Lisa Alcalay Klug writes for Jewish Living magazine:
7. Pico-Robertson, Los Angeles
For decades, Jews have congregated near where Pico Boulevard meets Robertson Boulevard in West L.A. Of late, the community has grown exponentially, yet it still gives off the comforting sense that you are among brethren. Clustered within a mile-long strip between Beverly Drive to the west and La Cienega Boulevard to the east are a slew of synagogues, kosher markets, and eateries from fast food to fine dining. There are also Judaica stores, wig and dress shops, countless schools—even, a few blocks farther, the Museum of Tolerance and Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Most shuls are Orthodox, with every variation represented from Persian Chabad to the Carlebachian Happy Minyan, which meets in a Jewish-owned karate dojo. There are both old-school frum-from-birthers and a growing wave of ba’alei tshuva, newly observant returners to the faith who congregate at Aish HaTorah and several Modern Orthodox shuls. Housing is relatively expensive: Glamorous Beverly Hills starts one block north, and Beverlywood, an equally exclusive area, begins several blocks south; in between are “modest million-dollar homes,” small in size but big in price, as well as apartments popular with singles and young families.
- At-a-Glance Essentials:
- Epicenter: Roughly the intersection of Pico and Robertson boulevards.
- Downside: Pico is a somewhat unsightly boulevard that becomes highly congested during peak hours. Smart shoppers avoid the pre-Shabbat rush.
- Contacts:
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles (www.jewishla.org)
L.A. Jewish Guide (www.lajewishguide.com) - More: Click here (PDF) for further information on this neighborhood.
