This April, for the third consecutive year, Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH) hosted its annual car show—a chance for Angelenos to get an up-close look at classic and exotic cars while also learning more about the organization and its vital senior care mission. The event brought approximately 100 car owners and admirers to the Grancell Village campus in the San Fernando Valley.Aaron Levinson, LAJH’s vice president for planned giving, conceived the car show to capitalize on a growing trend in donor-driven philanthropy.“Donors are interested in creative ways to be philanthropic and to get great tax advantages, and over the years, the nonprofit sector has seen an increase in people giving gifts in the form of different kinds of assets: real estate, artwork, investments, and even automobiles,” Levinson says. “Hosting a car show helps introduce the idea of donating non-traditional assets to LAJH, and also gives potential donors an opportunity to see firsthand what makes LAJH so wonderful and worth supporting.”The event has grown over time: In its first year, 30 cars were entered; by this year, that number had nearly doubled. Levinson attributes the increase not only to effective publicity, but also to positive word of mouth.“It’s really a great day: People look at the cars, socialize, enjoy some refreshments, and get to tour LAJH,” he says. “There’s no program, no speeches, no admission fee—just people coming together to have a good time. Even some of our residents joined us to see what was happening!”Longtime LAJH donor and former board member Rick Katz served as chair of the event.“The car show is a lot of fun, especially for car enthusiasts,” Katz says. “I’ve always been a car guy; I think growing up in Southern California, where cars are part of the culture, sparked my interest. It’s great to be able to share that with people through LAJH, and as the event gets bigger and more successful, I’m hopeful it will translate to increased donations.”Levinson recently formed a car show committee to begin planning future events, and Katz says he intends to participate again next year.“I strongly support the work being done at LAJH,” he says. “The men and women who live there paid it forward for me to have a better Jewish life, and I believe it’s my responsibility to make their senior years as enjoyable as possible.”To learn more about the annual car show or to get involved, contact Aaron Levison at (818) 757-4416 or [email protected] HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE CAR SHOW 

In the Jewish tradition, Passover represents many things: the liberation of the ancient Israelites from Egyptian slavery, the beginning of a long journey to self-determination and freedom in a promised land, and the rebirth and renewal that accompany the start of spring. At Los Angeles Jewish Health, Passover celebrates all of these themes—as well as LAJH’s establishment nearly 115 years ago.In 1912, five older adults experiencing homelessness men in Los Angeles needed a place to observe Seder. They found a welcome home and a willing host in Polish immigrant and Boyle Heights grocery store owner Simon Lewis. He invited them in to share the holiday, thus paving the way for what would soon become the Los Angeles Jewish Home.Lewis and the hard-working women who cooked and prepared for that Seder could never have imagined how their generosity would reverberate for generations of Angelenos. For more than a century, LAJH has served as a vital refuge for seniors, offering critical programs and services that set a national standard for exceptional, high-quality care. Today, the tradition continues, and LAJH reaches seniors throughout the San Fernando Valley, L.A.’s Westside, and beyond.At LAJH, Passover is an opportunity both to celebrate its legacy and to marvel at the institution’s daily impact on thousands of lives. Whether through skilled nursing care, memory care, adult day care, or independent living, LAJH plays a crucial role in strengthening the social fabric of Los Angeles—giving seniors the support they so greatly deserve.Passover is also an occasion for excitement, merriment, and delight at LAJH. Each year, the organization welcomes residents to experience the holiday with a range of hands-on activities including music- and food-filled Seders.“Passover comes alive at Los Angeles Jewish Health, awakening all five senses and inspiring the spirits of our residents,” says Chief Mission Officer Rabbi Karen Bender. “Our goal is to stimulate memories of the past for each of our beloved residents, while also providing Seders that are extraordinarily interactive and memorable themselves.”  As they eat their fill of matzah, sip grape juice, sing traditional melodies, and tell the story of the four children, residents gain strength from—and find meaning in—participating as part of a cohesive community.“When we come together to share happy occasions, all of our lives are enriched,” says Dale Surowitz, Los Angeles Jewish Health’s CEO and president. “It’s amazing to be at the Seder and see our residents sharing this special occasion. The sense of fulfillment and joy on their faces—it’s what LAJH is all about.”Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aged - Bungalow at 325 S Boyle AveMeal at Eisenberg Village Dining Room - Date UnknownPassover Seder at Grancell Village 2025

The staff at Los Angeles Jewish Health is the secret ingredient that makes it one of the city’s most sought-after destinations for residential senior care. Among the many teams central to LAJH’s reputation and impact is the Social Services Department, which sets a high bar for professionalism and touches nearly every aspect of residents’ lives.From their very first encounter with LAJH, residents and families look to the Social Services Department for guidance. With dedicated teams at every location, staff provide specialized support tailored to each program. This structure allows staff to build personal connections and address the specific circumstances of everyone in their care.“I help individuals who have been hospitalized navigate the admissions process as they assess options for rehabilitation after discharge,” says Jared Hutchings, a resident services coordinator at the Mark Taper Building on the Grancell Village campus. “It’s my job to hold their hands and answer their questions about everything from the services we provide, to the daily schedule here, to the role insurance will play in covering the cost of their care.”Hutchings, who has worked at LAJH for 13 years, says that allaying prospective residents’ anxieties is a task he takes seriously.“Families come in experiencing a huge mix of emotions, and my colleagues and I reassure them—providing a window into the expert care their loved ones will receive and explaining how their conditions are likely to improve by the time they leave,” he says. “They come away feeling empowered and so much better about the journey ahead, and I love being part of that process.”Thelma Mata is a Social Services case aide in LAJH’s Newman Building, located at the Eisenberg Village campus. She started her career at LAJH in 1991 working in the kitchen, and gradually rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a certified nursing assistant and transitioning to the Social Services team.“I’m responsible for ensuring that our residents’ quality of life is good, which involves things like doing evaluations of their needs, coordinating their care plans, and seeing that their emotional wellbeing is attended to,” Mata says. “I interact with residents and families every day, and I also collaborate with vendors to source equipment like walkers and diabetic shoes, and with doctors’ offices to schedule vision, hearing, podiatry, and dental appointments. I absolutely love my job.”The responsibilities of Social Services staff are vast: They monitor residents’ cognition, mood, and behavior, and they also distribute mail, keep inventories of residents’ belongings, coordinate virtual calls with families who live out of town, and undertake other essential tasks. Their work is integral to LAJH’s success—and it is why Director of Social Services Kimberlee Marsh refers to the department as “the glue that keeps the organization running smoothly.”“We are the conduit between departments at LAJH, facilitating communication to keep everybody on the same page,” Marsh says. “Beyond the logistics, the most important part of our job is the bond, rapport, and trust we build with residents and families.”Based in the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center on the Grancell Village campus, Marsh—a licensed clinical social worker—oversees three full-time social workers and three full-time Social Services case aides. Her team partners with other LAJH colleagues to create an environment that is truly special.“The core values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence are all reflected every day here at LAJH, by all staff,” Marsh says. “I am especially proud of our Social Services teams, which excel at providing person-centered care. It’s an approach that fuels our sense of purpose and showcases our deep commitment to serving our community.”Social Services Staff - Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer BuildingThelma Mata - Eisenberg Village Social Services