Sephardic Torah from the Holy Land

These past few weeks have been a surreal experience. Wednesday night, June 11, Peni and I boarded an El Al flight from Israel to Miami, followed by a flight to Panama. We travelled to celebrate the wedding of Isaac and Perla. I was at Isaac’s Brit Milah, I officiated his Bar Mitzvah, and he was […]

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Trump Announces Israel-Iran Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire and an end to the war between the two countries. Trump said the ceasefire would begin in about six hours, at approximately midnight Eastern time, when both sides would conclude any ongoing military operations. “It has been fully agreed […]

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Wiping the Smirk Off Smack Talk

I realize there’s a lot going on in the world right now, so it’s easy to get distracted, but would someone please check in on former President Barack Obama. I fear that he must be seriously unwell. Israel’s pre-emptive attack against Iran nine days ago, and the knock-out punch delivered by the United States early […]

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Hadassah Appointments, Holocaust Museum’s ‘Golf Classic,’ JVS SoCal Dinner, School Project

Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of North America has named two Los Angeles residents to leadership positions in its western and southern regions. Rachel Charnick, a former Jewish Journal reporter who published under the name “Rachel Brand,” has been appointed the managing director of Hadassah West, while Lauren Rothman has been hired as managing director […]

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Praying During Wartime

Since Oct. 7, 2023 my early morning routine has looked like this: reciting Modei Ani, the traditional prayer Jews say when they first wake up, and then hopping on my cell phone to scan what I had missed over the past six hours. All of us have become way too accustomed to being greeted daily with […]

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Israelis Stranded in LA

According to Israeli news media, over 100,000 Israeli citizens have been stuck in the U.S. and around the world since the war against Iran began. The Israel Airport Authority (IAA) emphasized that “even when the Defense Department allows the resumption of flights, the flight frequency will be limited in order to minimize risks and ensure […]

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