fbpx

Israel Bonds Event, AMIT Gala, Art Awards

[additional-authors]
February 19, 2020
AMIT NewGen Board members, with artist Fabian Lijtmaer (middle), at the recent AMIT and Greet. Courtesy of AMIT Photo courtesy of AMIT

Nearly 80 young Jewish professionals turned out to AMIT Los Angeles’ NewGen AMIT and Greet on Feb. 5, featuring the artwork of local artist Fabian Lijtmaer.

“It’s exciting to be able to combine two of my greatest loves — arts and education — and weave together this event where I could bring money in for AMIT and take people on an experiential journey into the artwork,” Lijtmaer said.

The one-night, pop-up art show at Exhibit A Gallery featured guided meditation led by Lijtmaer. “I was putting into practice my educational philosophy and using it to [enhance] people’s experiences,” Lijtmaer told the Journal.

The more than 70 attendees included Rabbi Aviva Funke, who leads services at Mishkon Tephilo and Wilshire Boulevard Temple.

AMIT, an educational network comprising 108 schools in Israel, provides innovative and Jewish values-based education to more than 37,000 students, 70% of whom live on the socioeconomic or geographic periphery. According to AMIT, the organization’s L.A. NewGen community continues to grow thanks to “passionate champions … who seek opportunities to make a direct impact on Israel’s future leaders.”

Hilary Brody, development associate at AMIT Western Region, also attended the event. She is leading the Amit NewGen effort in the L.A. area.

“The highlight was seeing people journey into the artwork,” Lijtmaer said of his work, which he described as spiritual abstract expressionism. His pieces included paintings of an aleph, of the Burning Bush and a work titled “Hidden Angels,” which prompted viewers to recall mentors from their pasts. 


Milken Community Schools junior Sophia Herzog’s photographs were recognized by the 2020 Scholastic Awards. Photo courtesy of Diane Castro

Milken Community Schools junior Sophia Herzog was honored in the 2020 Scholastic Art Awards.   

Her photographs “A Little Rascal,” “Isolation” and “Freezing Time Itself” earned her Gold Key awards, the top honor. She also won a Silver Key award for her work titled “Phantasm” and four honorable mention awards for works “Purple Haze,” “Serenity,” “Insurgent” and “Sleep Paralysis.” 

Sophia shot her photograph “Isolation” in the Israeli desert while participating in Milken’s Tiferet Israel fellowship last spring.

Works recognized with Gold Key awards will advance to national judging to be considered for national medals, according to a Milken statement.

Sophia’s photographs were selected from more than 346,000 pieces submitted to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, which describes itself as the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative teens. 

According to Milken, Sophia honed her craft under the guidance of Milken advanced-placement photography instructor Bonnie Ebner. 

“Sophia’s recognition in the highly competitive Scholastic Art Awards is a testament to Ms. Ebner’s inspiring leadership and support,” the Milken statement said.

The awards are presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. Since 1923, the awards have recognized “the vision, ingenuity and talent of our nation’s youth, and provided opportunities for creative teens to be celebrated,” according to the organization’s website. 

Teens in grades seven through 12, ages 13 and older from public, private and home schools can apply in 29 categories. Winners earn scholarships and have their works exhibited.


From left: Shalom Institute Executive Director Rabbi Bill Kaplan, Shalom Institute Board President Larry Cohen, Immediate Past President Gil Breakman and Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles Executive Vice President Becky Sobelman-Stern at the Shalom Institute board installation ceremony.
Photo courtesy of the Shalom Institute

Larry Cohen recently was installed as the new Shalom Institute Board President. 

Becky Sobelman-Stern, executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, attended the Jan. 30 meeting to install Cohen and the 2020 board of directors.

Cohen, who previously served for three years as the Shalom Institute’s developmental committee chairperson, succeeds Gil Breakman, treasurer and immediate past president.

The Shalom Institute and Camp JCA Shalom is an experiential Jewish education, retreat and community center in Southern California. The Institute’s center in Malibu was devastated in the 2018 Woolsey fire and its summer camp has been operating at a temporary home. 

Cohen was among those who took part in a cleanup effort at the center’s Malibu site last November. He is serving on the board along with Vice President David Thorpe and Secretary Art Verity.


From left: Israel Bonds L.A. Platinum Society members Adam and Gila Milstein and Elissa and Edward Czuker at the Westwood home of Susanne Czuker.
Photo by Linda Kassan

The Israel Bonds Platinum Society held a Feb. 10 event at the Westwood home of Susanne Czuker, drawing Israel Bonds’ Platinum Society members, who are Israel Bonds’ highest-dollar investors at $1 million and higher.

Platinum Young Professionals — premium investors younger than 45 — also attended the event, held in cooperation with the Israel-based Bank Leumi.

The gathering featured cocktails, light supper, a reception and program, with IDF Sgt (Res.) Benjamin Anthony as the guest speaker. Anthony is the founder of Our Soldiers Speak, an Israeli nonprofit that provides “briefings and analyses on the realities and challenges faced by the Israel Defense Forces in asymmetrical combat situations,” according to its website.

Additionally, a conversation was held with Michael Zaremsky, head of U.S. private banking at Bank Leumi, and Scott Beiser, chief executive officer of financial adviser firm Houlihan Lokey.

Additional participants included Gina Raphael, campaign chair at Israel Bonds, and Erez Goldman, executive director for the Western region of Israel Bonds. 

Israel Bonds, also known as Developmental Corporation for Israel, is the U.S. underwriter of debt securities issued by the State of Israel. Conceived as a way of supporting Israel when it was a fledgling state with an unproven economy, Israel Bonds today are viewed as a sound financial investment.


Wanna be in Movers & Shakers? Send us your highlights, events, honors and simchas.
Email ryant@jewishjournal.com.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.