Life and Death

By David Suissa
Published on June 20, 2012

For a man who runs a mortuary and memorial park that arranges about 1,500 funerals a year, Len Lawrence spends a lot of his time thinking about the living. In particular, he thinks about those who have suddenly lost a loved one and are caught completely unprepared for the many decisions that revolve around the ritual of burial.

Remembering the Fogels, Coast to Coast

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on March 17, 2011

Victor M. Carter Dies at 94

By Tom Tugend
Published on April 1, 2004

Victor M. Carter, who rose from poor immigrant boy to become a creator and shaper of the post-World War II Jewish community in Los Angeles, died March 27, at the age of 94.

Persian Jews Mourn Deaths at Market

By Mojdeh Sionit
Published on July 24, 2003

Janet Nabatian tried to answer her cellphone at the busy Santa Monica Farmers' Market July 16 at about 1:30 p.m., but the reception was so weak that she had to walk a few steps away from her mother and 7-month-old son to get better reception.

Nabatian, 32, was at the market with her child and 63-year-old mother to buy food for Shabbat. The phone call from her sister in Washington, D.C., saved her life.

Moments later, Nabatian turned her head and saw a speeding red Buick smash into her mother and the baby carriage. Nabatian stared in shock as she saw her mother, Molok Ghoulian, roll over on the ground and her son, Brandon David Esfahani, tossed into the air.

Ghoulian was killed on the spot. The baby was rushed to Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and later transferred to UCLA Medical Center, where he died a day later from brain injuries.

Ghoulian and Brandon, members of the Persian Jewish community, were two of the 10 people killed by 86-year-old driver George Russell Weller, who lost control of his car. As of press time, Santa Monica Police had not decided on what action to take in the case.

Community Briefs

Published on January 30, 2003

The family of Jewish Defense League (JDL) leader Irv Rubin has filed a $5 million wrongful-death claim against the U.S. government, stemming from his apparent suicide last November while in federal custody at the downtown Metropolitan Detention Center.