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Federation Impact

Mar 2, 2018

Making Young Lives Bloom in the Negev

Lior came after high school. She wanted to know her country, better before she joined the army. Though she could only stay a few months, she knew from the first whiff of desert air that she would be back.

Yulia came from Belarus. She didn’t know what being Jewish meant until she took a Ta…

Feb 23, 2018

A Survivor with Disabilities Finds a New Home

Theodore (Teddy) Halpern likes to think that his disabilities, plus some good luck, helped him survive the Holocaust. Because he was born with two clubbed feet, stunted arms and missing fingers, people always underestimated what he was capable of—including serving in the French Underground…

Feb 14, 2018

Love, Birthright Style

Though they come from different worlds, it usually doesn’t take long for participants and Israeli soldiers on Federation-sponsored Taglit-Birthright Israel trips to form lasting friendships. Every once in a while, one of those relationships develops into something more. Like this romance b…

Feb 6, 2018

A Roof Over Her Head

"The best decision I ever made was also the most dangerous. Fourteen years ago, I found the courage to take my three young boys, leave my ex-husband and start a new life. But my new freedom came at a cost—I couldn’t afford preschool for the boys or even fresh produce.

That’s when the …

Feb 1, 2018

Supporting People of All Abilities

The Los Angeles area is rich with programs addressing the needs of children with special needs, but as soon as they became adults, they were on their own. With help from the Jewish Federation, Shemesh Farm sprouted up to right this wrong. At Shemesh, adults with special needs are given an …