The concept, brought to life by Israeli chef Eyal Shani, is deceptively simple: pita as a canvas, filled with everything from lamb kebab and rib-eye minute steak to schnitzel and their signature candy steak, overnight seared brisket, aioli, mustard, pickles, tomato, and red onion.
Tikkun Olam: From a Hyundai to a Home for the Holidays
Lisa Ellen Niver
From Steven Grossman of #OperationSaveChristmas2021
‘Twas a week before Christmas and we’re back for the second annual OPERATION SAVE CHRISTMAS 2021!!!
Last year we raised 23k to help source as many toys as possible from local small “ma and pa” businesses and helped with other expenses for families in need all over the country.
GO FUND ME: DONATE HERE
This year we will continue to help multiple families and want to highlight the hardships that are happening to many families. We learned about the Vargas’ story from NPR. Despite working full time jobs, they haven’t been able to save enough money for a deposit on an apartment so they’ve been living in their car with their three kids in the dead of winter in Pennsylvania. They spend their money on gas to keep their boys warm and their closet is a storage unit.
NPR Article: When a Hyundai is also the family home
So with a little holiday magic, we hope to get the Vargas family off the streets with a new roof over their heads.
Prior to COVID, there were roughly 13 million kids (approximately 1 in 6) living below the poverty line in the United States – with about half of those living under conditions considered to be extreme poverty.
Many families have nothing to give their kids to open on Christmas morning. We can help change that and ease other financial burdens as the holiday season has always been much more about giving than receiving.
PLEASE SHARE THIS FUNDRAISER AND DONATE if and what you can, whether it’s $1, $5 OR $500+ as anything helps and is greatly appreciated.
We can’t save the world, but with the spirit of the season – we can create a few of our own Christmas miracles for families in need and get those kids some toys to open Christmas morning too. With gratitude, Steven
#OperationSaveChristmas2021
Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.
Editor's Picks
Israel and the Internet Wars – A Professional Social Media Review
The Invisible Student: A Tale of Homelessness at UCLA and USC
What Ever Happened to the LA Times?
Who Are the Jews On Joe Biden’s Cabinet?
You’re Not a Bad Jewish Mom If Your Kid Wants Santa Claus to Come to Your House
No Labels: The Group Fighting for the Political Center
Latest Articles
Artificial Everything: The More AI Grows, the Blander it Becomes
Small Eyes – A poem for Parsha Sh’lach
A Bisl Torah — A Real Graduation Message
A Moment in Time: “29 Years in the Rabbinate”
Moses Found Brevity to be the Soul of Levity and Wit
Sleepless in Jerusalem, Mad About the Knicks
Print Issue: Is History Asking Too Much of Us? | June 12, 2026
The question for the Jewish people today is not merely whether we believe in the future but whether we are willing to become the kind of people that the future requires.
Jonah Platt Brings Jewish Identity Conversation to Cedars-Sinai Rooftop
This marked J-STAR’s second event overall, with this gathering held in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month.
Voice Actor Jeff Bergman on Replacing Don Rickles in ‘Toy Story 5’
“We very much want to keep the spirit and the essence of that iconic character that Rickles created.”
Why I Cried Watching ‘Crossing Delancey’ Performed Live on Stage
As I left the theater, wiping my eyes, I felt renewed gratitude for traditions that slow us down enough to truly see one another.
Miznon Expands with New West Third St. Location and a Kosher Restaurant, Malka
The concept, brought to life by Israeli chef Eyal Shani, is deceptively simple: pita as a canvas, filled with everything from lamb kebab and rib-eye minute steak to schnitzel and their signature candy steak, overnight seared brisket, aioli, mustard, pickles, tomato, and red onion.
A Magical Potato Carpet Ride
Who doesn’t love potatoes? And this potato carpet recipe is sure to satisfy the potato lovers in your life.
Sushi Day Recipes with Marisa Baggett
Whether you’re a longtime sushi lover or a newbie to preparing this creative cuisine, Baggett’s recipes are a delicious way to mark the holiday.
Table for Five: Shlach
Spying Out The Land
What Antisemitism Requires of Us
The current Jewish debate cannot end with a choice between fighting antisemites and strengthening Jewish life. Both are necessary, but neither fully answers what this moment requires.
Is History Asking Too Much of Us?
The question for the Jewish people today is not merely whether we believe in the future but whether we are willing to become the kind of people that the future requires.
Rosner’s Domain | Can Israel’s Image Be Fixed?
Israelis view themselves as fighting for survival, just, fair, moral and brave, while the rest of the world sees something else entirely, viewing Israel as a country that has lost its brakes, destabilizing the order and running amok without justification.
The Nakba as Libel: How a Narrative Engine Drives Antizionism
The Nakba narrative does not merely tell a story of displacement. It functions as a libel. Understanding that distinction is essential to understanding why the world reacted to Oct. 7 the way it did.
Do Not Blame the Child, Blame the Leadership
The answer is not hatred of ordinary Haredim. The answer is a clear law against organized calls for refusal.
The Courage of Jacob and Commitment to the Union
Liberation of the slaves was a cause long dear to Jewish hearts.
Nothing to Fear but Fear
If I toss out a can of baked beans that expired one day earlier for fear of botulism, what do you think goes through my mind when it comes to bears, mountain lions, sharks and rattlesnakes?
The Many-States Solution
As we weigh the benefits and downsides of a potential two-state solution, the unguaranteed but plausible prospect of an unprecedented regional peace should be considered as part of that discussion.
What Can AI Do for Us?
The question is not whether Jewish communities will use AI; they already are. The question is whether we will adopt these tools passively, or shape them deliberately according to Jewish values, Jewish learning, and Jewish responsibility.
Gerald Posner on Trump, JFK, RFK and Jew-Blaming
Posner said he hopes he can reach levelheaded people with open minds who have the viewpoint that they are open to changing their opinions if the evidence points in a certain direction.
When the Microphone Belongs to the School
When a college chooses the voice, approves the occasion, and hands over the microphone to a known activist, it owns what follows from that stage.
Five Time Finalist for the 2026 Southern California Journalism Awards
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.