This past weekend, for the first time since 2019, ADL Los Angeles hosted its annual Gala Celebration in person, honoring Faith Cookler at Stephen Wise Temple’s award-winning Katz Family Pavilion. Among the over 450 in attendance were Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Cookler was presented with the Deborah Award for her tireless service to ADL’s causes both locally and nationally. Cookler, a former ADL Regional Board President, served as the National Development Vice President and Los Angeles National Committee Meeting Chair, and now serves as a Trustee of the ADL Foundation. She has participated in multiple ADL missions to Israel, Jordan, Europe, Russia, South America, and China, and started the Asian-Jewish Initiative Los Angeles.
Hosted by Janina Gavankar of ABC’s Big Sky, the evening featured a musical performance by Danielle Finn, a top-24 finisher on American Idol. Utilizing the award-winning Katz Family Pavilion and the adjacent Nahmias Plaza and Shalom Garden, ADL Los Angeles was able to raise over $1.1 million to further its mission to fight hate.
About Katz Family Pavilion: A majestic, angular roofline pointing towards Jerusalem and four bi-fold glass doors create a dramatic centerpiece for the Wise campus. It has won seven design and architecture awards since its construction, most recently the Merit Award from the Southern California Developmental Forum and the Award for Excellence in Design from the American Institute of Architects-Los Angeles. It regularly plays host to events ranging from bar and bat mitzvahs to gala celebrations.
Shalom Garden features sweeping arc-shaped benches lined with olive trees and Jerusalem Stone dedication pavers. This beautiful space is used as a meditative area for reflection, gathering, and worship, and can seat up to 250 guests.
