Grants Awarded to Jewish Institutions

The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Los Angeles has announced grants to several Jewish institutions in the San Fernando Valley for projects ranging from programs serving Russian emigres to a relocated recovery house for addicts and criminal offenders.

The recently announced grants totaled $373,574 for innovative programs and outreach to people unaffiliated with Jewish community activities, said Stuart Buchalter, foundation president.

The two largest grants related to the Valley were $35,000 to the Jewish Home for the Aging in Reseda for renovation of a laundry, and $30,000 to Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center in Los Angeles to relocate an expanded Beit T’Shuvah rehabilitation program to an undisclosed San Fernando Valley site.

“We are in negotiations right now for a centrally located site,” said Saul Goldfarb, Gateways’ chief executive officer. “If successful, we’ll have about 50 beds for a 12-step program with a Judaic orientation to help people with all forms of addiction.”

Temple Beth Hillel in North Hollywood received $12,000 for a program to attract Jewish emigres from the former Soviet Union. Valley Beth Shalom in Encino was awarded $4,800 to support its existing Russian Club, which meets weekly.

Valley Beth Shalom also will share $12,950 with five Westside synagogues for a program designed to bridge the gap between Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jewish communities, whose traditions derive from Eastern/Northern Europe and the Mediterranean countries, respectively.

Other recipients include Emek Hebrew Academy, North Hollywood, $13,200 to purchase four trailers for classrooms; Kol Tikvah, Woodland Hills, $10,000 for a program to encourage continuing Jewish identity by teen-agers who have completed their bar or bat mitzvahs; and Temple Ner Maarav, Encino, $18,595 for synagogue renovation.