• YLD Events
• 35th Annual Del Rey Dinner Dance
• Vista Del Mar Olympic Games for Big Sunday

A Look at Some of YLD’s Exciting Events!

The Jewish Federation’s Young Leadership Division has been very busy lately enjoying a variety of fun and exciting events!

The Jewish Federation partnered with Sports Club L.A. to offer YLD members two opportunities to work out while getting to know one another. On April 29 and May 1, 60 YLD members came to mingle over healthy smoothies and energy bars before hitting the gym for Yoga and Boot Camp classes at the West L.A. Sports Club L.A.

YLD’s Ben-Gurion Society’s inaugural event, A Celebration of Israel at 60: The Past 60 Years and the Future of Our Jewish State, featured a delicious dinner, wine tasting, and a program by Jonathan Livny, Israeli legal expert, immigration advocate, and wine connoisseur. Nearly 100 people enjoyed the evening, held at a private home in Pacific Palisades on May 7.

On May 14, a group of YLDers joined other young Jewish professionals from organizations all over the city at the Knitting Factory for a screening of films selected from the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival. More than 100 guests attended the event, where they screened films Shmuli’s Dream and Song of David before a lively performance from the Israeli band Moshav.

YLD Education Chair Cara Bovitz said she particularly enjoyed the Jewish Film Festival Event. “The unique short films and the soulful sound of Moshav provided a perfect venue to continue the wave of celebrations of Israel's 60th anniversary. It's always great to see our community come together to enjoy the variety of art that comes from our rich culture and history.”

A few days later on May 20, YLD enjoyed another successful event, when nearly 100 YLD members saw a screening of the award-winning documentary Unsettled, which follows the story of six young people who faced off against each other during the withdrawal of settlers from the Gaza strip in 2005. After the private screening at the Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills, the film’s director Adam Hootnick participated in a Q&A with the group, answering their questions and explaining how and why he made the movie.

YLD Chair Eric Erenstoft said he considers the Young Leadership Division to be the premier group and point of engagement for young Jewish professionals in Los Angeles. “With events that range from film screenings to wine tastings, blockbuster parties to speaker series, mixers, exhibits, and of course, mission trips to places like Washington, DC and Israel, we are creating events for all tastes, types and interests.”

Erenstoft went on to explain that within the last few years, YLD’s attendance and fundraising have grown enormously, adding that, as YLD chair, his “passion, focus and mission is to engage and connect young professionals, building and strengthening their personal vision as a community of future leaders and part of something much bigger than themselves.”

For more information about YLD, please contact Cassie Kirschbaum at (323) 761-8132 or CKirschbaum@JewishLA.org.

Del Rey Yacht Club Members Show Support for Federation at 35th Annual Dinner Dance

On May 3, nearly 200 people turned out for the 35th Annual Del Rey Dinner Dance, where Helene Feuerstein was honored for her longstanding commitment to The Jewish Federation and the Jewish community.

The record-breaking fundraising event, which was chaired by Marcie and Steven Medof, also featured a performance by comedian Mark Schiff, who’s been featured on HBO and Showtime and who recently returned from a tour of Israel in support of at-risk Israeli teens.

After the event, Helene Feuerstein reflected on how it felt to be honored by the Federation and the Del Rey Yacht Club. “It was so flattering to see so many people attend the dinner dance in my honor. I never realized so many people are impacted by my actions in the community.”

Click here to see photos from the event.

For more information about the Del Rey Yacht Club, please contact Adam Lubin at (323) 761-8301 or ALubin@JewishLA.org.

Entertainment Division Enjoys Big Sunday at Federation Agency Vista Del Mar

On the morning of May 4, more than 30 Entertainment Division members took part in Big Sunday, the largest annual citywide community service event in America, in which participants from Southern California that help beautify and clean up nonprofits, parks, schools, and other areas within the community. The Entertainment Division group helped 30 Vista Del Mar kids clean their school grounds and help out in their garden. Later, they all split up into four teams and competed in improv games, banner-making, a three-legged race, and a cheer contest before ending with a pizza party.

For more information on the Entertainment Division, please contact Libby Shani at (323) 761-8371 or Shani@JewishLA.org.