Los Angeles:
Diverse And Fun

Low Prices
To Lots Of Places
Everyday.

LEWIS ERIC LACHTER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

L

The federation reports that
1,500 children in L.A. become bar
and bat mitzvah every year, and
at least 300 between the ages of
14 and 17 go to Israel.
Today's dynamic Jewish com-
munity in L.A. started in about
1850 with eight Jewish bache-
lors. Seven were merchants; one
was a tailor.
Congregation B'nai B'rith,
founded in 1862, is now the
Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a

PHOTO BY L EWIS LACHTER

os Angeles. How does one
describe it? Diversity is a
word that comes to mind.
Sprawling is another.
Woody Allen does not like it, but
I do. So do half a million Jews.
Many of them live in the Bev-
erly/Fairfax area. Others live in
the "Valley" (San Fernando) in
the suburbs called Sherman
Oaks and Encino. Hollywood?
Santa Monica? Westwood? Yes,
Jewish people live there, too. Los

Greyhound makes it so easy to get there with low fares everyday on every bus. Just walk
up and buy your ticket. We can take you to over 2400 destinations around the country. To
find out about low fares and convenient schedules, call 1 800 231 2222.

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From Detroit to:

Atlanta

$59

Grand Rapids

$19

Chicago

$26

Indianapolis

$32

Cincinnati

$30

Louisville

$40

Cleveland

$20

New York

$55

Columbus

$23

Pittsburgh

$33

A wall mural on Canter's deli.

Go Greyhound.

and leave the diving to us.

a
01995 Greyhound Lines, Inc. Prices subject b change. Some restrictions and limitations may apply.

CAMP AROW

Windsurfing • Sailing

Canoeing • Riding

Kayaking • Tennis

Backpacking • Ropes

Archery • Nature

Drama • Canoe Trips

64

Arts and Crafts

Since 1934 Arowhon has been known for intense teaching
of skills and personal caring for each camper. In the
Algonquin Park wilderness boys and girls aged 7 - 16
are simultaneously nurtured and challenged.
Take advantage of the very favorable
Canadian $ exchange rate!

DETROIT INFORMATION SESSION:

Sunday, December 10, 1995, at 4:00pm.
Birmingham Community House,
380 South Bates Street in Birmingham

Info: 72 Lyndhurst Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2Z7

Tel (416) 975-9060 Fax (416) 975-0130

American
Camping
Assoctation

Mil

Angeles has the second largest
Jewish population in the United
States. New York is number one.
How about 150 synagogues in
the area? I'm impressed. Recent
statistics show that 35 percent of
the Jews are Reform. About the
same number are Conservative.
Seven percent are Orthodox. The
rest of the population falls into
the "other" category, and there
are many variations.
There is a large Israeli com-
munity in town (estimated at
about 100,000), many Russians
and a good number from Iran.
Would you believe 10 communi-
ty centers? Plus the University
of Judaism (great gift shop and
view of the countryside) and the
West Coast campus of the He-
brew Union College.
Who looks after much of what
goes on Jewishly in Los Angeles?
Why,it's the Jewish Federation
at 6505 Wilshire Blvd. The list of
500 agencies and programs sup-
ported by the federation is mind
boggling. The list includes the
Bureau of Jewish Education,
Jewish Big Brothers, Family Ser-
vice, Hillel, the Israel Experience
Program, etc.

major Reform congregation. By
1900, there were 2,500 Jews in
L.A. Many young men and
women went west to escape the
sweatshops and sidewalks of
New York.
After World War I and then
again after World War II, the
number of our people living
among the swaying palm trees
and lovely sunshine grew rapid-
ly.
The Fairfax area is one of the
major centers of Jewish life in
L.A. today. You will see retirees,
Chasidim, Russians and Israeli
immigrants. Fairfax Avenue, be-
tween Third Street and Melrose
Avenue, is lined with Jewish
bookstores, gift shops, kosher
markets and kosher-style delis.
Don't miss Canter's Deli at 419
N. Fairfax. Open all day, every
day; and the food is outstanding.
Come hungry. The portions are
huge. It took two large waiters to
carry in my Reuben sandwich.
The wall facing Canter's park-
ing lot (free for one hour for pa-
trons) has a huge mural that
shows the history of L.A. Jewry
from 1850 to present day.
Another eatery to check out is

