While many of us were doing the Chinese-food-and-a-movie thing, some Jews around town chose to take part in a different kind of Christmas tradition. More than 500 volunteers participated in Tikkun L.A., the annual outreach project sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.
The volunteers, which included families and young ACCESS members alike, met at the Westside Jewish Community Center (WJCC) in Los Angeles. Following some opening remarks by JCRC Chairman Osias Goren and Rabbi Michael Resnick of Adat Shalom, Tikkun L.A. was launched. Volunteers spent the day working on various projects at retirement homes, food banks, hospitals and homeless shelters. Participants also cleaned beaches and spent the day with children, leading them in holiday songs, games and arts and crafts projects. The JCRC also held a KOREH L.A. training session for 24 volunteers. After a day of intensive outreach, the day culminated with a Chanukah party back at the WJCC.
Barbara Ferdman and Susan Langer of ACCESS served as co-chairs of this year’s Tikkun L.A. Also crucial to the successful civic outreach campaign were Jonathan Anschell and Brian Sokol of The Federation’s Entertainment Division.
For those of you who missed out, fear not — organizers have already targeted Christmas Day 2001 for the next Tikkun L.A. Day.
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