In September, we put the values of compassion, community, joy, courage, and protection in action to support Jewish Los Angeles in many diverse and impactful ways.
HELPING OUR PARTNERS NAVIGATE IMPENDING BUDGET CUTS
Compassion means standing with the most vulnerable when they need us most. Our Caring for Jews in Need team brought together leaders of organizations serving those at risk in our community — including Jewish Family Service LA, ETTA, Tomchei LA, Maple Counseling, Beit T’Shuvah, Bet Tzedek, and JVS SoCal — to prepare for the impact of major government budget cuts. CEOs and lay leaders shared concerns and strategized solutions alongside JFEDLA senior leadership like Chair of the Board Orna Wolens and President & CEO Rabbi Noah Farkas. The sobering conversation affirmed our vital role in maintaining the safety net that protects our most vulnerable populations.
Learn how you can support our community members in need at JewishLA.org/CJIN.
CELEBRATING OUR UNITED REC COMMUNITY
The power of community was on full display at our Real Estate & Construction (REC) Network Dinner, where more than 1,000 members came together to honor Kamyar Shabani, the first Persian honoree in REC history. The evening radiated Persian pride, Jewish joy, and the energy of a community united in purpose. From our President & CEO Rabbi Noah Farkas calling on all of us to root out antisemitism to Kamyar’s moving appeal for bold, collective action, the night made clear the REC is crucial to protecting and sustaining Jewish life in Los Angeles. Mazel tov to Kamyar and his family on this historic honor!
Join the most powerful real estate network in Los Angeles at JewishLA.org/REC.
BUILDING BRIDGES OF COURAGE AND COMMUNITY
Courage and community came together in mid-September as we proudly hosted Sharaka, an initiative shaping a new Middle East through people-to-people diplomacy. In partnership with Sinai Temple, our Board of Rabbis of Southern California welcomed a delegation representing Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, and Israel for an interfaith clergy luncheon. We also brought together Jewish and interfaith leaders, educators, and civic representatives to hear from these courageous Sharaka representatives who, despite personal backlash, chose connection over division. Their stories affirmed that building bridges across differences creates respect, understanding, and the possibility of a bright, shared future.
Learn more about our bridge-building efforts by visiting JewishLA.org/CE.
PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR NATION’S CAPITAL
We brought Advocacy in Action (AIA) — our initiative that trains promising young Jewish leaders to strategically engage with policymakers — to Washington, D.C. for three powerful days of advocacy, cohosted by the Jewish Federations of North America. AIA participants put their training into action, appealing directly to members of Congress to advance two urgent priorities: expanding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program that protects Jewish institutions, and advancing federal fire relief aid to community members still recovering from the devastation of the wildfires. From an exclusive Capitol Hill briefing to a private dinner with Congresswoman Laura Friedman, AIA participants built relationships and amplified the priorities of Jewish Los Angeles among policymakers, ensuring that our community’s needs were heard at the highest levels.
Find out more about our advocacy efforts at JewishLA.org/AIA.