Holocaust survivor David Wiener received an honorary doctorate from the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, during a special ceremony held on Oct. 22 at Brock House in Malibu.
Born in Lodz, Poland, Wiener survived the Holocaust, including internment at Auschwitz and several labor camps. He was the only member of his family to escape the Lodz ghetto at the age of 13. After the war, Wiener immigrated to the United States, building a successful career in real estate development in Los Angeles despite arriving with no money and limited English language skills.
Today, Wiener is active in numerous philanthropic endeavors. He regularly speaks to underprivileged youth about the value of education and determination.
Joining the 98-year-old Wiener at the ceremony were several of his family members, including his son, Michael, and his grandson, Shane.
On Oct. 27, Sinai Akiba Academy held a dedication ceremony for the new Jacki and Jeff Karsh Terrace at its day school campus.
In a statement, the day school’s leadership said the brand new, fully renovated fifth-floor rooftop terrace was “the ultimate outdoor rooftop green space for students to engage and learn, and for the Sinai community to gather, connect and celebrate together.”
The space features a field, dining deck, walking path, pergola, fountain, fruit trees and gardens with native plants and herbs.
The project’s donors, Jacki and Jeff Karsh, are Sinai Akiba Academy parents with three children in the school. According to Sinai Akiba Academy, it was the vision of Sinai Akiba’s head of school, Lauren Plant — who always believed in the learning possibilities of an innovative green space —that inspired the Karsh family to contribute to the project.
“This project will enable whole child education and support the development of all dimensions of childhood,” Plant said. “It is designed for children to play and collaborate, utilize kinesthetic learning, develop social-emotional and mindfulness skills, connect to Judaism through outdoor services and holiday celebrations, and study native Israeli and California plants and trees. It is a one-of-a-kind learning and community space that will facilitate holistic community connections.”
The Sunday event featured a ribbon cutting and mezuzah hanging ceremony. Among the approximately 80 people in attendance were the Karsh family; Plant; Sinai Akiba Academy Board Chair Robert Galperson; School Rabbi Avi Taff; Sinai Temple Co-Senior Rabbis Erez Sherman and Nicole Guzik; and Rabbi David Wolpe, the Max Webb Rabbi emeritus of Sinai Temple.
Holocaust Museum LA has appointed Marla Eglash Abraham chief advancement officer, according to an announcement by the museum’s CEO Beth Kean.
A veteran nonprofit advancement professional, Abraham most recently served as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s western regional director for a 10-state region. Previously she was director of development at American Jewish Committee in Los Angeles and earlier served as senior vice president, responsible for endowment planning and strategic philanthropy at the Jewish Federation Los Angeles.
“Marla is a key element in our elevated efforts to meet not only the moment of addressing heightened antisemitism, hate and ignorance regarding the Holocaust but also planning for the museum’s future with its exciting ‘Building Truth’ expansion project that is under construction,” Kean said.
In a statement, Abraham expressed excitement about joining the organization.
“As the first institution of its kind in the country, Holocaust Museum LA is uniquely positioned to promote reflection and critical thinking through the lessons of the Holocaust,” she said.
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