Los Angeles Jewish Home

Each summer, Hebrew Union College (HUC) students studying at the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management visit Jewish institutions, agencies, and non-profit organizations in the Los Angeles area in a required course called "Introduction to Jewish Communal Institutions." These visits, also known as "Wacky Wednesdays," expose students pursuing careers as Jewish professional leaders to the inner workings of the Jewish non-profit world. On Wednesday, July 15th, the HUC students visited the non-profit Jewish Home's Eisenberg Village campus, met with our corporate officers, and toured of our award-winning facilities.

After CEO-president Molly Forrest welcomed the students, the officers — chief financial officer Sherri Cunningham, chief medical officer Dr. Noah Marco, vice president of planning and community-based services Arnold Possick, and Jewish Home Foundation senior vice president Ira Schreck — offered their perspectives about what makes the Home so special. They discussed the behind the scenes work that goes into ensuring seniors receive quality care, working with the government to receive funding, enhancing community awareness of the Home's services, and ongoing fundraising efforts. Forrest explained there is more to the Home than its campuses. "Aside from being an outstanding source of senior housing in Los Angeles, the Home strives to meet the growing need for senior care within the community. We provide quality care to over 5,000 seniors in our Home and in their own homes each year."

The group was then taken on a tour led by fund development staff member Aaron Levinson (an HUC class of '95 alumnus). As Levinson guided the students through the Home's incredible medical, residential, and community buildings, they were able to see how the Home's staff, leaders, donors, and volunteers worked together to make the Home the incredible place that it is.

Levinson commented on the importance of the visit. "These students are the future leaders of Jewish non-profits and it is imperative they understand how this remarkable organization cares for so many of our community's seniors."

Associate director of the School of Jewish Nonprofit Management Mandi Richardson expressed her gratitude for the presentation and the tour. "Thanks to experiences like this, the students are exposed to both the possibilities and realities they might encounter in their professional lives. The students and I are appreciative for the chance to learn from the exceptional staff of the Los Angeles Jewish Home."