Q&A with Rabbi Ed Feinstein

By Susan Freudenheim
Published on May 8, 2013

On May 11, Rabbi Ed Feinstein, senior rabbi at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, will be feted for his two decades of service to the synagogue. He talks in this edited version of an interview about changes in synagogue life, his theology and what he prays for.

Torah Flight

By Michelle Azar
Published on May 6, 2013

Bomb threats called in to Houston synagogues

Published on May 2, 2013

Two Houston synagogues received bomb threats.

Great Neck Synagogue Cancels Pamela Geller’s Talk

By Orit Arfa
Published on April 10, 2013

Getting it Right

By Susan Esther Barnes
Published on April 10, 2013

Mogen David: A Sephardi, Ashkenazi and Orthodox future?

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on March 28, 2013

On a recent Saturday morning, at Congregation Mogen David’s Ashkenazic Shabbat service, a blond-haired girl in a shimmery pink sundress tugged at the fringes of a man’s tallit (prayer shawl). The tallit belonged to Alex Katz, and he tried to ignore her entreaties as he led 90 people in the social hall in the prayer for the United States.

Reconstruction of synagogue roof unveiled at Warsaw Jewish museum

Published on March 12, 2013

The reconstructed roof of a 17th-century synagogue was unveiled at Warsaw’s Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

Getting to Know You...

By Susan Freudenheim
Published on February 27, 2013

In 2000, an urban congregation of 1,000 families found itself at a crossroads. The synagogue had a balanced budget and a beloved rabbi who was retiring after three decades, but its building was badly in need of repairs and the congregation was aging. To survive, the leadership felt they had to upgrade, so they took four steps: They hired a big-name rabbi, renovated the building, and put together an ambitious schedule of lectures and other programs to attract new faces. They also borrowed $1 million to pay for it all.

Synagogue in Siberia damaged by meteorite

Published on February 15, 2013

A synagogue in Siberia was lightly damaged by a meteorite that fell nearby.

Moroccan PM celebrates restoration of 17th century synagogue

Published on February 14, 2013

About 200 people reportedly celebrated the completion of the restoration of a synagogue in the city of Fes in Morocco.

Thoughts on the Visioning Process

By Susan Esther Barnes
Published on February 13, 2013

National Council of Young Israel changes rule to let shuls quit

Published on January 31, 2013

The National Council of Young Israel voted to eliminate a rule barring member synagogues from withdrawing from the franchise.

Feb 2–8, 2013

By Ryan Torok
Published on January 30, 2013

The president of the 1.5 million-member American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, appears at Temple Isaiah, a Reform congregation committed to community organizing efforts in Westside schools. Weingarten, an advocate for education reform and innovation, will discuss the current and future state of public education, the role of labor unions and the politics of change. Jewish public school teachers; member congregations of OneLA, a broad-based organizing coalition; and the general public are invited. Fri. 6:15 p.m. (Shabbat service), 7:45 p.m. (Weingarten speaks). Free.

Long Beach synagogue vandalized

By Ryan Torok
Published on January 23, 2013

Long Beach police are searching for a male suspect who threw a brick at the window of Temple Israel of Long Beach on Jan. 7. This was the second incident of vandalism at the Reform congregation, located at 269 Loma Ave., since the building reopened in October following a major renovation project.

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.

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.

Mindful Eating

By Susan Esther Barnes
Published on December 5, 2012

Leaders of prominent N.Y. shul praise U.N. Palestine vote

Published on December 4, 2012

The leaders of a prominent New York City synagogue sent out an email to congregants praising the U.N. vote that elevated the Palestinians to non-member state status.

Southern California temple is vandalized

Published on November 14, 2012

A temple in an upscale neighborhood of Long Beach, Calif., was vandalized. Two-foot tall swastikas and the words "Nazi" were painted in red spray-paint on the front of the Temple Israel building on Monday night. Temple Israel is the oldest Reform synagogue between Los Angeles and San Diego, the Long Beach Post reported.

Deluged day school, ruined Torahs and devastated communities left in Sandy’s wake

Published on November 1, 2012

When Rabbi Avremel Okonov arrived Tuesday morning at the school he co-founded 10 years ago in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, the water in the basement had already receded from the high water mark. It only came up to his knees.

Historic Connecticut synagogue damaged by fire

Published on October 15, 2012

A historic synagogue in Connecticut was seriously damaged by a fire. Flames gutted the sanctuary at the Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont in Milford, Conn., on Sunday morning. Its two Torah scrolls were damaged, but Rabbi Schneur Wilhelm, spiritual leader of the congregation, told the Hartford Courant that he believes they are salvageable.

One in 6 unaffiliated U.S. Jews seeking Jewish expression, poll finds

Published on October 10, 2012

Some 1 million American Jews -- or one in 6 -- are actively seeking Jewish expression and engagement outside of synagogue life, according to a new study.

Blank bullets fired near Paris-area synagogue

Published on October 8, 2012

Blank bullets were fired outside a synagogue near Paris.

The Jews of Kaifeng

Published on August 15, 2012

Jewish liturgy and ritual frequently remind us that the Israelites were scattered to the “four corners of the earth,” as symbolized by the four fringes of the tallit, or prayer shawl. The extent of the geographic dispersion of the Jews over millennia has been vast, ranging from Baghdad to Burma, Marrakesh to Melbourne, Jerusalem to Los Angeles.

San Francisco synagogue service to remember Golden Gate Bridge suicides

Published on August 3, 2012

A San Francisco synagogue will hold a memorial service for the 1,558 known suicide victims who have jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge.

A Rabbi is Just a Man

By Ilana Angel
Published on August 2, 2012

A Synagogue Isn’t a Market

By Susan Esther Barnes
Published on July 11, 2012

Fla. synagogue evacuated over suspicious package

Published on July 9, 2012

A synagogue in Boca Raton, Fla., was evacuated after a duffel bag was left at its door.

Monumental Roman-era synagogue uncovered

Published on July 2, 2012

Archaeologists digging just a few kilometers from the fishing village where Jesus is believed to have preached, have uncovered a monumental Roman-era synagogue with an exquisite, colorful mosaic floor with fine female faces.

Gunter Grass told to stay away from Polish synagogue

Published on June 28, 2012

Gunter Grass, the Nobel Prize-winning poet banned from entering Israel, is being asked not to visit the Gdansk synagogue.

Shomrei Torah burns its mortgage

Published on June 27, 2012

For a congregation that faced millions in debt and a dwindling membership 10 years ago, hosting a “Burn the Mortgage” event was a particularly sweet moment for Shomrei Torah Synagogue. More than 500 people turned out on June 16 to celebrate the Conservative congregation’s final payment on its West Hills complex.

Synagogue vandalized with Arabic sayings

Published on June 25, 2012

A synagogue in central Israel was defaced with Arabic graffiti.

Italian Jewish community to raise money to cover earthquake damage

Published on June 18, 2012

The Italian Jewish community launched a campaign to raise money for synagogues and other Jewish properties that were damaged in earthquakes that struck northern Italy last month.

Vandals hit Philadelphia synagogue

Published on May 21, 2012

Officials at a Philadelphia synagogue are calling a BB gun attack on the synagogue a hate crime.

Seven Krakow synagogues to open—for one night

Published on May 15, 2012

Seven historic synagogues in Krakow that are closed for most of the year will open for one night.

Young families bringing new life to Budapest synagogues

Published on May 2, 2012

Linda Ban is a rebbetzin, but with a mass of curly hair and chunky rings on the fingers of both hands, she hardly fits the stereotype of a Central European rabbi’s wife.

Synagogues slowly expanding inclusion to those with emotional, mental disabilities

Published on April 30, 2012

On a recent Sunday, Ayla Watson celebrated her bat mitzvah. Ayla, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other behavioral difficulties, ascended the bimah and recited the Torah reading for Rosh Chodesh, the new month.

Baltimore synagogue offers to share parking lot with mosque

Published on April 25, 2012

A synagogue in a Baltimore suburb with a large Orthodox Jewish population has offered to share its parking lot with a mosque.

Basel opens first new Orthodox synagogue in 83 years

Published on April 19, 2012

Basel, a city with a Jewish population of some 2,000, saw the opening of its fifth synagogue.

Passover: U.S vs. Israel

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on April 10, 2012

Synagogues must reach out to ‘the uninspired’

Published on March 28, 2012

A few months back I saw "Moneyball," a film about a creative reimagination of Major League baseball. In my favorite scene, Billy Beane, the legendary general manager of the Oakland Athletics, challenges his scouts to think differently about the game if they are to have any chance at success. Beane declares, “Adapt or die.” These words haven’t stopped echoing in my head.

Suspected plotter of attack on Milan synagogue is arrested

Published on March 15, 2012

Police in northern Italy have arrested a Morocco-born man suspected of planning terrorist attacks on the Milan synagogue and other targets.

Synagogue solicits Mel Gibson

Published on January 30, 2012

A California synagogue asked movie star Mel Gibson for a donation, suggesting it would remedy his reputation regarding Jews. The president of Congregation Beth Shalom in Corona sent the filmmaker and actor a letter asking for help to prevent the synagogue from losing its building, the Hollywood gossip site TMZ reported last Friday.

N.J. synagogue defaced

Published on December 22, 2011

A Conservative synagogue in Hackensack, N.J. was defaced by anti-Semitic vandals.

Mumbai synagogue celebrates 150th

Published on December 21, 2011

A synagogue in Mumbai, India, celebrated its 150th anniversary.

Wind closes synagogues, schools

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on December 1, 2011

Gusts that peaked at 97 miles per hour whipped through the Los Angeles area Wednesday night, downing trees and power lines and leaving some synagogues and Jewish schools with minor damage and no power.

Belarus synagogue vandalized again

Published on November 15, 2011

A synagogue in eastern Belarus was vandalized for the second time.

Late to shul, on time for kiddush

Published on November 1, 2011

My friend and I go to the same synagogue but almost never run into each other. “How come?” I was musing the other day.

Temple Judea Wins Energy Oscar

By Dikla Kadosh
Published on October 24, 2011

Synagogue dispute heads to court

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on October 12, 2011

The trouble at Shaarei Tefila, one of Los Angeles’ oldest Modern Orthodox synagogues, began in 2008 with a disagreement over whether one member’s brother should be allowed to be called up to the Torah. Over the last three years, however, that dispute led to a competition between two groups of members for control over the struggling 77-year-old Beverly Boulevard congregation.

Why I went to Occupy L.A. instead of synagogue

Published on October 12, 2011

A little more than a month ago, I became a Bat Mitzvah. In Judaism, that means I am now an adult and have pledged to keep the traditions of my faith. And yet it was for those very reasons that I decided to spend Yom Kippur - the holiest day of the Jewish year - joining the protesters of Occupy L.A. instead of going to synagogue.

Libyan exile launches effort to restore Tripoli synagogue

Published on October 2, 2011

Libyan Jewish exile David Gerbi began digging out Tripoli's main synagogue in an attempt to restore the building.

If your gut tells you something seems suspicious, report it

By Ryan Torok
Published on September 14, 2011

On Aug. 30, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) held its annual security meeting at its Los Angeles headquarters to advise local Jewish leaders on possible threats facing the community in advance of the High Holy Days.

Pasadena temple gets Argentina’s first woman cantor

By Ryan E. Smith
Published on September 14, 2011

Cantor Ruth Berman Harris has been earning paychecks for leading services since she was 15, years before a cantorial school even existed in her native Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Rosh Hashanah ‘in the house tonight’ dances into the new year

Published on September 13, 2011

Aish brings together rhythem, beats and davening for their 'Rosh Hashanah in the house tonight' dancing spectacle.

N.Y. synagogue bomb plotter sentenced to 25 years

Published on September 8, 2011

The last of four men convicted last year in a bombing plot that included two New York synagogues received the minimum mandatory prison sentence, 25 years.

President George W. Bush to speak at Minnesota synagogue

Published on September 1, 2011

Former President George W. Bush will speak at Beth El Synagogue on Sept. 21, the Minnesota synagogue said.

Opinion: Taking security seriously is a community concern

Published on August 10, 2011

We live in an unpredictable world. As Americans, we do our best to cope with threats of terrorism on a daily basis, and we put our faith into the intelligence community, trusting that those who are tasked with keeping us safe are vigilant in their quest.

Moscow synagogue firebombed

Published on July 12, 2011

A synagogue in Moscow was attacked with firebombs.

Fire ravages prominent N.Y. synagogue

Published on July 12, 2011

A fire has badly damaged one of New York City’s most prominent synagogues.