Unpacked leaders stopped at the headquarters of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles as part of a ten-day tour of their new film, “Unsafe Spaces.” Courtesy of Unpacked Jewish rapper and influencer Noah Shufutinsky, who believes antisemitism is one of the oldest hatreds, was one of the many young people to appear in a new film about how antisemitism has evolved.
“What’s new is that in progressive, liberal-leaning and leftwing spaces, Jews are experiencing increasing hostility,” he says.
Shufutinsky – who goes by the hip-hop name, “Westside Gravy” – was speaking in the new documentary, “Unsafe Spaces,” featuring Jewish influencers and college students discussing how they’ve been excluded from progressive spaces simply because of their Jewishness.
The film’s subjects include Shufutinsky, social media personality and the Journal’s New Media Director Blake Flayton, digital creator Hallel Silverman and Israeli activist Yirmiyahu Danzig. They cite their experiences on social media and college campuses.
Unpacked, the short-form content arm of OpenDor Media, produced the 17-minute film, which screened this month at schools at schools and synagogues across Los Angeles and surrounding areas as part of a ten-day tour.
The 10-day tour stopped at Kadima Day School, De Toledo High School, YULA High School, Milken Community School, Gindi Maimonides Academy, Pressman Academy, Yavneh Hebrew Academy, and Wilshire Boulevard Temple Religious School.
“Our goal is to be the Jewish storytellers of this generation, to allow the Jewish people to tell their story and do it in a way thoughtful, nuanced and entertaining way and meet people where they are, which is their phones,” Noam Weissman, executive vice president at OpenDor Media, told the Journal.
The tour’s speakers included Weissman, content creator Yirmiyahu Danzig; OpenDor Media Editor Sara Himeles; Shaked Karabelnicoff, the face of OpenDor’s TikTok; and Emily Gelman, an attorney and educator at Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy.
“We wanted to go to L.A. to do a tour there because we have a collaborative of Jewish schools across the city who use our curriculum extensively, and it’s across the denominational spectrum, from YULA to Milken Community School, Yavneh to de Toledo High School,” Weissman said. “As much as people want to divide Jewish people, we’re quite united on the issue of antisemitism.”
On Dec. 15, recently elected Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined Los Angeles Jewish Federation leaders at Grand Park in downtown L.A.
Bass, elected officials and community leaders came together as part of a nationwide campaign called Shine A Light. The campaign focuses on combatting the alarming rise in antisemitism and all forms of hate by uniting leaders and representatives from diverse backgrounds around Hanukkah.
The event featured a ceremonial menorah lighting as well as speeches from state and local leaders, including Bass, Los Angeles County Supervisors Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn, and Hilda Solis; Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), State Senators Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and Henry Stern (D-Ventura), and Los Angeles City Councilmember Elect Katy Yaroslavsky. L.A. Federation and President Rabbi Noah Farkas also spoke.
For additional information on the “Shine a Light” campaign, visit https://jewishla.org/Shine-A-Light.
On Dec. 18, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also attended the Pico-Robertson Hanukkah street festival, lighting the menorah to mark the start of the holiday. Rabbi Chaim Cunin of Chabad of California, which helped organize the festival, said the event spreads a positive message.
“Hanukkah teaches us the power of one little candle to transform the world of darkness,” Cunin said. “What better way than to do that here joyously, proudly, lovingly — to embrace the lights of Hanukkah and to spread its love and light throughout the world.”
Los Angeles residents recently dedicated ambulances they sponsored for Magen David Adom, Israel’s national paramedic and Red Cross service.
Dr. Irvin Pretsky of Beverly Hills and Rosalie Klein of Los Angeles dedicated Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulances (MICUs) that will be shipped to Israel. Dispatched to treat and transport patients in the most urgent and life-threatening situations, MICUs are equipped with sophisticated technology and equipment that enable paramedics to perform complex procedures that often mean the difference between life and death.
Pretsky sponsored the ambulance in memory of his late wife, his parents, and his son. He also honored the next generation by inscribing the names of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on the vehicle’s doors, many of whom were present for the dedication ceremony held on Nov. 13 at Temple Beth Am.
Approximately 60 of Pretsky’s friends and family members gathered to celebrate. Speakers included MDA Senior Paramedic Aryeh Myers, who shared his experiences in the field with attendees; Beth Jacob Rabbi Kalman Topp and Beth Am Rabbi Adam Kligfeld.
On Dec. 4 at Chabad of Beverly Hills, Klein, a local real estate professional, dedicated a MICU she sponsored in memory of her parents and beloved husband, Morrie, who died in 2021. Approximately 70 of her friends and family members gathered to send the ambulance off to Israel.
“What’s more important than saving lives?” Klein said. “Morrie and I had wanted to do this for a long time, and after his death I thought this would be a way to do something that will help a large number of people in his honor.”
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