IKAR’s mission is to reanimate Jewish life and develop a spiritual and moral foundation for a just and equitable society. The IKAR Center will be a permanent, central place for all of IKAR’s activities and work, bringing together our prayer space, religious school, ECC, event space, and offices.

IKAR has become one of the most vibrant and influential Jewish communities in the country, with over 1,300 member families and a global audience in the tens of thousands. 

For nearly two decades, IKAR has thrived in a series of temporary spaces, but to provide for the growing needs of our community, to educate our children, and to more fully live our values, we need a true sanctuary. 

That is why IKAR has embarked on a transformational journey to build a permanent home for our community and our spiritual work.

Capital Campaign Co-Chairs: Lorne Buchman, Sophie Pritzker, Sarah Wick

Building Campaign Co-Chairs: Eric Beckman and Ethan Goldstine

Board Chair and Vice Board Chair: Jeremy Rosenthal and Marta Kauffman

Professional Staff:
Nikky Schulman – Capital Campaign Senior Director
Elad Dvash-Banks – Chief Advancement Officer
Melissa Balaban – CEO + Founder
Rabbi Sharon Brous – Senior Rabbi + Founder

The IKAR Center is being designed by Barbara Bestor and her incredible team at Bestor Architecture. A visionary architect with an international reputation, Bestor has designed a number of award-winning projects including headquarters for Beats by Dre and Intelligentsia Coffee, Blackbirds, a groundbreaking new typology for dense housing in Echo Park, and a variety of experimental residences and commercial establishments. Her varied, creative, and aesthetically progressive body of work expands the territory of architecture into atmospheric urbanism.

The Esther Minyan is a dedicated group of early supporters whose generosity and leadership have laid the foundation for the IKAR Center Capital Campaign. Named in honor of Queen Esther’s courage and resilience, these donors have committed significant resources to ensure IKAR’s vision becomes a reality in the early stages of the campaign. Their contributions provide critical early funding that enables planning, development, and construction to move forward with confidence.

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Lauren and Aaron Applebaum
Amy Povich-Agus and David Agus
Alissa Bachner
Barbara Balaban
Melissa Balaban and Adam Wergeles
Canard and Jennifer Barnes
Eric and Jaynee Beckman
Phyllis Beim and Sandy z”l Beim
Prof. Sarah Benor and Dr. Mark Benor
Arlene Bernstein
Celia Bernstein
Dr. Mayim Bialik
Shifra Bronznick
Rick z”l, Marcia, Dev, R’ Sharon, Michael Brous & families
Steven Byrnes and James Mandelbaum
Mark Borman and Karen Hermelin
Aaron Caplan
Craig and Lisa Cooper
Thierry Déau
Sarah and Michael Ellenberg
R’ Anthony Elman and Miryam Elman Glazer
Tracy Escobedo
Linda Essakow
Linda and Lorin Fife
Lucy Fisher and Doug Wick
Byron and Shirley Frank
Ember and Dayna Frank
Bernard Friedman
Lisa Friedman
In Memory of Duane B. Gainsburg
Marissa and Kwasi Gee
David E. Goldberg
Sarah Goldfinger
Stanley and Ilene Gold
Doris and Jeffery Goldstein
Ethan Goldstine and Lirona Kadosh
Abner z”l and Roz Goldstine
Daniel N. Greenbaum
Eric Greene
Richard z”l and Lois Gunther
Monty Hall Trust
Andrew Hauptman and Ellen Bronfman Hauptman
Nina Havivi
Sean Hecht and Rebecca Weiker
Julie Hermelin
Uri and Myna Herscher
Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali
Karen and Jeff Hogan
Ada and Jim Horwich
Marlene and Barry Horwitz
Erik Hyman and Max Mutchnick
Daniel A. Inlender
Congresswoman Sidney Kamlager-Dove
Marta Kauffman
Todd E. Kessler and Sharon Hall
Steven Klein and Dr. Kristine Penner Klein
Kathy Kobayashi and Hal Barron
Blair and David Kohan
Fred Kramer and Michaela Watkins
Eric Kranzler
Mark and Kristie Krieger
Lee and Luis Lainer Family Foundation
Tamar Laks and Jay Silverstein
Jennifer Leevan and Jeremy Davidson
Sheila and Aaron Leibovic
Michal Lemberger
Paulette Light and Jeff Rake
Marty Longbine and Jeff Ayeroff
Jon Lovett and Ari Schwartz
Rosa Lowinger and Todd Kessler
Sharon C. McCauley
Vaughan and Nick Meyer
Staci and Adam Miller
Joel and Joanne Mogy
Julia Moss and Sean Thibault
Prof. David Myers and Prof. Nomi Stolzenberg
David and Andrea z”l Nevins
Christopher L. Noxon
Sophie and Adam Pritzker
John Pritzker
Rebecca Raphael and Eric Feuerstein
Dr. Alisa and Peter Reich
Richard Resnik
Hannah Roth
Georgina and Alan Rothenberg
Jeremy and Gwen Rosenthal
Michelle Rosenthal and Isaac Klausner
Shari and Shep Rosenman
Erin and Steve Rottman
Elizabeth and R’ David Saiger
Richard and Ellen Sandler
Noah Schechter and Kirie Stromberg
Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug and Steve Getzug
Lois and R’ Leonard Sharzer
Abby Sher
The Carl and Toby Sloane Family Foundation
Dr. Lori E. Silver
Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw
Sarah Pillsbury
Jo Pitesky
John Pritzker
Lisa Stone Pritzker Foundation
Sophie and Adam Pritzker
Sarah Timberman and Ed Redlich
Sam Teller
Karl Thurmond
Jon Turteltaub and Amy Eldon Turteltaub
Jody Uttal & Jeff Gold
Sarah Vanek and Brian Albert
Paul and Sherri z”l Verger
Rachel Waranch and Jason Feuerstein
David Weinberg and Gary Ventimiglia
Allie and Jeremy Weinstein
Adam and Christy Weissman
Wells Fargo Foundation
Sarah Wick and Robert Padnick
R’ Barbara Zacky

What is the goal of the IKAR Center Capital Campaign?
We are building a permanent physical home for the IKAR community in the heart of one of the most diverse cities in the world. The Center will be a laboratory for Jewish life and learning, and a hub of spiritual, cultural, and justice endeavors and a space for Shabbat and holiday services.

Where will the new IKAR Center be located?
The new IKAR Center will be built at 1737 S La Cienega Blvd, in the heart of Los Angeles.

How much do we need to raise and how much has been raised so far?
Our goal is to raise $75 million—including $65 million for the land acquisition and construction and $10 million to seed an endowment for ongoing operations.

As of September 2025, we have raised $61,000,000 toward the campaign goal.

Who is designing the building?

What will the new IKAR Center include?

  • Sacred assembly space
  • Café and multi-faith library
  • Event and gathering space
  • Early Childhood Center for up to 80 children (infants through pre-schoolers)
  • Limudim (religious school) classrooms for kids ages 5–13
  • Art studio and music lab
  • Commercial-sized kitchen
  • Rabbinic and administrative offices

How big will the new facility be?

  • Indoor space: approximately 35,000 sq. ft.
  • Outdoor space: approximately 11,000 sq. ft.

The IKAR Center will be able to accommodate 2,500-3,000 people on campus during our busiest times, such as the High Holy Days.

What’s the timeline for the project?

  • Groundbreaking: Planned for Spring 2027
  • Construction: Estimated 2 years
  • Opening: Summer 2029

What about affordable housing?
IKAR is committed to including at least 50 units of affordable housing, located adjacent to but separate from the IKAR Center.

  • This portion will be funded and operated by our housing partner, not through IKAR’s capital campaign.
  • Capital Campaign funds will be used solely for the IKAR Center.
  • All operations, management, and maintenance of the housing will be handled by the partner and their management team.

Who is the lead donor?
Marta Kauffman has graciously made a $25 million pledge—the largest in IKAR’s history—as part of the IKAR Center Capital Campaign to fund the construction of the new Center. Marta currently serves as Vice Chair of IKAR’s Board of Directors and is a deeply committed leader and ambassador for our mission and work. Marta is dedicating her extraordinary gift to her beloved parents, Dorothy and Herman Kauffman, whose values and love helped shape her deep commitment to community, justice, and Jewish life. To learn more about Marta and her transformational gift, please click here.

We are currently engaging lead donors to propel the campaign. For more information or to discuss how you can support the IKAR Center, please contact:

Nikky Schulman
Senior Director, Capital Campaign
[email protected]
323-250-0015