Hidden Children of Greece

Alexandros Mallias, Ambassador of Greece to the US, Kitty Dukakis, Governor Michael Dukakis, AJC Pres. Sherry Weinman, and AJC Exec. Dir. Seth Brysk

The Greek Consulate General in Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Office of the American Jewish Committee organized the exhibition HIDDEN CHILDREN IN OCCUPIED GREECE, presenting the stories of 16 Jewish children form Greece, who escaped death during Greece's Nazi occupation with the help of their Christian compatriots.  The Exhibition is co-sponsored by the Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel and the American Friends of the Jewish Museum of Greece. Over 600 people attended the program and reception at the Opening Night reception. 

Chanukah Party Brings the LA Community Together

Diplomatic, political, religious and civic leaders in Los Angeles joined members of the Chapter's Board of Directors at the lovely home of Barry Freeman and Robbin Itkin to celebrate Chanukah at AJC LA's annual 'Festival of Lights' celebration. Speaking at his first Chanukah in LA, Executive Director Seth Brysk, spoke of the warmth the LA community extended to him on his arrival. Attendees included new Israeli Consul General Jacob Dayan in one of his first public appearances, Congressman Howard Berman, and Keith Atkinson from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Brindell Gottlieb Honored by David Harris

President's Council hears noted expert on Southeast Asia Terrorism

4th Annual Consular Corp Tour of Los Angeles
Diplomats, lay leaders and staff enjoyed the Consular Corps Tour. Click Here to read more.

Comedy with a Cause 4 - An Evening at the Improv

"performing" on stage are Chairs Lynne & Stewart Brookman and Steven & Michelle Brookman

Double the Pleasure - Double the Fun...

Los Angeles Chapter Chanukah Party a Resounding Success

Host Naty Saidoff speaks the assembled guests at the annual AJC Chanukah Party

City Council member Wendy Greuel and her son Thomas Schramm, whose father Dean Schramm is an AJC Los Angeles Vice President, light one of the Chanukah candles

Los Angeles Chapter Dinner Honors Two Local Leaders

Over 450 of Los Angeles’ outstanding attorneys, judges and community leaders gathered to pay tribute to two distinguished honorees, and to hear from keynote speaker Tom Brokaw and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The Centennial Leadership Award was presented to Harriet Hochman, a member of AJC’s National Executive Committee, and the 27th Annual Learned Hand Award was given to Alan Friedman of Munger, Tolles & Olson. In his remarks, Mayor Villaraigosa said: "I was deeply honored to speak at the AJC's centennial celebration in Washington earlier this year. I am deeply honored to be here tonight. For a century, AJC has been in the forefront of fighting for the inclusion of everyone in American society. I salute your work."

On December 5th, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw spoke at the 27th
Annual Learned Hand Award in honor of Alan Friedman. AJC/LA also honored Harriet Hochman(pictured standing
to the left of the Mayor with AJC President Sherry A. Weinman), with the Centennial Leadership Award. AJC
Executive Director David A. Harris presented the award to Harriet. To read more, click here.

AJC Los Angeles Chapter Honors Barry Meyer with the Corwin Human Relations Award
 
More than 600 guests attended the Dorothy and Sherrill C. Corwin Human Relations Award Dinner on October 19th to honor Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment.  The company's founders, Harry and Jack Warner, were also founding members of the Los Angeles Chapter created in 1945. The Award is named in memory of Sherrill C. Corwin, a respected film industry figure, and his wife Dorothy, and is given to outstanding leaders in the entertainment and communications industries including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Clint Eastwood. Bruce Ramer, AJC's past National President, welcomed the guests, thanking them for their support of over $1.5 million for the AJC. In his address, Senator Patrick Leahy spoke about the importance of the AJC's work, commenting that AJC is "able to do things that nobody else can." Former Corwin recipient, Jack Valenti, presented the award to Barry Meyer. In his acceptance of the award, Meyer said, "I'm especially honored to be chosen to receive this award on this - the 100th anniversary of the founding of the AJC. For 100 years, the AJC has been unwavering in its commitment to bring understanding and its attendant benefits of cooperation, tolerance and peace, not only to Israel and its neighbors, but to all corners of the world."                            

(Left to Right) Honoree Barry Meyer, Bonnie Corwin Fuller (daughter of Dorothy and Sherrill C. Corwin), and presenter Jack Valenti	(L to R) Jack Valenti, Barry Meyer, and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT

French Consulate Reception Honoring Rabbi Gary Greenebaum
The Western Regional Director was presented the Insignia of Officer in the French National Order of Merit by Ambassador to the U.S. Jean-David Levitte at a reception held at the French Consulate's residence in Beverly Hills.

Rabbi Gary Greenebaum displaying the Insignia with Los Angeles French Consul General Phillippe Laurrieu (left) and French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte (right).

61st Annual Meeting
On May 31st three hundred guests including AJC members, Consuls General and Deputy Consuls from 18 countries, members of the clergy, elected officials, and urban partners honored the past presidents of AJC/LA and raised $8,000 to help refugee families affected by the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

Attendees listened to the impassioned plea of Darfur Task Force Chair Fredrick Levin (at left) who asked the members to partner with Jewish World Watch to combat genocide.  The campaign was to outfit every family with 2 solar cookers at the Iridimi Refugee Camp in Chad, which borders the Darfur region of Sudan. The funds raised by the AJC will buy solar cookers for 320 families, reducing the need for firewood and the risk associated with its collection.  The majority of refugees are women and girls who are objects of gender-based violence when they are outside the camp's perimeter.

AJC/LA's past presidents, seven of whom were in attendance, were honored (from left to right): Current President Sherry Weinman, Arthur Greenberg, Cathy Siegel Weiss, Howard Friedman, Richard Weston, David Rousso, Barry Sanders, and Peter Weil. The outgoing Resources Development Chair, Joel Mogy, was also honored.

2006 Community Service Award Honoring Debbie & Naty Saidoff
Held at the lovely home of Cathy Siegel Weiss and Ken Weiss, this reception included guest speaker Shula Bahat, AJC Associate Executive Director who shared an update on international challenges being addressed by the AJC. Debbie and Naty were honored for their longstanding membership on AJC/LA's Board of Directors and the National Board of Governors. They currently serve as co-chairs of the AJC Leadership Development Committee. Other special guests included Bruce Ramer, AJC Honorary National President, and Ehud Danoch, Los Angeles Consul-General of Israel.

Honorable Ehud Danoch, Consul-General of Israel with Debbie & Naty Saidoff

National Leadership Council Reception with UN Ambassador His Royal Highness Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein, Ambassador to the United Nations for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, briefed the NLC at a private reception hosted by Shelly and Art Rosenblum. The Ambassador shared an insightful update on the current situation in the Middle East focusing on Jordanian-Israeli relations. Since 2000 he has been Jordan's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the U.N. with special responsibilities relating to international justice, women's development and U.N. peacekeeping.

Sherry A. Weinman, President, AJC/LA; Bert Massing, Chair, Resource Development; Shelly and Art Rosenblum, NLC hosts of the evening on either side of Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein

AJC Latino Jewish Policy Forum Presents an Analysis of AB 1381
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proposal to significantly change the structure and oversight of the Los Angeles Unified School District has created a lot of discussion and controversy in the community. In an effort to understand the issue better the AJC Latino Jewish Policy Forum organized a meeting entitled ‘Which Way, LAUSD?’ to discuss the Mayor’s proposal, Assembly Bill 1381, on August 10th. The panel was moderated by Professor of Political Science at Cal State Fullerton Dr. Raphael Sonenshein, and panelists were Kevin Reed, General Counsel for LAUSD, and Erin Walsh, Policy Analyst for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Over 40 attendees asked probing questions of the panelists to get at the core issues of governance, oversight, collective bargaining, performance in the school system, and many other issues.

Special Reception with AJC's Executive Director David A. Harris
Executive Director David Harris was warmly greeted by 200 at a country club reception generously hosted by Brindell and Milton Gottlieb on January 26, 2006. Mr. Harris spoke about the 'Power of Global Diplomacy' and addressed the need to be informed about the complete post 9-11 issues and problems faced by the United States, Israel and Jews around the world. Sadly, three weeks after the event, Milton Gottlieb passed away.