Doreen Seidler-Feller is in her kitchen fetching a glass of water as her husband, in the living room, is mulling over what might be most difficult about being married to her.
TreePeople, the environmental nonprofit committed to greening Los Angeles with trees, received a $50,000 donation on Feb. 24 from the Sempra Energy Foundation for reforestation efforts in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Hillel 818 held its ninth annual dinner celebration at Valley Beth Shalom on Jan. 28, honoring professors Donald Bleich, Zev Garber and Rita R. Werner with Distinguished Educator Awards. The dinner centerpieces, filled with needed school supplies, were donated to Community Build, an organization that helps at-risk youth. Hillel 818 represents more than 8,000 Jewish students at Pierce and Los Angeles Valley colleges and CSUN.
Gloria Steinem, the world-renowned feminist activist, writer and founder of Ms. Magazine, received an award from the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP) during a sold-out fund-raiser at the home of Eric Shore and Fred Paul in Beverly Hills on March 16.
Temple Beth Am and Pressman Academy celebrated Rabbi Emeritus Joel Rembaum for his 25 years of leadership and service to the Conservative synagogue at a gala dinner at the Universal Hilton on Jan. 30. Rembaum has served as Temple Beth Am’s senior rabbi since 1985 and will soon retire. Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) and Howard Berman (D-Van Nuys), L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and Consul General of Israel Jacob Dayan attended to see Rembaum presented with the Etz Chaim Award for Distinguished Service in Education. During the dinner, Rembaum was honored for his spirituality, commitment to Israel and passion for Jewish education.
American Jewish Committee (AJC) feted litigator Wayne Barsky, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, with the 30th annual Learned Hand Award on March 17. Barsky is considered a leading figure in intellectual property law, and the dinner attracted many of Los Angeles’ top attorneys, judges and community leaders, including Barsky’s longtime partner and friend, Scott Edelman, who presented him with the award.
It’s tough to be religious in Hollywood.
How could it be otherwise, since the industry itself demands absolute devotion? Ask anyone how they got their start, and they’ll tell you amusing stories about early bosses who treated them like indentured servants.
Essayist and novelist Lori Gottlieb, who has written a great deal about her own life, including her choice to become a single mom, has a new book out with some tart advice for picky single women: “Settle!” She talked with The Journal about the importance of shared values, why falling in love doesn’t necessarily lead to a healthy marriage and why she blames feminism for messing up her love life.
While visiting Israel with The Jewish Federation’s Real Estate and Construction Division last November, Bryan Berkett snuck away from the group to check on a little project he had going.
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