Your #1 Guide to Jewish Los Angeles

Los Angeles Community Gmach

Definition: A g’mach is a chesed (kindness) foundation (private or
public) set up to supply various goods or services to those who are in
need. This can include things as minor as offering the loan of folding
chairs to interest-free loans. Please feel free to browse the g’mach
listings below for yourself or for someone in need.  If you have something to share, donate or loan out, please click here to let the community know that you have something to offer, like folding chairs, strollers, baby clothes, faux flowers etc.

Do you need something you don’t see here?  Check out items that people posted or click here to post something you need

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Add your organization to this list
BIKUR CHOLIM
8489 West Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel (323) 852-1900
info@bikurcholim.net
www.bikurcholim.net

Rabbi Hershy Ten, President
The Bikur Cholim is a non-profit volunteer organization helping people
who are in need of health care in the Greater Los Angeles area.
The Bikur Cholim has furnished apts. for visiting patients and their
families; they provide hot, home cooked meals for patients and their
families and local grocers and eateries offer discounts to patients and
their families; they act as a conduit between patients and families and
physicians, medical centers, and leading Rabbinical authorities for
dealing with the complex medical situations as they arise; The BCC
provides transportation to and from medical centers and airports,etc.;
Manages blood donor programs; subsidizes examinations, medications,
equipment, and procedures; publish a newsletter; provide free
educational programs; provide visitation and support for patients and
senior citizens.


CHABAD DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAMS
310-204-3196
For help with drug abuse and alcohol abuse.


CLOTHING
818-763-0560
Adult and Children’s clothing


ETTA ISRAEL CENTER
(310) 285-0909
Serving Jewish children, teens and young adults with special needs,
including developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, and
attention deficit disorder. Etta Israel sponsors special educational
services in most yeshivos and day schools, as well as stand-alone
classes and a Talmud Torah. Shabbatons and social activities are geared
to a range of ages and interests, while parent and sibling support
programs help the family. Many Etta Israel programs are staffed by high
school volunteers from area yeshivos and high schools.


LABabyGear
We provide short and long terms loans of car seats, high chairs, pak-n-plays, bouncers, booster car seats, baby swings and more.
Phone: 323-243-7116. Leave message and call will be returned after 6 p.m.


NISHMA (formerly Ezras Bayis)
(818) 623-0300
(collect calls accepted)
24-hour crisis line for families and individuals dealing with abuse
(including spouse abuse, child abuse and neglect or elder/disabled
dependent abuse). The hotline receives calls from people who are hurting
someone in their family, people who feel they are being abused, as well
as concerned friends, neighbors, teachers and rabbis. In addition,
people call with a variety of problems, including depression,
homelessness, loneliness, and other problems about which they have
nobody to talk to. NISHMA means “we will listen”, and the NISHMA hotline
offers help to anyone, man or woman, Orthodox or not. All calls to
NISHMA are strictly confidential and anonymous.

NISHMA operates around the clock except for Shabbos and Yom Tov (the
hotline stops about 2 hours before candlelighting and resumes about 1
hour after havdalah). In addition to the hotline, NISHMA offers
sliding-scale counseling by licensed professionals and interns;
referrals to counseling, legal, shelter and other resources; educational
programs for the community;
and consultation to rabbis, teachers and principals.

NISHMA is staffed entirely by Orthodox trained volunteers and
professional staff, and works under the guidance of a Va’ad Halacha of
respected Orthodox rabbis. NISHMA is a project of the Orthodox
Counseling Program of Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles. If you would
like to apply to become a NISHMA volunteer, please call the hotline
number (818) 623-0300 and ask to be connected to the NISHMA office.


JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES – IMMIGRATION
323-651-5573
Information and aid to recent immigrants.


JEWISH AIDS SERVICES OF LA
323-653-8313
Information and services for people with HIV and their families.


JEWISH COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
323-653-2858
College scholarships for Jewish kids in LA.


JEWISH PRISONER SERVICES NATIONAL
We are a small group of highly dedicated volunteers focused on the
belief that just because someone has made a mistake he/she should not be
forgotten and written off by society. We believe the ancient sage who
wrote: “helping the imprisoned is the loftiest of all charitable acts,
superseding all other forms….” (Maimonides 1135-1204 C.E) Initially
launched under the sponsorship of B’nai B’rith and now an independent
entity, JPSI has grown to the point where we have volunteers across the
country providing direct services to prisoners throughout the United
States, Canada, England, France, Israel and Poland. Our volunteers come
from all walks of life — businessmen, correctional facility employees,
educators, lawyers, professionals, rabbis, even a judge. In addition,
we have ex-offenders who, in the past, were recipients of the group’s
help. Upon completion of their sentencing, they have joined JPSI to
assist in maintaining our numerous outreach programs. One of our most
notable successes is our professionally conducted Marriage Enrichment
Seminar. This two-day program for Jewish prisoners and their wives is
produced by Larry Karlin, JPSI vice-chairman, and conducted by Dr.
Bernard Guerney, a former Pennsylvania State University professor of
human development. He has adapted his “Relationship Enhancement Program”
specifically to reduce the high rate of divorces attributed to the
trauma of forced separation that is part and parcel of the incarceration
experience. Also, in the past two years, we have matched hundreds of
Jewish prisoners with compatible pen-pals. We have continued our holiday
greeting card program in which we send Rosh Hashanah, Pesach and
Hanukkah cards to prisoners so that they may, in turn, send them out to
their family and friends. This helps them to maintain contact with their
family and gives them a feeling of inclusion during the holiday as
opposed to reinforcing their already heightened feelings of isolation
and despair. Through our religious and educational outreach programs, we
continue to supply books of Judaic interest, Jewish calendars,
siddurim, Stars of David, tefillin and Torahs to our incarcerated
brethren. In many cases, this is the only way that prison authorities
will allow such materials into their facilities. Our free, Jewish,
video-lending library is already a proven success throughout the nation.
We have also affected can increase in volunteer participation in our
prison visitation programs. Volunteers go into the prisons to visit
prisoners on an ongoing basis to observe Shabbat, the High Holy Days,
Pesach and other rabbinical and scriptural holidays. As we look to the
future, JPSI’s leadership seeks to become more involved in the formation
of Jewish post-release facilities, offering more support for the
families of Jewish incarcerates, a bigger and better free video-lending
library, an ever-enlarging pen-pal program, and a Judaica distribution
center that will truly accommodate the spiritual-growth aspirations of
all Jews who practice their faith behind the wire and walls. Clearly,
our successes and achievements would be unrealizable without the support
and commitment of the nation’s entire Jewish community. We hope that as
you read of our mitzvot you will be inspired to join with us at any
level or levels of participation that pique your interest. We are
eternally grateful for your support and involvement. Reaching out to the
forgotten and the needy—it’s what living Judaism is all about! FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SID KLEINER, SEC./TREASURER JEWISH PRISONER
SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, 10188 WINTER VIEW DRIVE, NAPLES, FL 34109-1520
PHONE/FAX: (941) 591-2649***ALT. FAX LINE: (941) 566-7702***E-MAIL:
SKLEINER@AOL.COM WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO FOR OUR INCARCERATED
BRETHREN AND THEIR FAMILIES? Potentials and possibilities for
participation in prison programs are numerous and varied. The Jewish
Prisoner Services International, a not-for-profit, social service agency
needs your help with the following: Pen Pal Programs – You can write to
a lonely Jewish inmate. JPSI will sponsor and instruct you in
corresponding with one (or more) of some 650 Jewish inmates currently on
a national pen pal waiting list. Religious Materials/Judaica – New or
used Torahs, prayer books and other Jewish religious, educational and
secular materials are always needed. As an approved prison program, JPSI
will send these items on your behalf to individual Jewish inmates and
chapel libraries. Visits – Individually or with others, you can visit
imprisoned Jews in your area on a regular or occasional basis. The JPSI
will sponsor and instruct you in visitation programs. Families – In
person or anonymously, you can assist a Jewish inmate’s family while
their loved one is incarcerated. The JPSI will instruct and connect you
with one of many such families. Mentors – You can help to guide a Jewish
man or woman through the difficult post-release period toward a
successful transition into the community. The JPSI will instruct you and
connect you with a Jewish inmate prior to his or her release. Ideas –
No one in the corrections field has all the answers, and your idea might
lead to a successful new program. The JPSI is always looking for input
from the community. Contributions – Even if you are unable to do
something in person, your tax- deductible contribution will help defray
our many and ongoing operating costs. Now, select your favorite mitzvah
or mitzvot from above and contact: SID KLEINER, SOUTHEAST REGIONAL
COORDINATOR JEWISH PRISONER SERVICES INTERNATIONAL AN OUTREACH/ADVOCACY
AGENCY FOR JEWISH PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES PEN PAL VOLUNTEERS CAN
REACH SARAH JACOBS AT: PO Box 761156, Los Angeles, CA 90076-1156 or
e-mail: neshoma@pacbell.net


JEWS FOR JUDAISM
310-854-3381
For help against evangelical Christians.


Jewish Family Services – Orthodox Counseling Program
323-852-3222
Counseling for the Orthodox community by Orthodox therapists.


Miscellaneous
My 10-year-old daughter, Lisa Ostrovsky, suffers from a very severe form
of Cystic Fibrosis. During last three months drastic deterioration in
her state has been developed. Now she needs assistance to breath and all
this time she stays in hospital. Her doctor, Dr. J. Rivlin (Carmel
Medical Hospital, Haifa, tel/fax 972 4 825 0642) and Prof. Yalin
(Tel-ha-Shomer Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel), consider the urgent lung
transplantation is the only way.
There is almost no chance that Lisa with her O+ blood group will survive
until the operation is possible in Israel: during the last half year
there
was no operation of such a type in Israel because of problems with organ
donations. The short enough waiting lists for such surgery was found
only in a few medical centers in USA. The total cost of the operation is
$600,000 to $900,000 depending on pre-operation treatment,
post-operation intensive therapy, cost of medicaments, travelling to
USA, and stay in hospital (this assessment done by Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation of Israel, tel. (972) 3 670 2323, rf. Riki, social worker).
Articles about Lisa’s problem were published in many central and
peripheral newspapers in Hebrew and in English. Nonetheless, WE ARE NOT
ABLE TO RAISE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR LUNG TRANSPLANTATION. It
is very important now to find prominent contributors (funds, sponsors,
philanthropic donators) who can contribute to Lisa’s rescue fund.
PLEASE, DISTRIBUTE THIS INFORMATION ABOUT LISA BETWEEN PEOPLE, FUNDS, ORGANIZATIONS; PLACE IT IN SYNAGOGUES.

We shall greatly appreciate ANY DONATION to the Lisa’s rescue fund. IN THE USA tax-deductible donations can be sent to:
Israel Endowment Funds (P.E.F). 317 Madison Avenue, Suite 607, New York, NY 10017 Phone: (212) 599 1260

All checks should be sent endorsed to them, mentioning (at the bottom
of the check) that the donation is dedicated (earmarked) “FOR CYSTIC
FIBROSIS FOUNDATION OF ISRAEL (FOR LISA OSTROVSKY)”. All donations will
be followed by receipts, and ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE USA TAX AUTHORITIES
FOR TAX BENEFITS.

It would be beneficial to inform the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of
Israel [Krinitzy st. 79, Ramat Gan 52423, Israel; Fax: (972) 3 670 2324]
about
your donation to the Lisa’s Rescue Fund by way of P. E. F. P. E. F. will
transfer all such donations wholly to the Lisa’s Rescue Fund in Israel.

IN ISRAEL tax-deductible donations can be sent to: Bank Leumi Le-Israel, Branch “Ahimeir” (no. 628), Account no. 14207/80 (CF
FOUNDATION OF ISRAEL – FUND FOR LISA). Str. Ahimeir 21, Tel Aviv (Ramat Aviv – gimel) 69120. Phone: (972) 3 6414963

WE ARE ASKING YOUR HELP US TO SAVE LISA’S LIFE!

Shalom,
Ilia and Valentina Ostrovsky.


TOMCHEI SHABBOS
323-939-5525
Food deliveries for families in need.


Wedding Choson and Kallah Centerpieces to borrow
818-766-3574


Wedding Clothing for Children
818-763-8755
Wedding dresses to borrow, sizes 8-12