1909
Sinai Temple opens up shop in downtown Los Angeles
ignoring all the new bridges across the river to Boyle Heights
The people eventually take surface streets West
1914
Hollywood is declared a Jewish Empire when
Cecil B DeMille, Sam Goldwyn and Jesse Lasky release their film
The Squaw Man, a “six reeler”, arguably our town’s first blockbuster
1917
Grand Central Market opens with six sephardic Jewish tenants
Hardly anyone keep kosher there now but Wexler’s deli keeps a perpetual supply
of bagels and smoked fish on hand for anyone feeling nostalgic
1923
The famous Breed Street Shul, which wasn’t famous yet,
opens it’s doors in Boyle Heights.
1925
Not to be tricked into crossing the L.A. River Sinai Temple heads slightly west
and opens it’s second set of doors at at New Hampshire and 4th Street
We’d sit there until 1956. But I’m getting ahead of myself
1927
I.M. Hatten who came to Los Angeles with fifty cents in his pocket
A Jewish immigrant from Constantantinople, a city we call something else now,
opens the world’s first super market. This is why I feel entitled whenever I walk into a Ralph’s.
1927
The Sephardic Brotherhood was founded.
There is no mention of the Sephardic Sisterhood.
1929
The Stock market crashes.
I blame the lack of a Sephardic Sisterhood.
1932
The first Los Angeles Sephardic Temple is built on Santa Barbara Avenue at La Salle
Although the people eventually headed west, the building is still there
If you want to see it for yourself, go, we’ll wait for you.
1934
The Los Angeles Jewish Community continues to grow
We begin to hear news of the German Jewish community, as they begin to shrink
1940
We’re making all the movies.
We’re heading west until the ocean tells us to stop
We’re two years before Pearl Harbor
We’re so lucky to be on this side of the river.