Luke Ford

Rabbi Steve Leder stands inside the sanctuary of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. The temple, which seats 1,800 people, was built in 1929. It has begun a multimillion-dollar expansion and renovation that symbolizes the reversal of the Jewish exodus from the eastern part of the city. More photos >>>

The landmark Wilshire Boulevard Temple, the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles and one associated with the men who invented the motion picture industry, has begun a multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion that symbolizes the reversal of the Jewish exodus from the eastern part of the city.

Senior Rabbi Steven Leder said he didn’t know how much the project will cost because the details are evolving. But the Reform temple already has spent $20 million buying the five pieces of land it didn’t own on the block that runs from 6th Street to Wilshire Boulevard and Hobart to Harvard boulevards in Koreatown. It expects to spend an additional $30 million renovating its sanctuary — and that is just a piece of the project.