Events In the West: Beginning in October, The Jewish Learning Exchange in L.A. has a new, free Partner In Learning program on Tuesday nights… On October 30 the Israel Philharmonic will be at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
A Jewish Mayor For L.A.? The next L.A. mayoral campaign is in full swing and once again it does not appear likely that the city will elect a Jewish mayor. This is despite all the candidates proudly boasting of their Jewish status – to whatever degree. The most popular potential candidate, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Member Zev Yaroslavsky, has decided not to run. Yaroslavsky is married to a fellow Jew. Austin Beutner, a former investment banker who has also dropped out of the race, regularly acknowledged his Jewishness and the fact that his wife is Protestant.
Of those candidates still in the race, L.A. City Councilman Eric Garcetti is a self-described “Kosher Burrito” due to his hailing from a Mexican grandfather and Russian Jewish grandmother. L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel is a non-Jew, but her Jewish husband sent his young son to a Reform Jewish day school. And L.A. City Councilwoman Jan Perry converted to Judaism (albeit a non-Orthodox conversion) about three decades ago by her Hillel rabbi, Laura Geller, while a student at USC. She now studies at UCLA with the Hillel rabbi, Chaim Seidler-Feller.
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Jim and Celine Dujowich, a son (Grandparents Marco and Sofia Dujowich)… Oren and Kim Garway, a son (Grandparents Arthur and Peta Klitofsky)… Dani and Lea Abell, a son (Grandparents Jeremy and Hilda Cohen)… Jeffrey and Jenni Lazarow, a son (Grandparents Arthur and Natalie Josephson)… Gary and Shaloh Aires, a daughter… Yair and Brandyss Katz, a son (Grandparents Richard and Carol Geller).
Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvah: Raquel Glasser, daughter of Craig and Dana Glasser.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Isaac and Leora Orenbuch, a daughter (Grandparents Walter and Esti Feinblum; Great-grandparents Rabbi Joseph and Professor Leila Bronner)… Shlomo and Sharon Monderer, a son (Grandparents Dr. Bernie and Temy Monderer; Great-grandparents Rabbi Joseph and Professor Leila Bronner)… Zack and Ritz Glastein, a son (Grandfather Bill Bron)… Rabbi Chaim and Suri Friedman, a son (Grandparents Marty and Hadassah Weiss)… Yoni and Laura Battat, a daughter… Refael and Marissa Ross, a son… Dr. Jason and Rayme Misher, a son (Grandparents Yaakov and Rayme Isaacs; Great-grandparents Dr. Sam and Diana Hirt)… Dr. Steven and Danielle Kupferman, a son… Rabbi Arye and Tamar Sufrin, a son… Edward and Elissa Czuker, a daughter… Leibel and Yachet Weinstock of Boro Park, NY, a daughter (Grandparents Rabbi Yitzchok and Zissi Kornwasser… Gavriel and Meira Hirsch, a son (Grandparents Avraham and Tzafi Vickman; Arye and Rina Hirsch)… Yair and Brandyss Katz, a son (Grandparents Shalom and Malka Katz)… Jonny and Elise Hay, a daughter… Shia and Dassy Gurman, a daughter (Grandparents Zalmy and Chavy Gurman)… Binyomin and Ruchele Gestetner of Yerushalayim, a daughter (Grandparents Meyer and Raizy Brief).
Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvahs: Yaakov Aryeh, son of Rabbi Yechaskel and Miriam Aryeh… Yosef Casel, son of Moshe Casel… Yosef Shapiro, son of Rabbi Alter and Shira Shapiro.
Mazel Tov – Engagements: Yosef Jacobs, son of Heshy and Chanie Jacobs, to Cipora Fried… Daniel Kramer, son of Dr. Barry and Paulie Kramer, to Nomi Lapides…Rebecca Kukurudz to Saadia Lieberow… Moshe Adelman, son of Yisroel and Rivie Adelman, to Natalie Drubach, daughter of Lev and Marta Drubach of Valley Village, CA… Ari Mayer, son of Ronny and Hindy Mayer, to Huvi Einhorn of Boro Park, NY… Sarah Feingold, daughter of Shimone and Marcella Feingold, to Lazar Okowitz of Lakewood, NJ… Elianna Mellon, daughter of Vic and Chavee Mellon, to Ari Leitman of Edison, NJ.
Mazel Tov – Weddings: Danny and Jennifer Halperin… Dan and Alisa Rainbow.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Birth: Eitan and Leah Esan, son.
Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvah: Dora Greenwall, daughter of Ephraim and Donna Greenwall.
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Barry and Erica Berkowitz, a son… Noam and Yael Shazeer, a daughter (Grandparents Nahum and Hannah Schacham.
VALLEY VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Mendy and Sarina Basch, a son (Grandparents Sy and Seryl Litwin)… Ezrie and Malkah Yellin, a daughter (Grandparents Rabbi Dr. Yakov and Sylvia Yellin; Sheila Hershkowitz).
