Hi, I'm Gavi Katrikh. I'm a high school student in Los Angeles and a Scout in BSA Troop 360, and this GoFundMe is for my Eagle Scout project: bringing back the stolen plaque at the first Jewish site in Los Angeles.

The history: In 1854, LA's small Jewish community formed the Hebrew Benevolent Society - the first charitable organization in the city. A year later the Society bought three acres in Chavez Ravine from the city council for $1 and made it a sacred burial ground. More than 300 people were laid to rest there. As LA grew around the cemetery, the graves were moved between 1902 and 1910 to the Home of Peace cemetery in East LA, which is still open today. In 1968 the state dedicated the original site as California Historical Landmark #822, "First Jewish Site in Los Angeles," and put up a bronze plaque telling the story.

Sometime between 2020 and 2022, thieves pried that plaque off its stone and stole it, most likely to sell for scrap. Today the marker stands empty on Lilac Terrace, near Dodger Stadium, on land partly used as a fire department training center.

The project: I'm working with the California Landmark Foundation and Hillside Memorial Park to put the plaque back. My Eagle project has two parts:

1. Raise the money for the replacement plaque - quoted at $3,477.58 including tax and shipping, so my goal is $3,500.

2. Organize a volunteer cleanup day at the site, working around the fire department's schedule and rules, so the landmark gets the care it deserves.

One more thing about the new plaque: together with the California Landmark Foundation and Hillside, I chose aluminum instead of bronze. It costs less and keeps the original title and historical text - and bronze is exactly what attracts thieves, so aluminum makes another theft a lot less likely. I'm also looking into more ways to protect the new plaque with the people who manage the site.

The state and the city don't pay to replace stolen landmark plaques - it only happens if people chip in. Every dollar raised here goes to the plaque. If we pass the goal, the extra goes to installation and cleanup supplies.

Thank you for helping bring back this piece of LA history and Jewish history. If you can't give, sharing this page helps just as much.

- Gavi