LA Jewish Health

@RealAliciaMayer Your great-grandmother's impact continues to be felt to this day! 👏 We'd love to hear more about her efforts alongside Louis, Mary, and others. Perhaps we could even do a featured story about it to inspire others. You can DM or email marketing@jha.org

Each year, Hollywood powerhouse Mary Pickford sent my great-grandmother Ida Mayer Cummings a Passover/Pesach telegram. The emotion in that first paragraph gets me. And somehow it's still 100% relevant today and this telegram is from April, 1948. Pickford writes: "Ida Darling, May this Pesach be a milestone in spiritual progress because we all need it so very much and surely the Almighty who is always willing and ready to listen to sincere and fervent prayers will not turn a deaf ear to us, His children. Thank you for your prayers and I am most grateful for those of the Old Folk. Before next Passover, may the building of one hundred and twenty five beds be well on its way to completion. Affectionately Yours, Mary." What she is referring to is that they were on the cusp of breaking ground for a new building for the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aged (as it was then known). She and Ida and my great uncle Louis B. Mayer would go into full blown fundraising mode and sure enough the building was built. I have many wonderful photos in the family collection to share to with you.

Residents of the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center recently met with the CSUN Veteran Resource Team, a group of student vets who help peers transition from military to college life. Residents and students shared meaningful conversation.

Residents at Grancell Village observed the ritual of Tashlich, symbolically “casting off” sins with bread crumbs in water as they prepared for the New Year. Rabbi Karen Bender later carried the water to the Pacific Ocean to complete the tradition.

Shanah Tovah! ✡️ This week we welcomed Rosh Hashanah, the start of the High Holy Days—a season of reflection that continues through Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Inspirational services were led by Rabbi Karen Bender, Rabbi Marc Kraus, Cantor Benzy Kogen, and Holden Bender-Bernstein.

We’re honored! 🌟 LAJHealth’s Achieve a Dream program has won CAHF’s 2025 Excellence in Programming Award. Thank you to our amazing staff who inspire residents to dream big and make those dreams reality every day. 💙 #AchieveADream #ExcellenceInCare #SeniorLiving

History was made at LA Jewish Health as 10 residents celebrated their bar and bat mitzvahs together—the largest group ever in our community. With Chief Mission Officer Rabbi Karen Bender’s guidance, they prepared for a ceremony of Hebrew chants, Torah readings, and reflections.

The Newman Building Drama Club recently performed two witty plays—one about seniors tackling technology and another about love later in life. Both were written by resident Judith Karon with the help of AI. What a show!🎭✨

Rancell Village made a splash this week with a rockin’ water-themed party! We had fun hula dancing, water games, and plenty of squirt gun fun—especially when Ilana Springer, Senior Vice President of In-Residence Services, joined in as a target. #SummerFun #SeniorLiving #CoolOff

Nothing says summer like Beach Boys hits, piña coladas, and dancing! Fountainview residents loved their third summer concert with Woodie and the Longboards and a tropical-themed dinner to match. 🌺🎵 #SummerVibes #SeniorLiving

Last week, our staff prepared for a power outage emergency. Cross functional teams worked together to make certain everyone is prepared to take care of residents, campus visitors and staff in the event of any disaster impacting our campuses.

Residents were joined by volunteers from @jfedla for a pre-Hanukkah decorating party. Residents and volunteers enjoyed working together to create beautiful Hanukkah decorations, play with the dreidel and eat delicious sufganiyot! #seniorliving

When it comes to providing expert care for veterans, Los Angeles Jewish Health is proud to serve. Read more at bit.ly/47AeKMg #seniorliving

LAJHealth held an opening celebration for our new Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE Program in West Los Angeles. The day included well wishes from dignitaries, a ribbon cutting, and offering tours of the facility to more than 150 guests in attendance.

Fountainview at Eisenberg Village residents get a look inside the entertainment industry. Actress/Director Shiri Appleby visited with resident, bringing an episode of Young Sheldon and walking through the directing process to explain all that goes into creating a show.

This Veterans Day, the activities teams and all staff did a fantastic job of honoring our veterans. Those who served in other nations, including former IDF, were warmly included. We were proud to honor 24 veterans on Grancell Village campus alone!

Singer of Jewish Folk music Cindy Paley entertained residents of Grancell Village this week with traditional Yiddish tunes. The music is very special to many residents as some know the language, and it reminds them of their family and their heritage. #seniorliving

The Grancell Village campus held its annual Pumpkin Walkway last week. Many departments turned in creative pumpkin designs of all kinds. One even included a spinning carousel and music. Which one is your favorite?

Brandman Center for Senior Care celebrated Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) by decorating skull cookies and watching the Disney movie COCO. Participants had a great time talking about the experience and remembering love ones they have lost. #seniorliving

It was a spirited week on the campuses of Los Angeles Jewish Health! There were many exciting and creative activities on the campuses of LAJH this week including extremely imaginative costumes, colorful decorations inside and outside, music, dancing and parades for residents.

Students from Brentwood School’s 4th grade class made many new friends when they visited with residents of the Newman Building. In an afternoon of bonding with residents, they decorated the Boardroom, played games and assembled care packages for veterans.