It was a proud moment for Sam Kermanian when his West Hollywood-based organization, the Iranian-American Jewish Federation (IAJF), welcomed Israel\’s President Moshe Katzav last week.
Rabbi Leonard I. Beerman\’s art-filled home on a quiet, verdant Brentwood street is a world away from the gritty industrial world in which he lived as a child during the Depression and again as a young man on the cusp of World War II. But it\’s his experiences in that world of assembly-line workers that led him to the rabbinate and to his 52 years in Los Angeles.
Responding to widespread debate over Poles\’ participation in a 1941 massacre of Jews, Poland\’s political and religious leaders are calling on Polish citizens to confront their past.
Last week, Rabbi Richard Levy, executive director of the Los Angeles Hillel Council, introduced to the Central Conference of American Rabbis in Pittsburgh a new Reform movement manifesto. And according to Rabbi Susan Laemmle, that\’s not his only contribution to Reform. For without Rabbi Levy — her mentor and former superior — there may never have been a Rabbi Laemmle.
Had Elazar Muskin not locked himself out of his uncle\’s house while on his honeymoon here 13 years ago, he might not today be rabbi of one of Los Angeles\’ most vibrant Orthodox shuls.
Joel Grishaver, everybody\’s favorite hip Jewish uncle, had been up half the night, schmoozing with a rabbi\’s son who was visiting from England. So when Grishaver answered the phone at 6:30 a.m., he was hardly prepared for the voice that said, \”You and I have a date for lunch in Washington on Sept. 15. You\’ve just won the Covenant Award.\”
\”Air Force One.\” \”Basic Instinct.\” \”Poltergeist.\” \”Planet of the Apes.\”\nJust a sampling of the more than 175 motion pictures bearing the distinctive imprimatur of master film composer Jerry Goldsmith, (left) who was recently honored by the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce. The Regent Beverly Wilshire reception was part of the Chamber\’s 75th-anniversary Diamond Jubilee.
With a week-long celebration to mark theopening of the Arnold Schoenberg Center, Vienna heaped honors on theseminal composer of 20th-century music, while visibly agonizing overthe sins of its Nazi past.
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