For more information, please contact Campaign Coordinator Lauren Shorten at (323) 761-8306 or LShorten@JewishLA.org.
We look forward to seeing you on February 20th!
A donation to JFEDLA’s 2025 Annual Campaign is required to attend.
$5,000 minimum gift for Lion of Judah
Rochelle Cohen* is the recipient of the Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy Leah Rabin Award, an honor bestowed upon a Lion of Judah who exemplifies outstanding leadership in Women’s Philanthropy and the broader community. For nearly 40 years, Rochelle has passionately championed JFEDLA, inspiring countless others to join her in advancing its mission.
Her Federation leadership roles have included serving as Valley Alliance Women’s Department Campaign Chair, Valley Alliance Women’s Department President, Valley Alliance Campaign Chair, Valley Alliance Chair, JFEDLA Vice Chair, JFEDLA General Campaign Chair, and Chair of Strategic Planning and Distribution.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Rochelle lived in Israel for three years, becoming fluent in Hebrew and working in marketing in both Israel and the United States. While raising her three children, she embarked on an impactful volunteer career, contributing to organizations such as Adat Ari El Early Childhood Center and Day School. She is also an Honorary Life Trustee of Camp Ramah in California and a graduate of the Heritage Foundation program.
Rochelle’s decades of leadership have earned her numerous accolades, including the Juliette Award, Valley Alliance Women’s Campaign Award, Rita Reznikoff Award, Ruby Award, and Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award.
In her free time, Rochelle enjoys boating, wave running, reading, solving puzzles, and cherishing moments with her grandchildren.
Sue Meltzer* claims she decided to become involved in the Jewish community when she turned 30. That was the year she joined the board of Women’s Guild Cedars-Sinai and participated in the Federation’s two-year leadership program. Sue went on to wear many hats at Jewish Federation Los Angeles, including serving on the Federation board and as Chair of Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy for the 2007-2008 term. She also chaired both the Leadership Division and Major Gifts. In 2014, Sue received the Lion of Judah Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award, given for the highest standards in philanthropy and volunteerism.
Sue also served as a trustee for the Southern California Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society for 15 years and was a director of the National MS Board for four years. In 2000, Sue was inducted into the MS Volunteer National Hall of Fame, and she received several awards for most valuable trustee of the Southern California Chapter. She also served on the Jewish Family Service board and the board of LACMA’s Art Museum Council. Today, Sue is an active member of Women Inspiring Next Generation (WIN), the Library Foundation, and a new member of Blue Ribbon. She has also been very active in Leo Baeck Temple, twice serving on the board and its Executive Committee. She currently serves on its Caring Community.
Sue has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English, a Master of Science in Elementary Curriculum, and an Administrative Certificate from USC. She established a career as a teacher, a curriculum assistant, and principal of two elementary schools, as well as the manager of Education Programs for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, a program she was hired to start in 1983. She retired in 1995. Sue married Ed Meltzer in 1990. He played gin (and a little bit of tennis), while she volunteered, played tennis and golf, practiced calligraphy and papercutting, and they both traveled the world together. They enjoyed a wonderful life for 33 years until he passed away in 2023.
Liz Hirsh Naftali is the great-aunt of Abigail Mor Edan, a three-year-old who was held hostage in Gaza for 51 days. Abigail was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, from her community, Kfar Aza, after her parents were both murdered in front of her by Hamas terrorists.
In the wake of that attack, Liz became a fervent advocate working for the release of the hostages. Even after Abigail’s release on November 26, 2023, Liz remains dedicated to working for all those who remain in captivity in Gaza.
Liz is a businesswoman and the host and creator of The Capitol Coffee Connection podcast, a platform where she invites prominent, diverse leaders to talk about the common thread that binds us all together — our shared experiences, stories, and the very essence of our heart and humanity — leaving out politics and policy. In recent weeks, she launched the book Saving Abigail: The True Story of the Abduction and Rescue of a Three-Year-Old Hostage.
Liz was raised in Los Angeles, where tzedakah and tikkun olam were an important part of her upbringing. Her father, Stanley Hirsh, was the publisher of the Jewish Journal, president of Jewish Federation Los Angeles, and chairman of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. Her mother, Anita Hirsh, was a leader in the Soviet Jewry movement and Jewish Family Service LA. Liz is the mother of five children and has lived between Israel and the U.S. since 1992.
Julie Platt* is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and is immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors of Jewish Federation Los Angeles and immediate past Chair of the Foundation for Jewish Camp.
Prior to serving as Board Chair at Jewish Federation Los Angeles, Ms. Platt served as their General Campaign Chair, Chair of their Ensuring the Jewish Future Strategic Initiative, and Chair of the Federation’s Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy.
She was honored with the Ruby Award for her commitment to leadership and community service, presented by Women’s Philanthropy. Ms. Platt’s lifelong connection with the Jewish community began at Camp Ramah in Ojai, and today she is a driving force behind shining a bright light on the transformative impact of a Jewish camp experience and raising funds for the field.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Platt serves on the Board of Trustees as well as Penn Hillel's National Board of Governors.
*Forever Lion
Forever Lions are those generous women who endow their Lion of Judah gift in perpetuity, most typically in their estate planning documents.
