|
The Consular Corps Tour of Jewish Los Angeles is a unique educational experience that AJC offers to diplomats posted in Los Angeles. This signature event for the International Relations program introduces the Consular Corps to AJC, the Los Angeles Jewish community (both institutions and leaders), Judaism and Jewish values.
The Tour is designed to further the understanding of the diversity and complexity of the Jewish community, our beliefs, our contributions to the community at-large, and how Jewish institutions reflect our religion and values.
|
|
|
8th Annual Consular Corps Tour of Jewish Los Angeles (June 2011)
AJC 2011 Consular Corps Tour at residence of UCLA Chancellor Gene Block
On May 13, 2011, a gathering of AJC Lay Leaders and diplomats in Los Angeles representing a variety of countries embarked on the 8th Annual Consular Corps Tour of Jewish Los Angeles. This year's theme for the Tour was "We the People".
The Tour began with a dessert reception at Hillcrest Country Club, where Dr. Steven Windmueller, former Dean of Hebrew Unon College in Los Angeles and former U.S. Representative Mel Levine addressed the Tour. Then came a tour and presentation of the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage, hosted by Edythe Broad, Philanthropist, and Mitchell Heskel, COO, The Broad Stage, and a performance by the Milken High School Kol Echad Chorus directed by Kelly Shepard.
Next was a reception at the residence of UCLA Chancellor Gene Block and Mrs. Carol Block, follwed by Dinner at Sinai Temple, with Senior Rabbi David Wolpe and Rabbi Nicole Guzik, and concluding with "Friday Night Live" Shabbat Service led by Rabbi David Wolpe with Craig Taubman, performer and composer.
Special thanks to the numerous sponsors of the Tour. This event would not have been possible were it not for the generosity of Sandy and Bill Goodglick, the assistance of Paul Soroudi and other sponsors including Dr. Marlene Bane, Esther Blaugrund, Barry Freeman, Ron Gordon, Lenore and Bernard Greenberg, Doris Haims, Maria and Eli Ibrahimzade, Phyllis and Bert Massing, Georgia Mercer, Debbie and Nancy Saidoff and Roslyn Soudry.
|
|
|
7th Annual Consular Corps Tour of Jewish Los Angeles (June 2010)
On June 11th, twenty diplomats from Los Angeles representing fourteen countries participated in the Seventh Annual Consular Corps Tour of Jewish Los Angeles. The group, accompanied by a number of AJC leaders, began with a visit to the Jewish Home in Reseda, a renowned “home of wellness, longevity, and enlightened senior services,” and a cutting-edge model for all countries struggling with aging populations.
Anti-genocide efforts and humanitarian support of Jewish World Watch (JWW) were discussed at a meeting with its leaders at Valley Beth Shalom. Its founder, Rabbi Harold Schulweis spoke about diplomats' struggles to rescue Jews during the Holocaust and his impetus to start JWW, while Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug, its Executive Director, told riveting stories of her visit to Congo and Darfur.
The group spent the afternoon at Skirball Cultural Center, where the group heard from Assemblymember Kevin de Leon about California's budget crisis and the impending issue of immigration. Adele Burke, Skirball's Vice Persident, and Grace Grossman, its Senior Curator, took the group on a tour of the core exhibit, Visions and Values, where the diplomats learned about the American Jewish experience.
Special thanks goes to the generous sponsors of the tour. Additionally, the program would not have been a success without the support of Dr. Marlene Bane, William and Joan Feldman, Sandy and Bill Goodglick, Doris Haims, Stephen Lesser, Vickie Rubinson, and Adam Weiss.
© Morris P. Kagan Photographics 2010 All Rights Reserved
Consular Corps Tour of Jewish Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Jewish Home
|
|
|
6th Annual Consular Corps Tour (May 2009)
|
|
On May 15, 2009, AJC/LA hosted its 6th Annual Consular Corps Tour of Jewish Los Angeles, which was attended about representatives of 14 consulates. This year’s program featured two main themes: Jewish organizations offering a helping hand to the community at large and an introduction to the Iranian-American Jewish community.
|
| This year’s program started at AJC’s LA Office and featured presentations from Jewish leaders and institutions such as: Rabbi Elliot Dorff of American Jewish University, as well as Wendy Marantz-Levine from Bet Tzedek and Nancy Volpert from Jewish Family Service. Our first site visit was at Beit T’Shuvah where consular guests were given the opportunity to meet the leadership and some of the residents of this inspirational facility. Marcie Goldstein, AJC Executive Committee Member, gave a presentation about City of Hope National Medical Center en route to our second site visit, the Nessah Synagogue. There the group listened to presentations from Chief Rabbi David Shofet, Dr. Saba Soomekh, and Jasmine Oberman, one of the founders of 30 Years After. |
|
| This year’s Consular Corps Tour concluded with a generously hosted exclusive Shabbat dinner for the diplomats and their spouses at a private home, where guests enjoyed traditional Iranian hospitality and indulged in Iranian cuisine and music. |
|
|
5th Annual Consular Corps Tour (June 2008)
|
| AJC's annual tour brought over 70 diplomats, Jewish community leaders, and their spouses together for an inspiring look at Jewish LA. Organized by Co-Chairs Jack Fine and Marc Kessler, as well as a host of AJC layleaders, this year's tour focused on 'Hollywood', AJC's priority issues for 2008, and understanding Jewish denominations. |
| The tour began with a presentation on AJC's role in Hollywood - diplomats learned that AJC's founders included Samuel Goldwyn and Louis B Mayer (of MGM) and the Warner Bros. AJC Chapter President Fredrick Levin spoke of AJC's current Hollywood projects to help spread the organization's message of tolerance and human rights, with the production 'Darfur Now' being the prime example. |
|
|
The tour then hopped on a bus to see the history of the Jewish community and Hollywood first hand through a unique panel of experts and a walking tour of the Sony Studio lot led by Dr. Steve Ross, USC Department of History Chair, Dr. David Kaufman, HUC Contemporary American Jewish Studies Professor, and the staff at Sony Studios. Diplomats heard the 'behind the scenes' presentation on Jews in Hollywood and a tour of the historic studio lot, formerly the MGM studios, which included a set tour of some upcoming films.
Next stop was a presentation of AJC's national priorities for 2008 through a look at the Jewish community's efforts to ensure America's energy security by 'going green' and its celebration of Israel@60. Ron Jacobsohn, President of the Hollywood Connection, gave a presentation on Israel and its booming film, tv, advertising, and music industries, while representatives from local synagogues and Jewish organizations talked about 'green' being a Jewish value.The tour's final stop was at the Sephardic Synagogue, where the group learned about the Sephardic religious tradition while eating a traditional lunch with the synagogue's Rabbi, Daniel Bouskila. The tour drew to a close with a presentation in the synagoguge's beautiful sanctuary with Rabbi Mark Diamond from the Southern California Board of Rabbis, who provided insight into the different religious and cultural denominations of Judaism.
|
|
|
4th Annual Consular Corps Tour (June 2007)
|
| Nearly 50 diplomats, lay leaders and staff enjoyed the 4th Annual Consular Corps Tour of Jewish Los Angeles. Locally posted diplomats were treated to an overview of the local Jewish community and important Jewish institutions, highlighted the basics of Judaism, as well as introduced our international partners to Jewish values, culture, and community history. The tour included stops at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (where diplomats marveled at the robots that transport its linens and garbage), the progressive neighborhood synagogue Congregation Kol Ami, lunch at Canter's Deli, awalking tour of Fairfax Avenue (with "nosh stops" for challah and rugulah at various bakeries), and Jewish Family Service's Senior Center and Kosher Kitchen. The program also included two historical segments on AJC's centennial, as well as on-bus segments titled "The Jewish Community and the Crisis in Darfur", "Music of a People" and "The Jewish Federation's Children's Literacy Program". |
|
|
|
|
|
3rd Annual Consular Corps Tour (May 2006)
|
|
More than 30 diplomats spent a day together getting a view of Jewish institutions, values, culture and religion in Los Angeles. Sites along the tour included Vista Del Mar Family Services, Hillel at UCLA and Sinai Temple for their young professionals 'Friday Night Live' Shabbat Service with guest speaker Elie Weisel and a performance by Theodore Bikel.
Participants in the 3rd Annual Consular Corps Tour.
|
|
|
|
