Discussions under way on shortening Israel’s workweek

Published on September 19, 2012

A proposal to make Sunday a day off from work and school advanced in Israel.

How to get paid what you want

Published on February 16, 2012

Whether you’re looking for a new job or are a recent graduate, you might be so thrilled to get a job offer — any offer — that you settle for less than you should. Here are five strategies to get paid what you really want:

Single, Happy, Hopeful & Strutting

By Ilana Angel
Published on November 30, 2011

For downtown’s Persian Jews, work plus worship equals success

By Karmel Melamed
Published on October 26, 2011

Fast-paced techno dance music blasts through Chikas, a retail clothing store off Santee Street in the heart of downtown Los Angeles’ Fashion District, which many call the Garment District. Robert Mahgerefteh, the store’s owner, helps the dozen or so young women looking for great deals on the latest fashions.

More Facts, Questions and Things I Will Never Understand or Have Answers To.

By Julia Bendis
Published on June 29, 2011

Obvious vs. the-Not-So-Obvious!

By Julia Bendis
Published on May 31, 2011

A Soviet Passover…

By Julia Bendis
Published on April 18, 2011

To Be or Not to Be, Rich…

By Julia Bendis
Published on March 3, 2011

10 things I love and understand

By Julia Bendis
Published on February 25, 2011

Joys of growing up in Communist Soviet Union, and other tales of my Family.

By Julia Bendis
Published on February 16, 2011

My Interview with the Department of Homeland Security!

By Julia Bendis
Published on February 1, 2011

Israeli students protest yeshiva stipend

Published on November 2, 2010

Thousands of Israeli university students gathered in Jerusalem to protest a bill that would provide stipends to yeshiva students.

Create a new model to   enhance work, self, family and community

Published on September 25, 2008

There's much pain. Too many people feel overwhelmed, disconnected, pessimistic and with no other purpose than to merely survive. Demand for change is the order of the day, as it has always been in our Jewish tradition.

Swearing at work

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on October 1, 2007

Muslim meatpackers fired for praying

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on July 24, 2007

Fran Rosenfield: All About the Children

By Adam Wills
Published on December 28, 2006

Rosenfield started out collecting donations for one caseworker from the Department of Children and Family Service, and found she was so successful at motivating people to give that she adopted another caseworker a year later. Before long the former personnel manager had adopted the entire North Hollywood office.

Milken School head gets the surprise of her life

By Julie G Fax
Published on December 7, 2006

"I want to recognize and celebrate a person whose intelligence, whose leadership, whose commitment and compassion have made a profound difference in our community, a person who has positively impacted thousands of young people's lives," said Lowell Milken, chairman of the Milken Family Foundation, which gave the naming gift and maintains close ties to the high school.

Mayor implores people of faith to fight homelessness

By Naomi Glauberman
Published on December 7, 2006

"Homelessness is curable and we must cure it," Leo Baeck Senior Rabbi Kenneth Chasen said in his welcoming remarks. "Jews know too well the experience of being strangers and outsiders. We have lived in countless places where there were no homes for us."

Q&A With Rabbi Harold S. Kushner

By Sarah Price Brown
Published on October 26, 2006

Twenty-five years ago, Rabbi Harold S. Kushner wrote a book that changed his life and the perspective of millions,"When Bad Things Happen to Good People". Now, Kushner, 71, has written another practical guide of spiritual wisdom. His 10th book, "Overcoming Life's Disappointments," uses Moses' example to discuss ways of dealing with - and rising above - failure.

Partners in Creation

By Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater
Published on October 19, 2006

Many rabbinic texts detail our long tradition of ecotheology, explicitly supporting the idea that caring for the Earth is a distinctly religious imperative.

Life in the ‘hood: Gino Tortorella, hairdresser to the Jews

By David Suissa
Published on October 19, 2006

There's no question that Gino's got a thing for Jews. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that for the better part of 40 years, Jewish women have accounted for 90 percent to 95 percent of his hairdressing business.

Winning Nobel Prizes seems to run in one family’s chemistry—and biology

By Joe Eskenazi
Published on October 12, 2006

You've heard of the nuclear family. But how about the deoxyribonucleic family? Thirty-seven years after Arthur Kornberg won the Nobel Prize in medicine, his eldest son, Roger, took home this year's prize in chemistry.

Defying Nazis?  Sure!  It’s all in a days work

By Tom Tugend
Published on September 28, 2006

Of the books written on German militarism, "The Captain From Koepenick," by German playwright Carl Zuckmayer, is one of the great all-time satires.

Russian Singer Goes From Defector to Cantor

By Roberto Loiederman
Published on September 7, 2006

Ever since she was a little girl, Portnyansky dreamed of coming to the United States. "My parents used to get a magazine called Amerika. It had photos and articles about the U.S. In my mind I was already there, from the first grade." The opportunity came in 1991, during the last throes of the Soviet Union: She received an invitation from the U.S government to do a concert tour.

Beverly Hills TV Agent Casts Himself in Reality Show: Lebanon War

By Amy Klein
Published on August 31, 2006

Altman got down and dirty in the trenches, volunteering at a different place each day of his trip, which was coordinated by Dani Neuman, executive director of the Haifa Foundation.

Sky High Fundraiser

Published on August 10, 2006

A ‘Nice’ Idea Blossoms Into a Group of ‘Niceaholics’

By Rebecca Raphael
Published on July 27, 2006

"I realized that if you have the ability to help other people, you're in a pretty good place," says Debbie Tenzer. "It's not always easy, because basically, we're selfish creatures, many of us struggling every day. We have to make a choice, and it starts by doing just one nice thing."

Thrown For A Loop

By Avi Liberman
Published on July 19, 2006

Looping is plugging in background sound for movies after they are shot so they sound more realistic. I had done some looping sessions before, but they were all in English. While this movie was also in English, there were plenty of scenes with Hebrew and Arabic in them. My Hebrew is far from perfect, but I can still pull off the Israeli accent so I was pretty sure I could do the job.

Letters to the Editor 07-07-06

Published on July 6, 2006

Letters to the Editor

Artists Dream in a Golden Age

By Sarah Price Brown
Published on June 29, 2006

"It's like a temple," the painter says of his artist's studio.

A lonely temple, that is.

"I'm the rabbi and congregation all in one," he says with a laugh.

Spectator - ‘Devil’ Is in the Details

By Melanie Herschorn
Published on June 29, 2006

An enjoyable chick-lit book, "The Devil Wears Prada," in movie form follows the novel's storyline, with slight modifications to the plot that only enhance our understanding of Andy's dilemma. And for the fashion buff, the insider's view of the inner workings of a haute couture, albeit fictional, fashion magazine are amusing.

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.

Scheduled Relaxation

By JoAnneh Nagler
Published on June 15, 2006

As the years have gone by, I realize I'd just as soon be alone than continue to go through cycles of head-spinning effort with someone in exchange for a couple of moments of grace. So I don't do that anymore. And though this kind of spiritual honesty has created an ease in my nervous system (and a welcome death to that horrible intimate uncertainty of giving myself where it's not appreciated), I have to stop and wonder, have I become overworked and underplayed?

We Must Treat Others With Kindness

By Rabbi David Wolpe
Published on May 18, 2006

The Haggadah tells us "you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Here is the interesting thing -- because we were strangers, we are supposed to learn not how the Israelites should have acted, but -- how the Egyptians should have acted. We are supposed to learn how not to oppress others. Don't treat others the way we were treated.

Life More Ordinary

By Rabbi Lisa Edwards
Published on April 27, 2006

In this week's double Torah portion, Tazria-Metzorah (Leviticus 13, in particular), God instructs Moses and Aaron on the role of priests when people take ill.

Three Madelehs of the Written Word

By Sandee Brawarsky
Published on April 27, 2006

The author, who also graduated from Harvard Law School, keenly portrays the life of well-to-do professionals who strive for the best for their children, unable to see the downside of their single-minded pursuits.

Spectator - More Than Hocus Pocus

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on April 20, 2006

"The real 'magic' is that Michael transcends politics to help both Israeli and Palestinian children," Felderstein says from his Los Angeles home. "He crosses cultural lines purely through performance and humor."

The documentary has been nominated for a 2006 L.A. Indies Film Award and screens in Redondo Beach this week.

Abortion Doc’s Son Weighs Thorny Past

By Holly Lebowitz Rossi
Published on April 13, 2006

The release of "Absolute Convictions" could not be more auspiciously timed, given the recent passage in South Dakota of the most far-reaching anti-abortion legislation nationwide. That law, and proposed bills in other states, has reignited debate over the future of Roe vs. Wade. The case, decided in 1973, "would turn tens of thousands of Americans, some of them housewives, others previously disengaged evangelical Christians, into full-fledged crusaders," Press writes.

‘Hybrid’ Actor Crafts ‘Everyman’ Show

By Robert David Jaffee
Published on April 13, 2006

Ameenah Kaplan, who calls herself a "hybrid" -- the product of an African American mother who converted to Judaism and a Jewish father -- is directing, choreographing and co-producing "Everyman for Himself." Appearing weekends at the Unknown Theatre in Hollywood, the show is a hybrid itself, in that it blends music, dance, theater and capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian dance form that incorporates self-defense maneuvers.

Numb? Never Again

By Reina Slutske
Published on March 30, 2006

When I was 11, on the verge of adolescence, the world developed Holocaust frenzy. It was 1993, the year Steven Spielberg released "Schindler's List," considered by many to be one of the definitive movies about the Holocaust. That same year, the Washington Holocaust museum opened.

Rabbi Ending Long Hitch in Military

By Avigail Schwartz
Published on February 16, 2006

Lapp was 9 when his family arrived in the United States. He went on to study political science and religious education at Yeshiva University and was ordained at the Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in 1957. He studied chaplaincy at the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., and the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.

Cowboy Cupid Bares His Horse Sense

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on February 9, 2006

Filmmaker Michele Ohayon's career previously highlighted serious (and politically correct) subjects, such as oppressed Palestinians and homeless women. She won a 1997 Oscar nomination for "Colors Straight Up," her profile of urban youth in the aftermath of the L.A. riots.

Friedan: Universal Woman, Particular Jew

By Blu Greenberg
Published on February 9, 2006

Betty Friedan, who died last weekend at age 85 at her home in Washington, D.C., was both universal woman and particular Jew. The word Jewish does not appear at all in "The Feminine Mystique," her seminal work, yet every heartbeat was a Jewish one. Once, in her 50s, after fame, fortune and independence had filled her life, she asked one favor of friends -- to find her a nice Jewish husband.

Hillel Students Help Rebuild Gulf Coast

By Larry Luxner
Published on January 26, 2006

In addition to Hillel, other Jewish groups were active in Mississippi relief work. Shortly after Katrina struck, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement dispatched a group of emissaries to Biloxi to assist with emergency search-and-rescue efforts.

Capturing Chasidim

By Susan Josephs
Published on January 19, 2006

While other photographers have sought to document Chasidism from more of an insider's perspective, Maya Dreilinger purposefully maintained her distance as an outsider. She wandered around the La Brea area dressed as she normally does and refused the occasional invitation to dinner at someone's home.

Saul Kroll: Healing Hand at Cedars-Sinai

By Tom Tugend
Published on January 5, 2006

Saul Kroll is a firm believer in yetzer hatov, and the 87-year-old Westside resident translates it into practice six days a week as an emergency room volunteer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Karen Gilman: What Makes Her Run?

By Amy Klein
Published on January 5, 2006

That volunteer work is vast. She served as the sisterhood president of Temple Israel of Hollywood and currently co-chairs its AIDS lunch project, which distributes food once a month. Gilman is also social action chair for the Western Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, which presents the women's positions on legislative policy.

Joyce Rabinowitz: A Type Like No Other

By Jane Ulman
Published on January 5, 2006

Joyce Rabinowitz, 76, is a volunteer Braille transcriber. She takes the printed word and, using a special computer program called Braille 2000, transforms it letter by letter into a prescribed set of dots that she saves to disk and gives to the Braille Institute. Each disk, with the help of an embossing machine, is used to produce a book written in raised dot text that a blind person can read with his or her fingers.

Moshe Salem: Giving a Voice to Israelis

By Amy Klein
Published on January 5, 2006

Although the organization originally began in 2001 as a pro-Israel advocacy group, when other organizations like StandWithUs began to effectively fill that role, the CIC changed direction to try to foster a relationship between Israelis and Israel, its culture and values.

Our first annual big list o’ mensches

By Photographs by Kevin Scanlon
Published on January 5, 2006

To its detractors, Los Angeles seems very much like a modern-day Sodom or Gomorrah -- besotting civilization with a trash culture of celebrity murder trials, reality TV and movies that trade on violence and superficiality.

Angels in America

By Rob Eshman
Published on January 5, 2006

This week's cover story celebrates not make-believe angels, but real live ones.

Activists Strategize on Hotel Contracts

By Bobbi Murray
Published on November 24, 2005

Set in front of the hotel on the Avenue of the Stars, which was blocked off, this banquet-in-the-street supported some 4,000 striking workers at seven Los Angeles hotels.

Mental Workouts Keep Your Brain Fit

By Sophia Dembling
Published on November 3, 2005

Teaching your brain new tricks is like a workout for the mind. It's never too early to start, and you don't have to ante up tuition to start your brain fitness program

Spectator - Scene of the Shot

By Susan Josephs
Published on October 13, 2005

Although he became famous for graphic, sensationalist and emotionally raw photographs that simultaneously exaggerate and illuminate human folly, Weegee never forgot his Lower East Side roots as an immigrant Jew.

Boy Do We Need Teshuvah Now!

By Jonathan Kellerman
Published on October 6, 2005

When I was a small boy -- 6 or 7 -- I became acutely aware that being a Jew made me a member of a tiny minority.

No Small Actors, Only Fake Parts

By Tom Tugend
Published on September 29, 2005

"Le Grand Role" has laughter, pathos, in-jokes, heartburn, self-caricature -- in other words, it's a really, really Jewish film, even though the characters insist on speaking French.

Spectator - Lessing’s Shots of Liberty

By Gaby Friedman
Published on September 22, 2005

Erich Lessing received his first camera when he exited the synagogue from his bar mitzvah in Vienna in 1936.

"There was no idea of taking up photography as a profession," said Lessing, 82, from his house in Austria. "In a good Jewish family in Vienna you would only be a lawyer or a doctor."

‘Apostle of the Ugly’ Outlasts Nazis, Gets His Due

By Tom Tugend
Published on September 8, 2005

The Skirball Cultural Center, in the most ambitious artistic project in its nine-year history, will present the first American survey of the painter's life and works in "Max Liebermann: From Realism to Impressionism."

A Rhythmic Spin on Boyle Heights’ History

By Susan Josephs
Published on September 8, 2005

Opportunities to view Jewish-themed dance by contemporary choreographers, however, do not occur every day and, in the case of Duckler, "Narrow Bridge" represents the first time she has explored issues of Jewish identity.

A Prayer for Victims of Hurricane Katrina

By Rabbi Naomi Levy
Published on September 8, 2005

Are You watching, God?

Have You seen the innocent swept away?

Are You listening, God?

Have You heard their cries?

Be with them, God.

Be their strength and their comfort.

Let them know You are near.

Work through us, God.

Teach us to be Your messengers on earth.

Wake us up, God,

Show us how to help.

Use us, God, shine through us,

Inspire us to rebuild the ruins.

Open our hearts so we can comfort the mourning.

Open our arms so we can extend our hands to those in need.

Shake us out of our complacency, God.

Be our guide,

Transform our helplessness into action,

Our generous intentions into charity,

Turn the prayers of our souls into acts of kindness and compassion.

Amen.