Helen Klein
Helen Klein has lived in multiple places during her life, including various European countries, a handful of cities on the east coast of the United States, and, most recently, Los Angeles. Helen was raised in present-day Hungary during a time in which Jewish children were separated from non-Jewish children at school; she was also placed in a concentration camp during World War II. From a young age, Klein experienced unimaginable hardships due to her Jewish background. The prejudice and hateful acts that she underwent in Europe contrast with her ability to make a living and freely practice her religion in the United States. She spent the next part of her, mainly in Philadelphia, life raising a family and being active in Jewish organizations with her husband.
In 2010, Helen and Isadore moved to Los Angeles from the east coast to live with their son; they settled in the Fairfax neighborhood. Helen almost immediately became involved with Jewish community organizations such as Cafe Europa and the Freda Mohr Center. The Fairfax neighborhood has benefitted Helen Klein; she is happy to live in a place that accepts her for who she is. Reflecting upon the neighborhood, Klein noted “Here you can be any religion you are and still walk down the streets. It’s a wonderful place.” Fairfax continues to be a welcoming place for Jewish people and has developed into a diverse cultural community in the Los Angeles area.