DEAR WEHO: Destroying our synagogue is a win for anti-Semites

Dear Sir,

I am an artist and film maker who has lived in WeHo with my family since 1980.

I come from a family of Nazi fighters. Four of my anti-racist and anti-Fascist films are archived at Yad Vashem and many other international archives.

Last Thursday there was a Planning Commission public hearing and commotion in Weho about an approved “development” that had taken many Jewish Weho residents and others by surprise. The synagogue on Crescent Heights and Fountain Avenue will be demolished to make way for a mundane apartment complex and pool.

I commented in public that the pool will be filled with the tears of Jews. This didn’t go well with development representatives who aggressively shouted in my face.

But it was OK with the 100-year-old and 96-year-old Auschwitz survivors who publicly implored the unmoved Weho Planning Commission to save this historic art deco synagogue created by prominent Jewish people like Max Factor, Edward G. Robinson and the Warner Brothers.

This was a very sad day. As Mark Twain said “History does repeat itself but it rhymes.”

Destroying synagogues is not a good look for West Hollywood although it will be celebrated by anti-semites and racists. However some residents considered it an outrage.

The 96 year old lady survivor shouted repeatedly: This is not a shame, this is a crime.

Philippe Mora,
West Hollywood

5 3 votes
Article Rating

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

35 Comments
Newest
Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Joe
Joe
3 months ago

This will make Chelsea Byers and her supporters happy. If you see her push back and let her know how you feel.

Compass
Compass
3 months ago
Reply to  Joe

Ms. Byers vote on the upcoming appeal should be interesting as to in which direction her compass is pointed.

J Cross
J Cross
4 months ago

It is now the time to stop all the antisemite talk and start talking about antichristite

Enlightenment
Enlightenment
4 months ago

We all travel the path of Tao. The donkeys used in the climb represent different doctrines each of us embrace. It should not matter which doctrine as long as it leads us to the summit.Your donkey may be a Zen donkey, mine might be a Tao donkey.There are Christian, Islamic, Jewish and even Agnostic donkeys, all leading to the same place. Putting aside both the donkeys and our interim experiences once we arrive at the summit is helpful. Whether we climbed in suffering or joy is immaterial, we are there. All religions have different names for the ways of getting… Read more »

Stephanie Harker
Stephanie Harker
4 months ago

History. Save what can be saved.

6BB825CA-3459-4B27-8602-E532A102C219.jpeg
Stephanie Harker
Stephanie Harker
4 months ago

It would be a shame…

3308CD8D-166D-4389-8D41-D81FFC86E505.jpeg
And so it goes.
And so it goes.
4 months ago

Thanks Stephanie for sharing these. Way too much ignorance about culture and architecture in the supposedly evolved city. The ethical ignorance is almost unthinkable

08MELLIE
08MELLIE
4 months ago

Hey, Is there a way we can conduct a physical protest? I am Jewish, and this is not right. Neither any church or mosque? How can we get a protest group?

Stephanie Harker
Stephanie Harker
4 months ago
Reply to  08MELLIE

Yes. Physical protests make a great impact. Picket signs and LOTS of people always make a good visual impact. Organize the neighbors and the congregation. Take to the streets. Call the press. They could be interested seeing as the Temple was founded by Hollywood Jewish heavyweights.

ABBBE597-E797-4817-8D5D-D8B9AACDAB75.jpeg
at's Really Going On?
at's Really Going On?
4 months ago

The Planning Commission, City Staff and City attorney violated their own ordinance. HaHa, such competence.

CHLOE ROSS
CHLOE ROSS
4 months ago

Re: Temple Beth El. When did this change and how in fact did the Iranians OUST, the Ashkenazis or did they simply move to another locations on their own? “In 1998 the building was sold to the Iranian Jewish Federation. An unusual arrangement was made between the new Iranian constituency and the former congregation: they would use the building together. The two congregations, one Askenazic and the other Persian hold services in the main sanctuary and in the more intimate domed chapel. Hollywood Temple Beth El is now working to forge alliances with new organizations to once again make this… Read more »

CHLOE ROSS
CHLOE ROSS
4 months ago

In the past few weeks, what seemed to be simply a bad decision about demolition of property has become a “cause celebre” and I am still out of touch with the nuts and bolts facts of the matter. Answers? 1. How and when did the “Iranians” wrest control of the property and evict the “Ashkenazi” from the shul? That appears to pop up in the matter without explanation. FYI: My only interaction with the “Iranians” was with a noise complaint from nearby residents, about 5-7 years ago, that I questioned at a CC meeting. 2. Can anyone go back to… Read more »

The Answer Man
The Answer Man
4 months ago
Reply to  CHLOE ROSS

TEMPLE BETH EL Temple to the Stars, available via google. Several articles about founders etc. 1, 2, 3: No one was evicted. Both congregations diminishing, one purely by age and the other because they moved out of WH and wanted fancier digs. 4. The city violated its own municipal code in not recognizing the proper path of current and/or potential landmark. 5.No lawsuits please, just do the right thing and follow the law. An appeal of the PC decision is the correct path and if the city doesn’t oblige they will likely be sued. 6.The Persian congregation wants to be… Read more »

Edie
Edie
4 months ago

The two churches on Fountain and Fairfax are probably the next targets for developers. Tear down faith…. build expensive, albeit cheaply built housing.

08MELLIE
08MELLIE
4 months ago
Reply to  Edie

Yep! The G_dless society that is California! Thanks Chelsea Byers.

Joel Peel
Joel Peel
4 months ago

I thoroughly agree with your points; and the louder the “development representatives” scorn your words, the Truer your words become.

Koweho
Koweho
4 months ago

Why are you directing this at the city planning commission and not Iranian American Jewish Council/Iranian American Jewish Federation. They own it and are selling for devleopment. The city planning commission only weighs in on the proposed future project. Your anger needs to be redirected.

Violation
Violation
4 months ago
Reply to  Koweho

The Planning Commission violated their own Ordinance regarding Review Authority on historic sites or those potentially historic sites/cultural resources. They had two formal opportunities to do so at the hearing and several inquiries to the Planning Department.

35
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x