Anne Bernstein, matriarch of one of the founding families of the Los Angeles Orthodox community, died on June 17. She was 105.
Together with her husband, William, they were early founders and supporters of Los Angeles 91传媒 day schools, Zionist summer camps, several synagogues and religious Zionist organizations.听
Known universally as Bobie (grandmother), Anne presided over elegant events at the family鈥檚 iconic Mediterranean mansion in Hancock Park, hosting luaus, dances, parlor meetings and lectures. She wore her long brunette locks in a signature updo that added at least 6 inches to her height, and she baked and prepared much of the food for her events on her own. Around her Shabbat table, generations of friends and family were treated to her unfiltered wisdom and opinions, delivered with a combination of humor and grace.
Born April 1, 1915, in Vilna, Lithuania, Anne was the oldest of Rabbi Herschel and Sara Leah Pennes鈥� four children. The family immigrated to Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1924 and then moved to Pittsburgh. During the Depression, Anne worked at hosiery shop in Pittsburgh, where she also designed hats. Later in life, she understood that her father鈥檚 decision to move to the United States saved them from the Holocaust. Growing up in the Depression, she also understood want, and used that knowledge in her philanthropic efforts. In addition to supporting institutions, she always had a small roster of families she quietly provided for.
She met her husband, Willie, in Pittsburgh when they were 12. They married in 1938. He received a World War II medical exemption due to his asthma and doctors advised him to relocate to a warmer climate. The Bernsteins then moved to West Adams in Los Angeles with their baby daughter, Michele, in 1943.
Willie built his business by peddling items out of the trunk of his car, which eventually grew to become the industry-leading Federal Wholesale Toy Company, while Anne cared for their growing family. Together, they focused on creating institutions to serve the Los Angeles 91传媒 community.
They founded the California Hebrew Academy at B鈥檔ai Rubin in the late 1940s 鈥� one of Los Angeles鈥� first Orthodox day schools. The school evolved into L.A. Hebrew Junior High, which served as the foundation for Rambam high school, the precursor to today鈥檚 YULA High School, all of which the Bernsteins helped found and support. Anne was PTA president at Rambam and many of the other schools where her children were educated.
The Bernsteins also were supporters of Mizrachi, a religious Zionist organization, and Anne was active in Amit, Mizrachai鈥檚 women鈥檚 branch. The Bernsteins helped open Bnei Akiva鈥檚 Camp Moshava on the West Coast in the 1950s, and emissaries from Israel regularly stayed in their home. They were members of Agudath Achim in West Adams, and then, when they moved to the Fairfax area in the early 1950s, of Rodef Shalom, which merged to become Temple Judea. Their daughter and several grandchildren are now members of B鈥檔ai David-Judea Congregation, the successor to Temple Judea. When the Bernsteins and their four children moved to Hancock Park in 1964 鈥� one of the first Orthodox families in the now heavily 91传媒 area 鈥� they joined Congregation Shaarei Tefila, where Willie was president and Anne was a leader. 听
A prodigious reader who always kept up with the news, Anne visited Israel more than 40 times. She built and nurtured relationships with all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of whom live in Israel.
Anne continued her hosting and philanthropic work after Willie died in 1991, particularly with Amit, which works to educate Israel鈥檚 disadvantaged children. She was honored by Shalhevet High School when she celebrated her 100th birthday in 2015.听
She is survived by her children, Michele Harlow, Jacqui Fishman, Nini (Leslie) Mendelsohn and Eddie (Denise) Bernstein; 10 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and her brother, Robert Pennes.
Julie Gruenbaum Fax is a Los Angeles-based writer.
