Blog

On November 30, nearly 800 people participated in Shabbat dinners as part of BJE Celebrates Shabbat. The group represented the broad Jewish religious spectrum of Los Angeles, and included four generations of Los Angeles Jews - one dinner actually had all four generations gathered together. All participants - those who celebrate Shabbat regularly and those who do not - were brought together on this night in celebration of Shabbat, BJE and Jewish education.

BJE is grateful to BJE Celebrates Shabbat co-chairs, Joanna Kasirer, Liz Rosman Schwartz, and Marci Spitzer.

On Tuesday, October 16, 2018 lay and professional leaders at BJE affiliated schools expanded their skills through a series of workshops featuring Nanette Fridman of Fridman Strategies. Nanette is an internationally respected leadership coach, consultant, trainer and author, with over 20 years of experience working with nonprofits.
 
Each of Nanette’s workshops focused on “ambassadorship” as a catalyst for growth and engagement in our schools.

BJE is proud to welcome to its staff, Michelle Porjes, Ed.S. as Director of Project EnAble.  

"I feel blessed to be a part of BJE," Michelle stated. "I look forward to partnering with Jewish day schools to bring affordable onsite services to students who need extra support  to maximize success."

For the third consecutive summer, BJE is fortunate to have three teens- Katherine Eble, Riley Sobel, and Lily Spar- interning at the BJE offices as part of the Jewish Federation's LA Jewish Teen Initiative. The 4-week program enables high school students to explore the work of Jewish community agencies.

Riley Sobel and Lily Spar, going into 11th grade and 12th grade at the Episcopal School of Los Angeles and Milken Community High School, respectively, are spending their internship on projects of BJE's Donor & Community Relations department.

Left: student at the Milken Community Schools Graduation
Top Right: Valley Torah High School Boys Class of 2018
Bottom Right: Students at the de Toledo High School Graduation

At this season of graduations, BJE congratulates the students and families marking graduation milestones in their Jewish education. We hope each child and family will continue on their Jewish educational journey through life.

The new year was sweetened for four exemplary Los Angeles Jewish day school educators when they were surprised before their entire school communities with the prestigious Milken Family Foundation Jewish Educator Award (JEA). Those honored are (from right to left):

•    Yehudis Blauner, General Studies principal, Cheder Menachem    

For the second summer in a row, BJE was fortunate to have two teens - Michael Finkelstein and Maya Weiss - interning in our offices through the Jewish Federation's LA Jewish Teen Initiative. The  4-week program enables high school students to explore Jewish Community Agencies. 

Maya, going into her senior year at El Camino-Real Charter High School interned with the Donor & Community Relations Department, while Michael, going into his senior year at Santa Monica High School, interned with BJE's Center for Jewish Educational Engagement & Experiential Learning.

"The question is no longer 'should we change?'", said Amy Asin, Director of Strengthening Congregations at the Union for Reform Judaism. "The questions are 'what should we change, and how do we get there?"