Inaugural Aish Summit, L.A. Attorney Named FIDF Leader, Jewish Film Fest Screening

On Sept. 15, more than 500 people attended the inaugural Jewish American Summit organized by Aish Los Angeles, which featured pro-Israel, pro-Jewish speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds and industries. They included Dennis Prager, Patricia Heaton, Michael Rapaport, Alan Dershowitz, Slovie Jungreis-Wolff, David Suissa, Rebecca De Mornay, John Ondrasik a.k.a. Five for Fighting, Shabbos Kestenbaum, Lee Trink, Matt Altman, Dr. Sheila Nazarian, and Rania Dean. The panelists discussed their lives post-Oct. 7, offering insights into antisemitism, Zionism and today’s current events. They also gave inspirational thoughts on moving forward and being a proud Jew.

Local attorney Simon Etehad was unanimously elected as the new president of the FIDF western region board. Etehad—who was born in Iran and raised in Israel until age 17—has been involved with FIDF for two decades. He even met his wife at an FIDF event 18 years ago.

“I dedicated 20 years of my life in support of the FIDF because of the IDF’s importance to Jews and the State of Israel, as well as its adherence to the code of ethics, which emphasizes values such as human dignity, purity of arms, and the importance of the rule of law,” Etehad said.  “Recent events, including Oct. 7 and the ongoing war with Hamas and now Hezbollah have only further and renewed this commitment.”

The Los Angeles chapter of FIDF was founded by Etehad’s mentor, Leo David, in 1981, and has over 26,000 members, according to Etehad. A nonprofit, FIDF — also known as Friends of the Israel Defense Forces — provides for the wellbeing of the soldiers of the IDF, veterans and their family members.   

– Tabby Refael

Actress Kate Winslet, best known for the blockbuster “Titanic,” participated in her first Q&A appearance in the United States at the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival and Museum of Tolerance’s sneak preview screening of her new film, “Lee.” The biographical drama tells the story of World War II correspondent Lee Miller, portrayed by Winslet, a trailblazing woman in the field of photography who documented the front lines of the war and the Nazi atrocities of the concentration camps. Winslet added that, “in her WWII photographs, Lee was determined to capture the voiceless victims and horrors of war for the world to see.”

The screening took place at the Museum of Tolerance on Sept. 18 before a sold-out audience of 300. Winslet discussed her nine-year journey as the film’s producer to complete this gripping drama. The film opened in theaters nationwide on Sept. 27.