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The decline of the deli? Junior's forced to cease operations after 53-years

Like The Stage Deli in Manhattan, landlords seeking higher rents have forced the closure of one of L.A.'s premiere Jewish delicatessens, Junior's Deli.  JooTube takes you on a walkthrough with co-owner, David Saul, on the night of their final dinners.


Over 1,000 diners crowd the 53-year old establishment upon its closing, with several sharing their perspectives on the Jewish deli and its role in their lives.

Orthodox rabbis discuss "The Quest for Spirituality- Timeless Challenge, Contemporary Solutions"- OU West Convention 2012

Rabbi Jacob Schacter opened the keynote
The Orthodox Union is holding its annual West Coast Torah Convention in Los Angeles through Sunday 12/23.


Rabbis discussed "The Quest for Spirituality- Timeless Challenge: Contemporary Solutions" at the Orthodox Union West Convention '12 opening keynote address, last night, 12/20/2012.


David Suissa, of Jewish Journal of LA


Presenting on video are Rabbis Jacob J. Schacter, Steven Weil, Mayer May (of Simon Wiesenthal Center), and Ilan Feldman (of Atlanta). Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Wiesenthal Center expressed his observations about the evening.



Diverse, Friends of the I.D.F. convincingly compensate for Stevie Wonder's bow-out

Friends of IDF event spurned by Stevie Wonder raises more than $14 million 

by Marcy Oster, JTA, Dec 9, 2012

The singer had come under intense social media pressure to pull out of the event. An online petition calling on him to cancel his performance had garnered more than 3,600 signatures.

The Friends of the Israel Defense Forces fundraiser that singer Stevie Wonder pulled out of raised more than $14 million.

More than 1,400 people attended the event in Los Angeles to aid Israeli soldiers. Entertainment mogul Haim Saban and his wife, Cheryl chaired the gala. Saban is a national board member of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.
Actor Jason Alexander emceed the event, which featured a performance by David Foster and Friends. Surprise musical performances were presented by "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard and 10-time Grammy winner Chaka Khan.
Attendees appearing in JooTube'e unique, 20-clip event coverage include Israeli-American philanthropists Haim Saban & Adam and Gila Milstein; actors Jason Alexander, Dolph Lundgren, Noa Tishby, and Mike Burstyn; Miriam Peretz, mother of 2 sons who gave their lives for country; soul singer Chaka Khan and Christian singer Robert Stearns; U.S. Navy Chaplain Irving Ellson and Wounded Warrior U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Edward Schrank; L.A. Jewish notables- Jewish Journal editor Rob Eshman, IDB Banker Yoav Peled, activists Gary Ratner and Allyson Rowen Taylor.

Playlist controls are Skip Forward (3rd bottom-left button) and Playlist Menu (icon 3rd from bottom right).

Wonder had come under intense social media pressure to pull out of the event. An online petition calling on him to cancel his performance had garnered more than 3,600 signatures.
The Grammy-winning singer's representatives cited a recommendation from the United Nations to withdraw his participation given his involvement with the UN. Wonder is a Messenger of Peace of the world body. He had performed at a 1998 gala honoring Israel's 50th anniversary.
Funds raised at the event will go toward Friends of the IDF’s well-being and educational programs for Israeli soldiers and the Negev Wellbeing and Educational Centers.

Menorah lighting and Chanukah concert in L.A. draws many revelers, civic leaders

Jewish kids given public Chanukah celebration at L.A.'s Universal CityWalk. 

On Sunday, December 9th, L.A.'s 1th annual menorah lighting at Universal Studios CityWalk, brought more than 1000 people to be entertained by Jewish performers, among them rock-band 8th Day, Piamenta-NextGen, and rave-pianist Mendel Simon. 

(Click second button on bottom left to advance through the playlist of clips).

Rabbi Jonathan Herzog coordinated civic leaders Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilman Mike Zine, City Controller and mayoral candidate Wendy Gruel, and Israel Consul General David Siegel to master the reluctant oil lamps and kindle the menorah on the second night of Chanukah, 2012 with Rabbi Morty Einbinder of Chabad of the Valley.  Universal Studios Hollywood President, Larry Kurzweil led the lighting, welcomed the celebrants, and offered encouragement and support for America's ally, the Holy Land of Israel.

Chabad of Simcha Monica celebrates the meaning of Hanukah in menorah-restricted Santa Monica

Rabbis Shlomo Menkes, Issac Levitansky, Shlomo Heidingsfeld, and Rebbitzens Devorah and Suri Levitansky lead families of the Chabad-Lubavitch sect to welcome the 1st night of Hanukah- 3-blocks from the Santa Monica beach on the Pacific Ocean. 

Atheists recently led the City of Santa Monica, California to prohibit leaving religious holiday displays (such as the extensive Nativity-Scene diaramas which had overlooked the beach). The Hanukah Menorah which for over a decade had remained on the Promenade for the 8-days of Hanukah, like the Nativity displays, now can only be displayed during a live celebration. The Menorah in the background was removed at the 11pm Saturday conclusion of the event.

 

Any other menorahs placed in Santa Monica from now on (without a live accompaniment) will be on private property.

Prof. Alan Dershowitz & 1st Israeli Paralympics gold-medaller, Noam Gershony, address Zionist advocacy group StandWithUs



Elon Gold performed master-of-ceremonies services for the L.A.-based, Zionist advocacy organization, Stand With Us', Festival of Lights fundraising dinner 12/2/12. The 11-year old group primarily serves Zionist-advocacy assistance on academic campuses. 
Prof. Alan Dershowitz delivered remarks about Israel's problems from the White House and the United Nations. 

The attendees were also addressed by Israel's first, gold-medal winning paralympian, wheelchair tennis athlete (downed helicopter pilot) Noam Gershony (who bested his American opponent to win the finals). From the Israeli Consulate, Consul General David Siegel, Carolyn ben Natan, and Danny Gadot attended. The 11th anniversary brought together a number of early L.A. Zionist activists, including Gary Ratner (now an executive at StandWithUs), Scott Jacobs, editor of JewTube.Info, and Allyson Rowen Taylor (like Ratner, formerly with the AJC, today an interior designer, artist, and painter).  Philanthropic families- Ellie and Bruce Lederman and Debbie and Naty Saidoff contributed to hosting the event. 

Prof. Alan Dershowitz's keynote speech before 1100 attendees, touched on Hamas, Gaza, apartheid, Iran, and the Obama White House.