Son of ‘Pacific Standard Time’

By Tom Teicholz
Published on May 15, 2013

It’s back! Remember long ago in those dark days of 2011, when “Pacific Standard Time,” the Getty-sponsored initiative, got more than 60 cultural organizations throughout Southern California to shine a light on the impact of Los Angeles’ art scene between 1945 and 1980?

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

Parade, day of unity mark Lag B’Omer

Published on May 1, 2013

Two major community events marked the relatively minor holiday of Lag B’Omer on April 28, bringing some bombast — and thousands of people — to local celebrations.

Adding Israeli spice to the burger mix

Published on April 24, 2013

Southern California could be considered the epicenter of the hamburger universe. It’s where burger innovation was immortalized — the first cheeseburger allegedly was invented in Pasadena — and where every possible type has already been there, done that. (One Santa Monica restaurant tops its burgers with onion fondue and house-made rémoulade.)

A ‘walk’ to remember

Published on April 18, 2013

With African drumming and a chorus of shofars, more than 2,000 people in purple T-shirts reading “I walk to tip the scales” gathered in Pan Pacific Park on April 14 to call attention to global injustice.

A novel meeting of Israeli, Socal culinary worlds

Published on April 10, 2013

Given the similarities between their respective climates and diverse populations, the food cultures of Israel and Southern California would seem to have much in common. Chefs Assaf Granit and Uri Navon of Jerusalem’s lauded Machneyuda restaurant are about to find out firsthand whether this is so.

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.

Jewish Women’s Conference: Putting women first

By Susan Freudenheim
Published on November 14, 2012

The talk at the second annual Jewish Women’s Conference of Southern California focused not so much on the Jewish part, as on the women’s part. Some 300 women (and one man — a devoted husband, perhaps?) filled the ballroom of UCLA’s Covel Commons on Nov. 11 for a series of sessions on activism, feminism today, women’s health, the effects of the recession on women, plus one session on Israeli women and another on rabbinical interpretations of women’s equality within Judaism.

Local Hadassah members celebrate in Israel

Published on October 24, 2012

Although many — perhaps most — members of the Hadassah contingent that flew from Southern California to Israel last week had visited the country before, all called it “the trip of a lifetime.”

Bend the Arc’s leader speaks about group’s goals

By Ryan Torok
Published on August 8, 2012

With tax reform on his mind, Alan van Capelle, CEO of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, came to Los Angeles to talk with young professionals during an Aug. 1 house party about what sets his social justice organization apart.

Capturing the music scene

By Tom Teicholz
Published on June 13, 2012

The recent regional extravaganza known as Pacific Standard Time (PST), a six-month, far-ranging agglomeration of Southern California exhibitions, installations and performances, began with a series of shows that made a very convincing argument for the importance of art created in Los Angeles from 1945 to 1980.

Bnai Zion renews efforts in SoCal

By Tom Tugend
Published on March 29, 2012

Like old soldiers, Jewish organizations never die. For proof, look to Bnai Zion. Established in 1908 in New York as the Order of the Sons of Zion B’nai Zion, the organization has, over the years, changed its name and mission, and even lost its apostrophe.

Hadassah SoCal executive director retires

By Ryan Torok
Published on September 7, 2011

After more than 14 years as executive director of Hadassah Southern California, Laura Kaplansky stepped down on Aug. 19.

California synagogue saved from auction block

Published on May 17, 2011

Congregation Beth David in San Luis Obispo, Calif., was saved from the auction block. The Reform synagogue in Southern California reached an 11th-hour agreement with Mission Community Bank, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune, in its foreclosure proceeding. The details were not disclosed.

Debbie Friedman Tribute Services in SoCal

Published on January 14, 2011

Tribute services for the Debbie Friedman throughout Southern California.

Arts in L.A. Quarterly Calendar: Cultural events through Feb. 2009

By Dikla Kadosh and Lilly Fowler
Published on December 10, 2008

Arts in L.A. Quarterly Calendar: Cultural events through November 2008

By Dikla Kadosh and Danielle Berrin
Published on September 11, 2008

Video pioneer dances with feminine personas

By Susan Josephs
Published on March 13, 2008

Created in 1973, "Caught in the Act" juxtaposes a 36-minute video with accompanying still photography and stars Eleanor Antin as a prima ballerina performing a series of ballet poses for the camera."Caught in the Act" is one of Antin's signature video works to be included in the Getty Center's "California Video" survey exhibition, March 15-June 8.

Get the doctor’s attention—for a fee

By Sara Shereen Bakhshian
Published on January 24, 2008

Rising costs, crowded waiting rooms and decreasing access to doctors are among the reasons medical patients in Southern California and across the nation use words like "headache" and "frustration" to describe America's health care system. And with declining insurance reimbursements, rising malpractice premiums, claims frustrations and growing paperwork, individual practitioners are often forced to increase the volume of patients they see as they decrease time spent in the examination room.

Is L.A. in the market for another grocery strike?

By Naomi Glauberman
Published on March 29, 2007

As the Jewish community nears the end of Passover on April 9, the second contract extension between the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Southern California's major supermarkets -- Supervalu Inc.'s Albertsons, Kroger Co.'s Ralphs and Safeway Inc.'s Vons -- is set to expire at midnight.

BBI and UJ join up to forge a home for pluralistic Judaism in landmark merger

By Julie G Fax
Published on March 22, 2007

The University of Judaism (UJ) and Brandeis-Bardin Institute (BBI), two Southern California institutions that for the last 60 years have educated and inspired Jews of all ages and affiliations -- and that have both at times struggled through financial and leadership troubles -- this week will announce that they have merged into one entity, to be known as the American Jewish University.

Core Values Too Often Ignored

By Rep. Henry Waxman
Published on May 11, 2006

Steinitz Says Sharon Move ‘Damaging’

By Tom Tugend
Published on November 24, 2005

Steinitz Says Sharon Move 'Damaging'
Dr. Yuval Steinitz, one of the most influential Likud stalwarts in the Knesset, lashed out against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during a just concluded visit to Southern California.

Non-Jews Provide Key Community Support

By David Finnigan
Published on January 1, 2004

They are security guards, schoolteachers, cooks and banquet hall waiters. They are waitresses, agency and museum executives and walkie-talkie-toting synagogue maintenance workers. There are hundreds of non-Jewish support staff at synagogues and other Jewish institutions throughout Southern California, and they are integral to the life of the Jewish community.

"Amazing, amazing people," said Conservative Rabbi Mark Diamond, executive director of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. "I don't think our Jewish institutions could function properly without the efforts of our non-Jewish support staff and even sometimes senior staff."

Get Your Creative Jews Flowing

By Sharon Schatz Rosenthal
Published on December 4, 2003

Calling all creative kids. If you have a way with words or an aptitude for art, you can use your unique talents by entering the first annual Jews for Judaism Jewish Students' Creative Writing & Art Contest.

Working with the theme "I Love Judaism," future scribes and artists can express their feelings about their young Jewish lives by writing original poems, songs or short stories or creating a piece of artwork. The competition, which is divided into three age groups, is open to Southern California Jews in first through 12th grade.

The contest is sponsored by Jews for Judaism, an international organization that provides a wide variety of counseling services, along with education and outreach programs, that enable Jews of all ages to rediscover and strengthen their Jewish heritage. The group is also the Jewish community's leading response to the multimillion-dollar efforts of cults and Evangelical Christians who target Jews for conversion.

Tzedakah With Toys

By Sharon Schatz Rosenthal
Published on November 13, 2003

When 5-year-old Ariela Weintraub learned about the recent Southern California fires during a family dinner discussion, she was worried. The Santa Monica resident asked her mother, Susan Weintraub, "Mommy, do you think the children who lived in those burning houses lost their toys?"

Her mother told her yes, and the youngster ran to her room and returned with a big white teddy bear. To her parents' surprise and delight, Ariela announced that she wanted to donate her cherished stuffed animal to a child who lost his or her own toys in the fires.

When Susan Weintraub told her daughter's story to Rabbi Karmi Gross, the principal of Maimonides Academy in Los Angeles, which is attended by Ariela and her older sister, the 5-year-old's generosity inspired a school toy drive for local children affected by the fires.

Fire-Damaged Temples Take Stock

By Tom Tugend
Published on November 6, 2003

As 10 wildfires, which ravaged large areas of Southern California, were finally brought under control, Jewish communities joined fellow citizens in facing the aftermath of the painful human and property toll.

Congregations Rally to Aid Fire Victims

By Tom Tugend
Published on October 30, 2003

By phone, e-mail and word-of-mouth, the bad news kept piling up at Congregation Emanu El in San Bernardino.

The homes of six families had been burned to the ground in the devastating wildfires sweeping across Southern California.

Another 30-40 families had been forced to evacuate their homes, and no one knew the present whereabouts of eight other families.

Rabbi Douglas Kohn, the Reform congregation's spiritual leader, was at the point of utter exhaustion.

Mission to Argentina

Published on June 12, 2003

Last month, seven Los Angeles rabbis and five community leaders traveled to Argentina for a whirlwind 72-hour trip. The mission, organized by The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the Board of Rabbis of Southern California, helped them gain firsthand knowledge of the crisis in Argentina. Upon their return to Los Angeles, the leaders have begun promoting the Federation's Lifeline to Argentina campaign, a $1 million challenge grant matching every dollar raised. Below are some of their thoughts and photos of the trip.

Marching Forth While Looking Back

By Michael Aushenker
Published on January 30, 2003

Standing outside of the Byzantine Revival majesty of Congregation Talmud Torah on the Sunday following Tu B'Shevat, Stephen Sass, president of the Jewish Historical Society of Southern California (JHS), presented a construction hard hat to State Sen. Gilbert Cedillo (D-Dist. 22) as a thank you for his role in supporting the 70-year-old abandoned synagogue.

Food for Thought

By Rachel Brand
Published on January 9, 2003

Maybe you've noticed that many of the bagel chains today are named after some of the most influential Jewish figures in history -- Einstein, Noah. But have you ever stopped to think that maybe it's the bagels that spurred all of this insight?

Well, the creators of TheBagel.org, a new Web site connecting and inspiring college students in Southern California, seem to think so.

Eulogies:Dr. David “Danny” Rosenfeld

Published on January 3, 2002

Dr. David "Danny" Rosenfeld, an advocate in the field of breast mammography, died Wednesday, Dec. 19 at the age of 80.

Beyond the Kitchen

By Shoshana Lewin-Fischer
Published on December 20, 2001

A roomful of women come together on a chilly December evening in Southern California. They eat, they laugh, they talk. One woman stands up and tells everyone that she learned how to say, "No." Her announcement is met with applause. Another stands up and says how happy she is that she has the support of her friends and family.

Crown Jewel

By Michael Aushenker
Published on August 31, 2000

Settling with a cup of coffee into the comfortable armchair in his new office, Rabbi Mark Diamond might need to get used to doing a lot more sitting.

From Krakow to Pico

By Mike Levy
Published on November 29, 1999

When Pavel Vogler left Krakow for Southern California in 1992, he brought almost 100 of his favorite paintings. The darkly shaded oil works in blue, black and purple show Vogler's vision of his hometown and its medieval Jewish quarter, Kazimierz, filled with empty synagogues. Moonlight, twilight and the glow of streetlamps illuminate Vogler's Polish works, where ghosts of a Jewish history haunt cobblestone streets.

The Cardinal Comes to the Board of Rabbis

By Ruth Stroud
Published on December 3, 1998

In a historic address to the Board of Rabbis of Southern California last week, Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles, called for the elimination of centuries of Catholic and Christian anti-Semitic teaching and a new era of Catholic-Jewish understanding and cooperation.

Helping Those in the Shadows

By John R. Fishel
Published on September 10, 1998

In a Jewish community the size and scope of ours, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of the small acts of kindness that define our concern for justice and quality of life.

No Longer

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on July 10, 1997

Her collecting usually takes her to a suburban garage, where the grandchildren of immigrants are giving away bubbe's old Yiddish books to make way for the bicycles. The work is hardly glamorous, but Koral, in her 40s, finds it a "profound connection" to her late parents, survivors of the Holocaust and the Stalinist gulags who spoke to her only in Yiddish.