Mazel Tov, Israel; Shalom, Mayor Villaraigosa

By Ryan Torok
Published on April 18, 2013

Photographs of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa play on a large screen. In one photograph, he’s with Israeli President Shimon Peres. In others, he is visiting the Western Wall, walking at a kibbutz and greeting Israeli soldiers.

Eric Garcetti: A new Jewish face for L.A.?

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on February 7, 2013

During a recent candidates’ forum at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles City Councilman and mayoral hopeful Eric Garcetti began his opening statement by thanking his hosts, the audience, and the moderator, Rabbi David Wolpe.

L.A. mayoral candidates keep things friendly at Sinai Temple

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on January 30, 2013

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.

Multifaith concert to express ‘Unity’

By Ryan Torok
Published on November 8, 2012

Craig Taubman, the singer/composer/maestro known for bringing large-scale cultural events to synagogues and other venues across town, is hoping for an audience of 2,000 for his upcoming interfaith concert at Sinai Temple on Nov. 15.

Security could intimidate, so Sinai Temple moves polling places outdoors

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on November 6, 2012

Polling places often move around from year to year, but normally not on Election Day itself, as happened to the polls at Sinai Temple this year.

High holy days and high political offices: an L.A. roundup

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on September 27, 2012

A benediction for the Democratic National Convention

By Rabbi David Wolpe
Published on September 5, 2012

We are grateful that our nation is founded on the highest principles of freedom and resourcefulness and creativity and ever renewed strength. And we understand that those worthy ideals stand alongside the commitment to compassion, to goodness, our sacred covenant to care for those who are bereaved and bereft, who are frightened, who are hungry, who are bewildered and lost, who seek shelter from the cold.

Why Wolpe spoke at the DNC

By Rob Eshman
Published on September 5, 2012

This week David Wolpe, senior rabbi of Sinai Temple, delivered one of the invocations at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Even for someone used to and deserving of such honors, this is a big deal.

Sinai Temple welcomes new cantor

Published on July 11, 2012

Rabbi David Wolpe tops Newsweek’s L.A.-heavy list of ‘most influential’ rabbis

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on April 2, 2012

Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple is officially the top rabbi in America, according to Newsweek and the Daily Beast. The sixth annual installment of the “Top 50 Rabbis” list, published on April 2, included rabbis who head religious movements, rabbis who lead political and community organizations, and rabbis known for their scholarship and teaching.

L.A. contingent has plenty to say at AIPAC Policy Conference

By Danielle Berrin
Published on March 7, 2012

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium at the annual AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 5, it became clear why more than 13,000 Americans...

Sinai Temple launches special-needs B’nai Mitzvah program

By Ryan Torok
Published on December 22, 2011

Sinai Temple is partnering with Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services to add b’nai mitzvah training for children with special needs to its religious school.

The business of spirituality

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on September 14, 2011

When Eric J. Diamond wants to understand something, he’s very methodical in how he goes about it.

Cohen’s new book on Mahfar and Iranian Jews of Esfahan smash hit!

By Karmel Melamed
Published on May 30, 2011

Friday the Rabbi Eats Tofu [RECIPE & SLIDESHOW]

By Rob Eshman
Published on March 5, 2010

Roger Cohen’s Dialogue with the Iran Jewish Community

By Tom Tugend
Published on March 16, 2009

There was no clean knockout when New York Times columnist Roger Cohen faced off against some 400 members of the local Iranian Jewish and Bahai communities last week, but spectators were treated to some vigorous rhetorical sparring and nimble footwork.

LIVE VIDEO TONIGHT: A Dialogue with Roger Cohen and the Iranian Jewish Community

By Jay Firestone
Published on March 12, 2009

Picks and Clicks Jan. 3 - 9: Einstein’s letters and interfaith Shabbat

By Dikla Kadosh and Lilly Fowler
Published on January 2, 2009

VIDEO: Rabbi David Wolpe—Lessons of the Chanukah Candles

Published on December 12, 2008

There are lots of 'drashim about Chanukah, the candles, the menorah and the Maccabees. Sinai Temple's Rabbi David Wolpe offers a new and fascinating look at the significance of the ceremonial candlelighting.

Calendar Girls Picks and Clicks Dec. 13- 19: Chanukah, Heeb, Israel, Yiddish

By Dikla Kadosh and Lilly Fowler
Published on December 12, 2008

Joon

By Rob Eshman
Published on September 3, 2008

Since 1978, Iranian Jews have injected into a stable, maybe even staid Jewish community talent, industry, a profound connection to their Jewish roots and a desire to have a positive political and social impact on the city. They have energized a Jewish community that could always use invigorating.

Debating Presidential politics, Chanukah in August

Published on August 14, 2008

The Iranian-American Jewish community is avidly following the presidential election scene, and Craig Taubman taped a Chanukah show.

The Great Awakening

By Rob Eshman
Published on August 14, 2008

The Rev. Rick Warren of Saddleback Church will hold back-to-back public conversations this Saturday, Aug. 16, with the two presumptive presidential
candidates, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain. The conversations, on the topic of "Compassion and Leadership," will be broadcast at 8 p.m. on CNN

L.A. boasts record turnout at AIPAC

By Danielle Berrin
Published on June 3, 2008

"I don't think L.A. gets enough credit for its political activism," said Michael Tuchin, 43, incoming president of University Synagogue and an avid AIPAC supporter since he was a student at Stanford University

Briefs: Big results and rewards at Big Sunday, Former Weiss deputy enters Fifth District race

Published on May 8, 2008

News Briefs

Iranian Jews struggle with segregation, presumption and assimilation -- how the stranger became the Angeleno

By Tom Tugend
Published on February 22, 2007

There is no demographic study of the Iranian Jewish community in Los Angeles, although its size is generally given as 30,000, including the American-born children of the original immigrants.

Briefs: Dershowitz debates; Ben-Gurion for sale; Federation campaign nets $20 million for Israel

Published on November 16, 2006

Sinai Temple drew a large crowd Nov. 8 for a debate titled, "America, Israel and the Middle East: Can There Be Reconciliation?" Participants were Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz and Hussein Ibish, a senior fellow of the American Task Force on Palestine, which seeks the creation of a Palestinian state to exist peacefully with Israel.

7 Days in the Arts

By Keren Engelberg
Published on September 28, 2006

7 days in Arts.

Jesus’ Man Has a Plan

By Rob Eshman
Published on June 22, 2006

Warren told Wolfson his interest is in helping all houses of worship, not in converting Jews. He said there are more than enough Christian souls to deal with for starters.

Wiesel Adds Sinai to Shabbat ‘Collection’

By Dara Lehon
Published on May 25, 2006

Having celebrated Shabbat around the world, Elie Wiesel conveyed the novelty of Sinai's Friday Night Live service, which invites singles to stick around for socializing.

Safire Says Book of Job Political

By Rick Richman
Published on November 18, 2004

Dean's confusion about the location of the Book of Job generated a fair amount of ridicule at the time from commentators -- but not from William Safire, the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist of The New York Times, who is speaking next week about Job at Sinai Temple.

Calendar

By Keren Engelberg
Published on October 7, 2004

Calendar of interesting events.

Synagogues ‘On Guard’ for Holidays

By David Finnigan
Published on August 26, 2004

Sinai Temple in Westwood has spent at least $365,000 annually on increased security since Sept. 11.

"That's just for my manpower, to have bodies here when the building is open," said Howard Lesner, the Conservative synagogue's executive director, who gleans the extra security budget from a post-Sept. 11, $36-per-student fee at Sinai's day school and another $200-per-family temple fee.

Let There Be Bart

By David Finnigan
Published on January 29, 2004

Do you pray? Do you watch "The Simpsons" religiously? Do you pray while watching Bart and Homer and the rest of the Springfield gang?

Rags to Riches: An Immigrant’s Tale

By Mojdeh Sionit
Published on October 17, 2002

In 1973, when then-33-year-old Jimmy Delshad was sitting in Sinai Temple, he asked his father-in-law, "Who's that man sitting next to the rabbi on the bimah?"

Ross Options

By Mike Levy
Published on April 18, 2002

In his featured speech to the crowd assembled for the Yom HaShoah program at Sinai Temple, Ambassador Dennis Ross, the diplomatic point man for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process during previous administrations of George Bush and Bill Clinton, acknowledged his disappointment in the current violence and outlined what he views as the likely possibilities for the conflict.

Torah to Tel Aviv

By Rabbi David Wolpe
Published on July 26, 2001

We were together in a small room, about 10 of us. Four of us were from Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. I stood with Jimmy Delshad, our temple's past president; his wife, Lonnie, and Temple Treasurer Kam Hekmat, as well as two members of an L.A. fact-finding mission, David Rubin and Dr. Mark Barak. We were bending over the scroll of a Torah, along with five rabbis, all dressed in combat fatigues. Each rabbi was scrutinizing it with an erudite eye.

Jewish Big Time

By Marlene Adler Marks
Published on May 3, 2001

A month after Passover, the winds have not yet died down from the "Wolpe Hurricane."

Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple in Westwood caused a stir when he asserted, in earshot of a Los Angeles Times reporter, that the Exodus story can still inspire us even if, as some archaeologists assert, the story of the liberation from Egypt is not true. Rabbi Wolpe's remarks ended up on the Times' front page during Passover and became grist for sermons and Torah study all over town.

Wolpe’s Defense

By Charlotte Hildebrand
Published on April 26, 2001

Many of Rabbi David Wolpe's congregants at Sinai Temple in Westwood took strong exception to a series of sermons he had delivered before and during Passover that examined the question of faith despite doubt and questioned the historical veracity of the Exodus.

Finding Support

By Wendy J. Madnick
Published on September 9, 1999

On a Wednesday night, about a dozen parents of children with developmental disabilities gather at Sinai Temple, a Conservative synagogue on the Westside. They meet to knock down barriers and dispel myths, to offer a shoulder to cry on and good advice on working the system of state and local agencies. Most of all, they provide support in a community where every child is expected to grow up to graduate from Harvard or, at least, UCLA.

A Room of Their Own

By Diane Arieff
Published on September 17, 1998

Started in June as a once-a-month event, "Friday Night Live" has become a happening, of sorts. The most recent service easily drew 800 people.

Who Is

By Tom Tugend
Published on January 29, 1998

After word leaked out that the family of Monica Lewinsky belonged to Sinai Temple in West Los Angeles, the full-court presswas applied by members of a media desperate for any details even remotely connected to the alleged White House sex scandal.

Sinai Temple Opens Center for Judaic Studies

By Rob Eshman
Published on October 16, 1997

With a faculty of noted scholars, Sinai Temple has adapted an "adult education" program with an eclectic curriculum that is carefully designed to satisfy a wide range of interests, from serious courses in Jewish spirituality, and discussions of the Jew's role in Society to special classes in Jewish rituals, and interactive sessions for improving synagogue skills, Hebrew reading and lessons in cantillation. Two seminars are scheduled: from October through January and February through May.

Wolpe Reaches Sinai

By Tom Tugend
Published on July 24, 1997

Rabbi David J. Wolpe, along with his wife and 6-month-old daughter, arrived in Los Angeles from New York on June 30.