exposure to local [Israeli] bomb units” will help the LAPD learn more about how to handle and dispose of explosive devices, given Israeli technicians’ experience with suicide attacks.

Woodland Hills search area one of largest in recent LAPD history

Published on January 19, 2011

A shooting in Woodland Hills has caused traffic jams throughout the area as police search for a man who shot a Los Angeles Unified School District police officer this afternoon, the LA Times reports LA Times reports. The seven square miles that police are scouring in Woodland Hills is one of the largest LAPD search areas in recent memory, police officials said.

New LAPD Programs to Combat Hate Crimes

By Danielle Berrin
Published on August 26, 2009

After a recent upsurge in anti-Semitic violence, including the shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in June and a failed bomb plot targeting New York synagogues in May, Los Angeles city officials and community leaders are on alert for the approach of the High Holy Days season. More than 80 people representing Los Angeles synagogues and Jewish institutions attended an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) security briefing on Aug. 19, presented in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

LAPD seeks tips in identifying synagogue vandals, releases surveillance video

By Amy Klein
Published on June 6, 2008

Police are requesting the public's help in identifying the perpetrator of synagogue vandalism. On December 5, someone spraypainted a devil on the back wall of Congregation Beth Israel in Los Angeles. The vandalism was captured on video, and police believe a citizen will be able to identify the perpetrator.

Chicago’s cops have big troubles, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make videos about Jews

By JewishJournal.com
Published on November 23, 2007

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.

Two Orthodox students shot with pellet gun;
LAPD labels attack a 'hate crime'

Published on August 23, 2007

Two Orthodox Jews were shot with a pellet gun Thursday night at Alta Vista Boulevard and Waring Avenue in the Melrose area in an incident that Los Angeles police have labeled a hate crime. No one had been apprehended as of Friday afternoon.

LAPD seeks suspect who defaced councilman’s office with swastikas

By Tom Tugend
Published on April 4, 2007

The district office of Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss in Sherman Oaks was defaced early Thursday morning with three swastikas and two incoherent messages, glued to the glass entrance door with epoxy.

Jewish emergency info card a hit with LAPD; Postcard and dog tag campaign seeks release of Israeli

Published on October 19, 2006

Jewish emergency info card a hit With LAPD; Postcard and dog tag campaign seeks release of Israeli soldiers; Jewish Home Taps Caan for Walk

Arsonist Attacks Persian Synagogue in Tarzana

By Adam Wills
Published on July 6, 2006

Following an inquiry by the mayor's office and City Councilman Dennis Zine, the LAPD reported that patrols of the area will be stepped up in advance of the new shul's Sunday ceremony.

Community Briefs

By David Finnigan
Published on March 23, 2006

Reclaimed Art to Be Shown at LACMA
A Razed Jewish Building's Postmortem
L.A. Federation Names New Board Chair

Suit Filed Over Police Shooting of Israeli

By Jim Crogan
Published on February 23, 2006

Police claim Deri was a suspect in a multiagency task force investigation into drug-trafficking, gangs and organized crime. But Jarchi insisted their claims are absurd.

Burbank Police Kill Israeli Man

By Julie G Fax
Published on July 1, 2004

Stunned friends and family members are trying to make sense of the death of Assaf Deri, a 25-year-old Israeli who was shot and killed by Burbank police officers on June 25.

Community Briefs

Published on March 4, 2004

The California Gambling Control Commission again has postponed a vote on Dr. Irving Moskowitz's permanent license request for his Hawaiian Gardens Casino card club, which peace activists decry as a funding tool for West Bank settlers.

A Tale of Two Cities

By Gaby Wenig
Published on November 6, 2003

On Oct. 14, Joseph Javaheri, a Jewish man from Pico-Robertson was tending the counter at Avalon Discount, a grocery-slash-everything store in the area patrolled by the LAPD's Newton Division -- considered Los Angeles' third worst neighborhood in terms of crime.

At 8 p.m., closing time, Javaheri, 59, had already locked one of the security gates, and was in the process of locking the other, when two black males in their mid-20s forced their way into the store. One lingered at the entrance; the other dived across the counter and stuck his hand in the open cash register, pulling out a fistful of cash. He jumped back toward the entrance, which was only a couple of feet away from the register. As he and his accomplice started to make their getaway, Javaheri accosted them in an effort to get the cash back, according to some sources. One of the men took out a handgun and shot Javaheri at point-blank range in the chest.

Javaheri was dead. The men got away with less than $100. The murderers remain at large.

911 Calls Ignored After OU Shooting

By Julie G Fax
Published on April 3, 2003

City officials and the LAPD are working with Jewish community leaders to determine why two 911 calls went unanswered when a pellet gunshot shattered the front window of a building where a Jewish youth group was meeting the night of March 27.

Rabbi Alan Kalinsky, director of the West Coast region of the Orthodox Union (OU), at whose headquarters the incident occurred, said police have since been very solicitous and cooperative in trying to figure out how the system broke down.

"They will do whatever they can to make certain that we not only feel safer, but are safer," Kalinsky said.

No one was injured in the attack.

Community Briefs

Published on March 13, 2003

Boost Israel's gross national product while buying its grocery products.

LAPD Preps for Sept. 11

By Phil Shuman
Published on September 5, 2002

The big new Ford Excursion sat baking in the hot afternoon sun. A closer look at this massive vehicle was chilling.

A View of Two Parks

By Mike Levy
Published on February 14, 2002

It is fitting that Los Angeles' current chief of police has a plural for a surname.

To Live and Try in L.A.

By Rob Eshman
Published on June 22, 2000

There are dozens of Jews in the Los Angeles Police Department; in fact, the city's first chief of police, in 1872, was Emil Harris, a Polish-Jewish refugee.

Uncovering Rampart

Published on March 9, 2000

Does it stop at the individual policemen in the Rampart Division? Or does it spread elsewhere in the Los Angeles Police Department?

David Kalish: A Caring Voice

By Michael Aushenker
Published on August 19, 1999

"As a Jew, I felt an extreme amount of anger and outrage that Jews had been attacked," says Kalish, 46. "I also felt frustration, as a police officer, that we knew the identity of the suspect, but we hadn't yet caught up with him. Yet I did feel a certain amount of optimism and relief that so many people had come together to address the issue."

Politics

By James D
Published on October 8, 1998

LAPD officer Terri Utley says that since Los Angeles is such a diverse, multicultural place, it's difficult to know sometimes what the taboos and customs are in different groups. "Our goal is to serve, cooperate and not offend," she says.

Inspiration Points

By Julie G Fax
Published on September 24, 1998

Community