Dear Community,
We continue to expand our alliances as we move forward. We are delighted to present and recommend your involvement in the community service programming of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. We are grateful to them for training our affiliates in resiliency on July 10th.
We also are proud of our affiliation with PACAN (Persian American Civil Action Network) to present a five-part series of Jews and Iran throughout the year, the first of which is scheduled on June 29th. We welcome the documentary filmmaker Cyrus Kar for an enjoyable and informative evening. The second event will be on July 31st when the Consul General of Israel, Dr. Hillel Newman will speak about the Second Temple period (more to follow later). The series of Jews and Iran is being sponsored by the Israel Discount Bank.
This week we learn about Jon Elist, IAJF’s Liaison to the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. We appreciate the efforts he has made to bring the organizations together.
Wishing you a shabbat shalom.
Sincerely,
M. Elie Alyeshmerni, President
Jon Elist was born and raised in California. He had an early interest in public service, having earned degrees in public affairs and business at Princeton, Stanford, and Harvard.
Jon served in the Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce as well as supporting a US Senator and Congressman. He spent five years with McKinsey & Company where he advised major healthcare companies and public sector organizations. He was an advisor to international, federal, state, and local government entities.
Over the past seven years, Jon has led a successful medical device company. He spearheaded three FDA clearances processes and developed a network of top-notch physicians from Mt. Sinai, Rush University, and other major institutions.
Jon has given back to the community, currently serving on the Board of the Jewish Federation of LA and as an officer of the Iranian American Jewish Federation (IAJF). He previously served on Magbit’s Board and has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles.
One of the best parts of living in Southern California is being so close to the beach. Spend a couple of hours this summer volunteering with us and our partners, Repair the World Los Angeles, and Heal the Bay, as we come together to pick up trash at some of our local beaches. Let’s make sure others get to enjoy good clean fun in the sun all summer long.Help us to make our beaches pristine so that we can all enjoy the beauty in our backyard and protect ocean animals. It’s an opportunity to make a positive impact on our environment, while spending quality time with service-minded members of our community.Our July clean-up is sponsored by our Real Estate & Construction (REC) Network, and our August clean-up is sponsored by our Rautenberg New Leaders Project (NLP)! We look forward to welcoming our REC members, our NLP participants, and both of their families for these uplifting days of service.Sunday, July 9th at Dockweiler Beach and/or
Sunday, August 20th at Topanga State Beach
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Exact location info will be shared with registrants in advance of each event.Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Please remember to bring sunscreen, a hat, and water.
If you’re unable to join us July 9th or August 20th but would like to receive updates about similar opportunities in the future, please email Volunteer@JewishLA.org.We look forward to volunteering with you!Robin Polansky
Community Service Program ChairMelissa York
Senior Director, Volunteerism and AdvocacyThe Jewish Federation is the central organization of Jewish Los Angeles. We put Jewish values in action to meet our community’s needs and make our voices heard on issues ranging from antisemitism to social services to ensuring a strong Jewish future. We care for our most vulnerable, inspire Jewish journeys, connect with and support the people of Israel and Jews around the world, and actively engage in Los Angeles civic life to build bridges with other communities. We accomplish this by working with our dedicated partners, our generous donors, and our passionate leadership.
