The annual, Mensch Awards ceremony at Temple of the Arts strives to restore normalcy to Jewish-Americans in turmoil

Shabbat prayers by Rabbi David Baron, Cantors Ilysia Pierce,
and Nathan Lam at Temple of the Arts

Amidst the apprehensiveness cast by Hamas' abductions in Israel during its 6th week, Steven Geiger's Mensch Foundation Awards kept-up its annual Mensch Awards ceremony November 17th at the Temple of the Arts in Beverly Hills.

The dinner and ceremony following the erev-Shabbat service at the temple provided a needed lift to a community horrified at the casualties and abductions from the Palestinian invasion of Israel. 

Les Miserables' "Bring Him Home" - sung as an ode to Israeli liberators of Palestinian-abducted Jewish and Christian hostages- performed by members of the Temple of the Arts Choir.

 

The event attendees are (as are most Jews in the diaspora) also stunned by the hostile nature of the Leftist, Muslim, and people-of-Color anti-Israel protests in cities around the globe with Muslim or considerable Jewish populations.

The mostly Muslim & left-wing atheist, Jewish Voice for Peace block Hollywood Blvd to incite public frustration against Israel's mission to free its families abducted by jihadists

The dinner and ceremony following the erev-Shabbat service at the temple also provided a needed lift to Jewish people also stunned by the revelation of (what liberal people expected to be anti-Israel protests in cities around the globe) being in many cases Islamo-Leftist mobs incited to violence by Marxist-propagandized blood libels against Jewish people and places in general.

L.A. Jewish counter-demonstrator Paul Kessler, 69 and
Muslim anti-Israelist, Loay alNaji, 50, accused in his killing

Los Angeles area Jews were especially disconcerted by the death of a local, Israel-rally'er Paul Kessler, 69, at the hand of a Muslim anti-Zionist teacher, Loay al-Naji just 11-days prior. Mr. Kessler, an ardent Democrat, relocated to Los Angeles from Scranton, Pennsylvania, also the home state of former Temple president, James Blatt, being honored at this ceremony.

Mensch Int'l Foundation director Steven Geiger also honored Temple Cantors Ilysia Pierce and Nathan Lam and musical director Sharon Farber.

Video playlist (advance via arrows on lower-left of raster) includes: 

Mensch Int'l Foundation director Steven Geiger acknowledges ceremony attendee, Shoah survivor Reneé Firestone, 99; Presents award to Temple's female Cantor Ilysia Pierce;

Award presentation to Sharon Farber, Temple's musical director, composer and arranger for Jewish and Israeli community events; Esteemed L.A. Cantor Nathan Lam.

Rabbi David Baron and friend, Richard Stellar, praise and introduce recipient, James Blatt, Esq., longtime Temple Board member and president; 

 

Video playlist below (advance via arrows on lower-left of raster) includes:

Ode to Israeli liberators of Palestinian-held hostages "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables;

Interviews with honorees about receiving Mensch Awards:

 

Cantor Ilysia Pierce about the satisfaction of performing liturgical, compared to secular, music;
 

Sharon Farber, musical director, on her efforts for the Temple and community; 

James Blatt, Esq, Jewish War Veteran & 10-year president of the Temple on how he has seen its congregation and facility improve.

 

Rabbi David Baron chided Jewish communal agency (and rabbinical) leaders with a responsibility to reduce antisemitism - who diverted from addressing Muslim antisemitism in order to signal their virtue (and perhaps increase business) opposing Islamophobia and pariah-fying dissenting from the Leftist agenda.

 

 

Holocaust survivor Reneé Firestone, 99, on coping with Jew-hatred yesterday, today, and tomorrow 

 

Ceremony luminaries: Former Temple Pres. James Blatt, Rabbi David Baron, Cantor Ilysia Pierce,
Musical Director Sharon Farber, Cantor Nathan Lam, Mensch Fndn chief Steven Geiger.
(Photo courtesy: Orly Halevy)

 

 

Former Temple Pres. James Blatt Esq, Jewish War Veteran & longtime president of B.H. Temple of the Arts 

Los Angeles luminaries, themes shine in annual L.A. Jewish Film Festival

The annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival returns for a week of screenings beginning Thursday 5 May. All tickets can be purchased online or by calling 800-838-3006. For group sales or questions, call 323-938-2531.  To view films, click here .  To view schedule, click here .  

The L.A. Jewish Film Festival held an early screening in February of "100 Voices: A Journey Home," a moving documentary directed by Matthew Asner and Danny Gold about Jewish history and culture in Poland.

A group of cantors, led by Temple Stephen S. Wise's Nathan Lam with acclaimed composer Charles Fox (“Killing Me Softly,” “I Got A Name”) made an important historical pilgrimage to Poland, the birthplace of cantorial music, to stage a concert which Mr. Fox composed. 

The film looks into re-establishing the bond between Jews and their former Polish countrymen, picking-up the olive branch of Pope John Paul II (beatified a few days ago) whose pilgrimage to Israel in 2000 warmed relations between Catholics and Jews.

Cantor Nathan Lam, Michael Lam (co-writer/producer), and Matthew Asner (son of actor Edward Asner)  speak with JooTube about the themes of this picture, such as reconciliation, and why they feel it is important.

American composer, Charles Fox, identifies some of his recognizable contributions to American pop culture. He explains what the Polish, 100 Voices project has meant for him.

Mr. Fox discusses how Jewish culture and heritage has factored into his career and music.