2011-2012 Annual Report - Sinai Akiba Academy

Sinai Akiba Academy 

2011/2012 Annual Donor Report 

Light the future. Lead the way.

Mission Statement 

Sinai Akiba Academy offers an outstanding general and Judaic 

education that develops the mind, heart and soul. We engage students 

in the joy and discipline of learning, introducing students to a life of 

personal growth, sensitivity, responsibility and intellectual inquiry, 

shaped by Jewish practices and informed by a respect for diversity 

of thought. 

Table of Contents 

A Message from Dr. Shulkind 1 

A Message from Rabbi Wolpe 1 

SAA Committee Report 2 

Development Report 3 

Annual Giving Campaign 4 

Current Parent Donors 4 

Grandparent Donors 6 

Friends, Faculty and Staff 6 

Alumni Parent Donors 7 

Alumni Donors 7 

Annual Event Donors 8 

Auction Donors 11 

Endowments & Special Funds 12 

Committees & Sub-Committees 13 

PTA 14

A Message from the Head of School 

One of my earliest and most powerful observations of this 

community is the tremendous commitment, investment, and 

leadership of the parent body. Your distinguishing quality, in the 

short time that I have known you, is your willingness to give of 

yourself and your resources. 

Watching this community in action, I think of Marion Wright 

Edelman, the President of the Children’s Defense Fund and her 

poem entitled, “I care and I am willing to serve.” She declares, “I 

cannot preach like Martin Luther King, Jr. or turn a poetic phrase 

like Maya Angelou, but I care and am willing to serve. I do not 

have Harriet Tubman’s courage or Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s 

political skills, but I care and am willing to serve.” Edelman 

continues her poem juxtaposing the unreachable standards of 

the renown with the rhythmic, steadfast repetition of her call 

to action: “I care and I am willing to serve.” As we know, in our 

tradition the word hineni expresses this willingness. 

Children watch, learn, and imitate everything around them. If 

we want to raise a generation that says, “hineni,” a generation 

committed to the Jewish community, a generation in which giving 

and leading are valued, then there is no surer way to achieve 

this result than with your contributions to Sinai Akiba. There is a 

commentary from Etz Chaim, which reads, “The public performance 

of a mitzvah not only benefits the one who does it, but has an 

effect on those who see it.” Your children see you, and they 

understand your commitment to Sinai Akiba. 

Although I am just getting to know you, I see that this is a 

community that cares and is willing to serve. On behalf of Sinai 

Akiba’s current and future students, thank you for investing in our 

most precious resource—our children. 

Sarah B. Shulkind, Ed. D. 

Head of School 

A Message from Rabbi Wolpe 

Kol Hatchalot Kashot—all beginnings are difficult, say the 

Rabbis. Why is“beginnings” plural Because every beginning 

comprises many starts. A new year brings changes in our children, 

in ourselves, in the school, in the world. And things that are 

worthwhile are always difficult—but also exciting and promising 

and wondrous. 

These are times of change for our synagogue and school. A 

new Head of School, a new Senior Cantor, and a renewed spirit of 

passion and dedication to our mission. We are proud to be part 

of the same complex of lifelong Jewish learning—with a school, 

a synagogue, a long and diverse heritage and history. We work 

together to create something precious—young Jews imbued with 

their tradition and secure with their place in the world. 

We feel honored that you have entrusted your children’s 

education to us. We feel confident that we can give them the 

central message of Torah —that each human being is in God’s 

image and that each of us is charged with the task of helping to 

heal God’s world. Welcome to the ancient mission of the eternal 

people. Welcome to our new school year. 

Rabbi David Wolpe 

Sinai Temple 

1

SAA Committee Report 

A Message From Our Chair 

The 2011–12 school year served quite literally as a bridge to 

the future, as Rabbi Scheindlin’s tenure drew to a close and we 

convened to select and transition to our new Head of School, Dr. 

Sarah Shulkind. The search process yielded some unexpected 

dividends, serving as it did to unite the community in common 

purpose and a sacred task. The teachers, parents, students, 

administrators and board members who participated directly in 

the candidate evaluation process approached their work with 

complete focus and an intuitive understanding of our mission. 

Numerous others who followed the search with great interest 

posed thoughtful and provocative questions to us all along the 

way, ensuring the most robust process imaginable. The collective 

thoughtfulness and raw passion of all the constituents was 

truly inspiring, and reinforced to me that despite the inevitable 

enrollment and financial assistance challenges we face — and 

the diversity of opinions and cultural customs that alternately 

amuse and rattle us day to day — our community is strong and 

bonded. I am particularly grateful to the members of the Head of 

School Search Committee led by Jeff Wolman and the members 

of the SAA Committee for the countless hours they spent working 

on the search. Our dedicated sub-committee chairs — Gary 

Lainer (Budget); Andrei Iancu (Development); Cici Halegua (PTA); 

Eric Swanson (Education); Rita Rodef (Recruitment); and Randy 

Schoenberg (Endowment); kept the work of the SAA Committee 

moving forward and upward. I also want to acknowledge the hard 

work and support of our partners in lay leadership on the temple 

board, Eric Diamond (temple President) and Leslie Wachtel (VP 

Education), and Rabbi Wolpe for sharing his time and his unique 

insights with us as we endeavored to find the right successor to 

Rabbi Scheindlin. Finally, I want to thank each and every one of you 

who participated in the year-long celebration of Rabbi Scheindlin. 

Your expressions of gratitude ranged from grand and public at the 

annual event to the individual and private ones delivered personally 

as many of you stopped by his office to reminisce, ask him about 

his plans, say good-bye, and offer a kol tov. Rabbi Scheindlin 

is fond of a Midrash which teaches that it is a mitzvah to give 

another person the opportunity to give, and he often cites this in 

conjunction with explaining that neuroscience has confirmed that 

giving a gift and expressing gratitude activates a more pleasurable 

response in the giver than the recipient. Without a doubt, our 

community was uplifted by the undertaking of saying goodbye and 

thank you to him. Hence, Rabbi Scheindlin’s parting lesson, and 

perhaps his most enduring gift to us; the good feelings we gleaned 

from celebrating him are ours to retain even as he moves on. 

Yasher Koach and todah rabbah to all of you for a wonderful and 

heartwarming year. 

Lora Silverman, SAA Committee Chair 

2

Development Report 

Our development program continued to thrive this past year with 

revenue of over $1 million being raised for the second year in 

a row! The development committee focused this year on the 

Annual Giving Campaign, the Annual Event and Auction honoring 

Rabbi Scheindlin, and the launch of the school’s first endowment 

campaign Generations LA. Each program enjoyed much success 

and support. 

The Annual Giving Campaign, the foundation of our development 

program, supplements the school’s operating budget and ensures 

that SAA will remain the standard-bearer for excellence in 

education. We are proud that 93% of all SAA parents donated 

to the campaign, in addition to many members of the larger Sinai 

community. The Annual Event and Auction enjoyed a record turnout 

with many alumni parents and community leaders joining our 

current parents to pay tribute to Rabbi Scheindlin and to thank him 

for his 35 years of leadership. Proceeds from the evening launched 

the Generations LA Endowment Campaign, part of a national 

program being sponsored by the Builders of Jewish Education 

(BJE), the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) 

and the AVI CHAI Foundation. The Generations program assists 

day schools in building endowment funds in order to ensure their 

long-term sustainability for future generations. 

To all of the donors listed in this report, thank you for your 

unwavering commitment to Sinai Akiba. Your contributions provide 

the additional resources that make Sinai Akiba the leader in 

day school education. Your generosity also makes a day school 

education a reality for many of our families during these challenging 

economic times. Your continued investment in our students is an 

investment in the Jewish future. 

To all the volunteers, and especially the chairs of our various 

programs, our heartfelt thanks for your dedication and tireless 

efforts on behalf of the school. The results of your efforts are 

shown in the 2011–12 Fundraising Summary. 

Sincerely, 

Andrei Iancu, Development Committee Chair 

Janet Rosenblum, Development Director 

2011–12 

Fundraising Summary* 

Annual Giving Campaign $388,471 

Annual Event and Auction (net) $281,236 

Fund A Need–SAA Wish List $23,750 

PTA Fundraising 

(Holiday Boutique, Book Fair, and Mishloach Manot) $28,000 

Tuition Assistance Grants $133,834 

Restricted Contributions $28,556 

Generations LA Endowment Campaign $250,000 

Misc. Contributions $5,991 

Total 2011–12 Fundraising $1,139,838 

*unaudited 

Annual Giving 

Class Participation by Grade Level 

Gesher 75% 

Kindergarten 87% 

1st Grade 89% 

2nd Grade 96% 

3rd Grade 87% 

4th Grade 95% 

5th Grade 89% 

6th Grade 96% 

7th Grade 89% 

8th Grade 93% 

3

Annual Giving Campaign 

Current Parent Donors 

The Annual Giving Campaign, the heart and soul of 

our development program, supplements our operating 

budget from year to year and enriches the educational 

experience for our students. Under the leadership of 

our fabulous chairs and grade level representatives, 

the 2011–12 campaign raised a total of $388,471 and 

enjoyed 93% parent participation! It is with immense 

gratitude that we recognize all of our donors for their 

generous contributions and support of Sinai Akiba. 

Chozim/Visionaries 

$18,000 or more 

Julie and Marc Platt 

Allison and Bennett Rosenthal 

Pamela L. and 

E. Randol Schoenberg 

Gabbaim/Leaders 

$10,000–$14,999 

Daphna and Dr. Pejman Salimpour 

Maskalim/Scholars 

$5,000–$9,999 

Abigail Goldman and 

Jonathan Anschell 

Tanaz and Farshad Asherian 

Elliot Brown 

Elenor and Arman Gabay 

Dr. Luiza and Andrei Iancu 

Rebecca and David Kekst 

Dr. Lisa and Gary Lainer 

Sharon and Amos Meron 

Veronica and Steve Nessim 

Karen Samuels 

Jana and Perry Wallack 

Mindy and David Weiner 

4 

Development Chair 

Andrei Iancu 

Campaign Chairs 


Ellie and Fred Pourbaba 

Delilah and Mark Urman 

Gesher 

Regina Richter 

Jessica Wacht 

Kindergarten 

Parham Farahnik 

Mahshid Feizbakhsh 

Ellie Khorsandi 

1st Grade 

Rona Cosgrove 

Abigail Goldman 

Perry Wallack 

Major Gift Committee 

Abigail Goldman and Jonathan Anschell 

Gaby Cosgrove 

Jamie Resin 

Deborah Rubin 

Pamela L. and E. Randol Schoenberg 

2nd Grade 

Stephanie Gold 

Nora Refoua 

3rd Grade 

Lori Goldstein 

Sylvia Karlan 

Deborah Rubin 

4th Grade 

Adeena Fitterman 

Judye Hendlish 

5th Grade 

Scott Lenz 

David Weiner 

6th Grade 

Norman Becker 

Ruthy Moossazadeh 

Julie and Ron Pardo 

7th Grade 

Paul Lawrence 

Sandy Shohed 

8th Grade 

Luiza Iancu 

Jill Jablonow 

Shomrim/Guardians 

$1,000–$1,799 

Michele Breslauer and 

Jeffrey I. Abrams 

Shanna and Jon Brooks 

Paola and Emiliano Calemzuk 

Jasmine and Michael Danielpour 

Janet and Siamak Dardashty 

Ellie and Kourosh Dayan 

Nazanin and Dr. Jacob Esagoff 

Mahshid and Dr. Farzad Feizbakhsh 

Sharona and Bob Golbahar 

Delby and Hanokh Golshirazian 

Michelle and Fred Halimi 

Cici and Dr. David Hallegua 

Karre and Lou Jacobs 

Evie Kraft 

Nooshin and Dr. Sohail Mahboubian 

Mojy and Sammy Mehdizadeh 

Brenda and David Mehdyzadeh 

Ilana and Shahram Mokhtarzadeh 

Claudia and Dror Nakash 

Catherine and Josef Nazar 

Sharona and Keyvan Novinbakht 

Shirin and Sam Parsi 

Farnaz and Maurice Refoua 

Nora and Mois Refoua 

Regina and Kevin Richter 

Rita and Dr. Fariborz Rodef 

DeDe and Peter Roussak 

Mitra and Hersel Saeidy 

Adrienne and Daryl Seltzer 

Sandy and Farshid Shohed 

Navid and Kamran Shooshani 

Dawn and Dr. Ira Smalberg 

Sharon and Touraj Tour 

Sofia Vasserman and Joel Wilf 

Bonim/Builders 

$500–$999 

Anonymous 

Revital and Ofer Abutbul 

Azadeh and Frank Afari 

Nora and Jack Amin 

Negin and David Ascher 

Sharen and Behzad Bekhrad 

Rachel and Dr. Mark Beller 

Sharona and Jimone Berookhim 

Tarryn and Saul Breskal 

Karin and Eli Cohen 

Drs. Gina and Sid Danesh 

Melissa and Dr. Harvey Deutsch 

Jimmy Esebag 

Julie Flapan and Rabbi Andrew Feig 

Nazanin and Saiid Forouzan 

Marcia and Ron Hacker 

Ronit and Dr. Firoz Hakakha 

Nicole and Dr. Michael Hayavi 

Aviva and Mayer Hazan 

Sharona and Dr. David Hoorfar 

Dr. Nathana and Jeff Horn 

Shideh and Pascal Javaheri 

Drs. Brigitte Gomperts and 

Michael Lazarus 

Toby and Philip Midgen 

Kathy and Dr. David Moghimi 

Ruthy and Dr. Jamshid Moossazadeh 

Pamela and Ben Morovati 

Shiva and Mark Mosch 

Shirin and Dr. Youram Nassir 

Janet Neman 

Mark Neman 

Lisa and Benjamin Nissanoff 

Caroline and Behzad Nourafshan 

Kate Axelrod and Pete Ocko 


Shahla and Mike Pashaie 

Sharona and Khosrow Rahimian 

Neli and Ramin Roofian 

Tiffany and Jimmy Rosen 

Patricia and Andrew Rosenfeld

Double Chai Circle 

$3,600–$4,999 

Adeena and Wayne Fitterman 

Jill Jablonow and 

Dr. Robert Freundlich 

Stephanie and Geoffrey Gold 

Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz and 

Scott Lenz 

Elizabeth Comley and Shaoul Levy 

Vaughan and Nicolas Meyer 

Talia and Jamie Resin 

Elizabeth and Michael Soroudi 

Helen and James Zukin 

Headmaster’s Circle 

$2,500–$3,599 

Lise and Dr. Robert Applebaum 

Brigitte Arnall 

Dalia and Dr. Mike Bardi 

Dr. Linda Sax and Norman Becker 

Melissa Bordy 

Michael Bordy 

Nicole and Bradley Brooks 

Nicole and Arik Chaim 

Drs. Gaby and Daniel Cosgrove 

Dorita and Michael Delijani 

Rachel and Parham Farahnik 

Debbie and Leon Farahnik 

Sylvia and Mark Karlan 

Orna and Behzad Kianmahd 

Jackie and David Klein 

Shelley and Paul Lawrence 

Mojgan and Dariush Maddahi 

Dr. Haleh and James Mehdizadeh 

Laurie Levenson and Doug Mirell 

Drs. Sharona and Daniel Nazarian 

Bita and Ben Nehmadi 

Dr. Ellie and Fred Pourbaba 

Freddie and Dr. Robert Reiter 

Lisa and Hugo Rose 

Dana and Evan Schlessinger 

Dr. Sylvia and David Shapiro 

Bonnie and Alan Silverstein 

Lora Silverman and Keith Stolzenbach 

Deborah and Eric Swanson 

Jennifer Kattler Trilling and 

Lawrence Trilling 

Delilah and Dr. Mark Urman 

Pam Weisberg 

Nazy and Kambiz Zarabi 

Chai Circle 

$1,800–$2,499 

Stephanie and Daniel Ginzburg 

Lori and Kirk Goldstein 

Sholeh and Abraham Kashefi 

Suzan and Matthew Lamishaw 

Silvia and Dr. Ariel Malamud 

Susan and Saul Smith 

Sara and Ben Stern 

Nadina and Fernando Szew 

Deborah and Jody Rubin 

Diana and Edward Sabin 

Anat and Dr. Avishai Sadan 

Dr. Gina and Michael Shayefar 

Nora and Abraham Shofet 

Natalie and Steven Shooshani 

Talya and Alon Sida 

Drs. Andreia and Richard Silvera 

Dana and Howard Simon 

Pamela and Kevin Singer 

Carla and Michael Terner 

Debbie and Dr. Kayvon Yadidi 

Chaverim/Friends 

Under $499 

Anonymous 

Anonymous 

Juliet and Kayvan Abselet 

Orly Agam 

Yael and Greg Apt 

Sari and Michael Arnall 

Viviana and Gil Artzyeli 

Jackline and Jozef Ashouri 

Anna and Jerry August 

Gila and Shmuel Azrad 

Barbara Lloyd and Clinton Bailey 

Dr. Gina Balk 

Orly and Giora Bareket 

Debbie David and Dan Ben-Zvi 

Adriane and Michael Bergman 

Venus and Fred Bina 

Desiree and Shawn Bleet 

Sarit Finkelstein-Boim and 

Nahum Boim 

Sigal and David Byrnes 

Gali and Sam Cohen 

Orit and Ron Cohen 

Steve Cohen 

Sharon Spira-Cushnir and 

Andrew Cushnir 

Haleh and Shawn Dadbin 

Yael and Joseph Daee 

Shira and Dr. Dan Dardashti 

Diane Haas Dassa and Ron Dassa 

Orit and Amir Eckstein 

Dr. Sandra and Pezhman Elias 

Shira and Alexander Elias 

Mojgan and Dr. Abbey Esagoff 

Minoo and Isaac Faliv 

Aliza and Gabriel Farahan 

Drs. Naghmeh and Ramin Farzadmehr 

Sharon Gold and Matthew Fonck 

Behnam Fouladian 

Sharone Levinson and Gabriel Frig 

Angela and Dr. Eli Gabayan 

Drs. Natali and Gabriel Gabbaypour 

Mayrav and Glenn Gaslin 

Yael and Oded Gelfer 

Julie and Robert Getman 

Marjan and Robert Ghodooshim 

Dr. Bonnie and Rabbi Jan Goldstein 

Mersedeh and David Golshirazi 

Farnoush and Hilbert Haghnazarzadeh 

Marina and Daniel Hamuy 

Galit and Ron Harel 

Michelle and Brett Harwin 

Judye and Martin Hendlish 

Casey and Wayne Himelsein 

Jilla and Saied Isaacson 

Deanna and Cantor Kenneth Jaffe 

Fariba and Rob Janpanah 

Helen and Dany Javaheri 

Galia and Rowan Julius 

Sheila and Tony Kamran 

Tammy and Scott Karp 

Rachel and Ron Karu 

Lilian and Maurice Kashfian 

Danielle and Marcus Kassin 

Drs. Parisa and Sepehr Katiraie 

Elizabeth Kattler 

Yana Khaimov 

Ellie and Dr. Sam Khorsandi 

Susan and Bahman Kianmahd 

Rabbis Zoë and Jonathan Klein 

Tara and Shan Kohan 

Sharona and Dr. Moeiz Koshki 

Bryan Kraft 

Fariba and Feridoon Lalezari 

Mitra and Abie Larian 

Michal and Israel Lasry 

Elsie Lavian 

Kim and Amos Legerman 

Dr. Pamela and Michael Levine 

Carolyn Mahboubi 

Lisa and Eric Mamos 

Sarah Manor 

Estella and Shahram Manshoory 

Claire and David Markus 

Peter Markus 

Marjan and Jacques Massachi 

Neda and Ben Mehdizadeh 

Anoosheh Bostani and Ron Mehrdad 

Marcy and Frank Melton 

Hava and Benny Mirovski 

Liza and Shahram Moalemzadeh 

Penina and Nace Moghadam 

Lida Mohabber 

Dr. Susan and Aziz Mokhtar 

Karen and Simon Morovati 

Angela and Edmond Nahouray 

Mitra Nehorai 

Nadia Yasmeh and Hamid Nehoray 

Sepideh and Fred Nehorayan 

Sepideh and Behzad Neman 

Nahal and Henry Pakizegi 

Nancy and Maury Pearl 

Ramin Peyman 

Shirley and David Pourbaba 

Lina and Frank Pournazarian 

Elham and Danny Rad 

Roya Akhavan and Behnam Rafalian 

Shirin and Ramin Rahimi 

Tal Gozani and Didier Reiss 

Lisa and Dr. Joseph Rosenbloom 

Dr. Vania Nemanpour and 

Houshang Roshan-Kashani 

Dorita and Dr. Mike Rostami 

Iris and Stephan Sabbah 

Michelle and David Sack 

Mojdeh and Masoud Saeidi-Omrani 

Betina and Ramin Saeidi-Omrany 

Betti and Dr. Kamran Saidara 

Annie Seaton 

Idit and Danny Segev 

Helen and Jay Shadi 

Drs. Alisa and Roy Shaked 

Katrin and Ebby Shakib 

Bita and Azad Shalom 

Nina Shimonovitz 

Shoshana and Jeremy Shine 

Valerie Barth-Shlomo and 

Ronen Shlomo 

Adda Shur 

Myra Clark Siegel and David Siegel 

Alexandra and Mitchell Siemons 

Rutti and Lionel Simon 

Samira and Kamyar Solouki 

Pantea and Steven Soroudi 

Deborah and Dr. Marcelo Spector 

Lisa Spector 

Dr. Beth and Immanuel Spira 

Eric Spitz 

Julie Stein 

Shirley and Danny Suleminian 

Michael Sutton 

Sharon and Jonathan Swerdlow 

Michelle and Gustavo Sztraicher 

Anet and Jack Tabaroki 

Mahasti and Shahrad Tabibzadeh 

Dallia and Dr. Arash Tehranzadeh 

Nikki Sieger and Andres Terech 

Yasmin and Hagai Toper 

Janet and Aviv Tuchman 

Karyn Grunfeld and Chaim Tureff 

Leslie and Lee Wallach 

Wendy and J.J. Wallack 

Ilanit and Michael Wasserberg 

Ron West 

Elena and Kevin Yeshoua 

Hilda and Fred Yeshova 

Sunda and Mark Zafrin 

Lily and Rafael Zakaria 

Shoshana and Parham Zar 

Lisa Zide 

5

Grandparent Donors 

Friends, Faculty 

and Staff 

We would like to thank the following 

grandparents who generously 

supported Sinai Akiba Academy 

during the 2011–12 year. 

We appreciate all of our friends, 

faculty and staff for their continued 

support and involvement in our 

school. We would like to acknowledge 

the following individuals and 

organizations for their generous 

contributions during this past year: 

Gifts of $5,000–$9,999 

Linda and Maynard Brittan 

Maxwell Siemons 

Carol and Gershon Kekst 

Hannah, Jordan and Alexander Kekst 

Sandy and Jack Terner 

Annabelle Terner 

Gifts of $2,500–$3,599 

Etty and Claude Arnall 

Jeremy Hecht-Arnall; Nicole ’10, 

Stephanie ’12 and Joshua West 

Gabrielle and Dr. Malcolm Cosgrove 

Julia, Jonathan, Natalie and Caroline 

Cosgrove; Jenna and Noah Cosgrove 

Arnold Gilberg M.D., Ph.D. 

Jaron ’12 and Georgia Lenz 

Marlene and Howard Mayers 

Dora ’12, Nathan ’14 and 

Joey Schoenberg 

Pouran and Parviz Nazarian 

Ariella ’09, Gabriella ’12 and 

Alexa Salimpour 

Jackie and Manny Silverman 

Victor ’10, Mara ’12 and 

Samantha ’12 Stolzenbach 

Moussa Soomekh 

Shayna, Tamar and Oren Farahnik 

Gifts of $1,800–$2,499 

Agnes Harris 

Chloe Harris 

Nancy and Bernie Kattler 

Ayla Kattler; Ariella ’08, Rachel ’08 

and Noa ’10 Kattler-Kupetz; 

Jonah ’12, Lyla and Dahlia Trilling 

Gifts of $1,000–$1,799 

Joan Beren 

Samantha Platt Auerbach ’97, 

Jonah ’00, Hannah ’04, 

Benjamin ’07 and Henry Platt 

Robert Beren 

Samantha Platt Auerbach ’97, 



Melna and Pete Katzman 

Benjamin and Sarah Wallach 

Alice and Nahum Lainer 

Sophie ’12, Sam and Daniel Lainer 

Dora Levy and Nadar Mossanen 

Leila and Adam Amin; Hannah and 

Macabee Ascher 

Linda and Stan Trilling 

Jonah ’12, Lyla and Dahlia Trilling 

Gifts of $500–$999 

Susan and Robert Boyd 

Jaron ’12 and Georgia Lenz 

Abira and Geoffrey Breskal 

Leah and Ella Breskal; Asaf ’12, 

Naomi and Galia Grossman; Ben ’10, 

Ruth ’11 and Michael Sack 

Charlotte and Thomas Lane 

Mollie ’07, Eli ’12 and Andrew Seltzer 

Georgia and Elliott Lawrence 

Sammy ’10 and Aaron Lawrence 

Adina and Zorel Paritzky 

Stephen and Joseph Elias 

Sheila and Martin Seaton 

Zachary ’12 and Violet Lewis 

Gifts under $499 

Ella and Mark Augenstein 

Samantha and Tyler Markus 

Fariba and David Azarian 

Leah Terani 

Nettie Becker 

Samantha ’12 and Jeremy Becker 

Bernice and William Cohen 

Jonah Anschell 

Julie and Arthur Cohen 

Talia ’10 and Noam Karu 

Yona and Joe Cohen 

Sammy ’10 and Aaron Lawrence 

Marilyn and Bennett Cohon 

Jacob ’10, Jordan 

and Matthew Pardo 

Shahla and Daryoush Farahmand 

Oliver ’12, Andrew, Sophie and 

Aiden Pourbaba 

Eveline and Uri Ginzberg 

Liora Ginzburg 

Sanford Gold 

Jacob ’11, Ryan and Micah Gold 

Bobbie and Gene Goldman 

Gavriela ’05, Noah ’08, Kaile ’12 

and Jared Applebaum 

Sherry and Cary Harwin 

Brittney Harwin 

Sarah and Joe Levine 

Grace and Matthew Levine 

Farah and Farhad Mokhtarzadeh 

Arielle ’10, Adam ’12 and 

Audrey Mokhtarzadeh 

Carmella and Nissan Pardo 

Jacob ’10, Jordan 

and Matthew Pardo 

Judy Parrott 

Toviah, Evan, Noah, and 

Hadassah Stein 

Nahid and Mansour Parsi 

Leyla Parsi 

Sue and Howard Platt 

Samantha Platt Auerbach ‘97, 



Marion and Stanley Robboy 

Benjamin, Joseph and 

Alexandra Meyer 

Grace and Harvey Rosenbloom 

Jordan ’11, Ashton ’12, Skyler and 

Brooke Rosenbloom 

Roen and Donald Salem 

Leo Kassin 

Linda and Stanley Samuels 

Ella and Elijah Brown 

Rivka Shaked 

Levy Shaked 

Lee and Myron Simon 

Samantha ’09, Melissa ’12 and 

Jordan Simon 

Kurt Smalberg 

Fallon ’10 and Abby Smalberg 

Drs. Marion and Matthew Solomon 

Shira Goldstein 

Lynn and Harvey Wallack 

Sophie and Francie Wallack 

Joan and Daniel West 

Nicole ’10, Stephanie ’12 and 

Joshua West 

$5,000–$9,999 

Alison Mayersohn and 

Rabbi Laurence Scheindlin 

$2,500–$3,599 

Judy and Tom Flesh 

Roslyn and Abner Goldstine 


Janet and Robert Rosenblum 


$1,800–$2,499 

J.B. Berland Foundation 

Goldman Sachs Matching Gift Program 

$1,000–$1,799 

Julie Flapan and Rabbi Andrew Feig 

Milken Family Foundation 

Sepehr Melamed 

$500–$999 

The Capital Group Companies 

Charitable Foundation 

Danielle Salem-Kassin 

and Marcus Kassin 

Mount Sinai Memorial Park 

Up to $499 

Anna and Jerry August 

Cantor Arianne and Rabbi Randall Brown 

Tova and Rabbi Avi Dershowitz 

Irit Eliyahu 

Marcia Fellner 

Cantor Joseph Gole 

Jeanne Jacobs-Gaffney 

and Bill Gaffney 

Jeanne and Dirk Huybrechts 

Michal and Howard Lesner 

David Mellen Design 

Marla and Jack Minden 

Stephanie Mirkin 

Hava and Benny Mirovski 

Helen and Dr. Howard Molitz 

Elham and Danny Rad 

Tracy and Dale Schatz 

Sempra Energy 

Ravka Shaked 

Rabbi Nicole Guzik and 

Rabbi Erez Sherman 

Blanche and Robert Shindell 


6

Alumni Parent Donors 

Alumni Donors 

Gifts of $18,000 or more 


Joyce and Jeffrey Sudikoff 

Anna and Bill Tenenblatt 

Gifts of $10,000–$17,999 

Sheila and Aaron Leibovic 

Gifts of $5,000–$9,999 

Alison Mayersohn 

and Rabbi Laurence Scheindlin 

Gifts of $2,500–$3,599 


Paula and Donald Etra 

Patti and Dr. Peter Felker 

Drs. Fariba and Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian 

Susan and Ebbie Ghodsian 

Johanna and Dr. Jeffrey Gunter 

Dora and Neil Kadisha 

Debra and Robert Kasirer 

Deborah Kattler Kupetz and David Kupetz 

Mojgan and Eddia Mirharooni 

Roberta Goodman-Rosenberg 

and David Rosenberg 


Gita and Sam z’l Rosenwald 


Pamela Smith 

Lesley and Jeffrey Wolman 


Eileen and Rabbi David Wolpe 

Janice and Dr. Phillip Zakowski 

Gifts of $1,000–$2,499 

Adele and Trevor Abramson 

Sara and Dr. David Aftergood 

Jacqueline and Yahya Ahdout 

Daryoush Dayan 

Lonnie and Jimmy Delshad 

Sharon and David Gitman 

Frieda and Joel Glucoft 

Enid and Dr. Daniel Lieber 

Paulette and Ron Nessim 

Esther and David Renzer 

Miriam Schaeffer 

Lili and Dr. Jamshid Shafai 

Susan Jacoby Stern and Joel Stern 

Helen and Richard Weston 

Betty and Ross Winn 

Gifts of $500–$999 

Nancy and Dr. Emanuel Abrams 

Shiva and Joseph Daneshgar 

Nazy and Ehsan Eshaghian 

Jory Goldman and Ted Feldman 

Myrna and Russell Frackman 

Shirin and Mark Gabay 

Joan Isaacs 

Nelly Kahn 

Linda and Abe Knobel 

Corie and Michael Koss 

Angela and Dr. Jamshid Maddahi 

Julie and Joel Mayer 

Gail and Dr. Kenneth Nussen 

Jila and Dr. Said Rahban 

Fradya and Rabbi Joel Rembaum 

Dr. Karen Saywitz and Dr. Richard Romanoff 

Marla and Peter Rosen 

Anne and Dr. Martin Rosenblatt 

Suzanne and Fred Rucker 

Sunny and Larry Russ 

Stella and Dr. Leslie Stricke 

Sharon and Mark Vidergauz 

Deborah Eisen and Joel Weinstein 


Shoreh and Dr. James Baharvar 

Younes Banafsheh 

Mojgan Banafsheha 

Debi and Elie Benaron 

Elaine and Gordon Berman 

Drs. Aviva and Leon Beiderman 

Bari and Lance Bogart 

Nancy and Peter Chaffetz 

Angela and Ben Cohan 

Afsaneh and Dr. David Daneshvar 

Marlynn and Rabbi Elliot Dorff 

Frida Eytan and Mike Nosrati 

Karen Fishel 

Rhonda Gale 

Dr. Felice and Rabbi David Gordis 

Sally and Dr. Jon Greenfield 

Beth and Barry Gumerove 

Carla and Scott Howard-Yashar 

Jackie and Dr. Bobby Katz 

Yaffit and Dr. Ronald Kaufman 

Andrea Rubin Kichaven and Jeffrey Kichaven 

Sima and Bahman Lalezari 

Linda and Ari Lichtenberg 

Mary Beth and Richard Lieberman 

Nancy Cole Loeterman and Mark Loeterman 

Dorice and Jacob Melamed 

Dalia and Hamid Moghavem 

Niloofar and Michael Moghavem 

Shiva and Sina Niku 

Liora and Mauricio Pier 

Rachel and Alan Risch 

Gail and Fred Rollman 

Jessica and Michael Sacher 

Sherry and Dani z’l Saleh 

Tracy and Dale Schatz 

Sandi and Avi Schlesinger 

Darlene and Dr. Abraham Schlossberg 

Dr. Gita Zarnegar and Dr. Fredric Schlussel 

Susan and Dr. Isaac Schmidt 

Kathy Shechet 

Susan and Stephen Silberman 

Sabrina Hitter Silvers 

Lida and Ebrahim Simhaee 

Fredelle and Dr. Steven Spiegel 

Ronna and Ronald Spiegel 

Leigh and Robert Strauss 

Linda and Dr. Steven Tabak 

Dr. Cynthia Trop 

Bryna and Dr. Stuart Vener 

Judy and Allen Weinstock 

Shelley and Dr. Steven Weinstock 

Millie and Paul Wexler 

Terry and David Wohlberg 

Orna and Keenan Wolens 

We are grateful to the following 

alumni parents and alumni who 

generously supported Sinai Akiba 

during the 2011–12 year. 

Gifts of $5,000–$9,999 

Dr. Lisa and Gary ‘78 Lainer 

Joshua Pourgol ‘03 

Lora Silverman ‘75 and Keith Stolzenbach 

Gifts of $2,500–$3,599 

Negin ‘87 and David Ascher 

Drs. Gaby and Daniel ‘83 Cosgrove 

Gifts of $1,000–$2,499 

Aliza and Michael ‘76 Lesser 

Taly and Adrian ‘98 Engel 

Gifts of $500–$999 

Rona ‘79 and Benjamin ‘80 Cosgrove 


and Marcus Kassin ‘86 

Rabbi Joshua Katzan ‘78 

Pamela ‘77 and Kevin Singer 

Debbie ‘83 and Kayvon Yadidi 


Linda and Todd ‘78 Adler 

Jennifer and Aaron ‘94 Aftergood 

Gavriela Applebaum ‘05 

Noah Applebaum ‘08 

David Ashkenazi ‘01 

Payam Banafsheha ‘00 

Pooya Banafsheha ‘01 

Daniel Benaron ‘99 

Jeffrey Benaron ‘02 

Jodi Berman ‘80 

Jennifer Yadidi Chadorchi ’91 

and Kambiz Chadorchi 

Debbie and Rabbi Elliot ‘85 Cosgrove 

Jason Cosgrove ‘91 

Dr. Elana Gordis ‘84 

and Dr. Mitchell Earleywine 

Harry Etra ‘01 

Jessica Fishel ‘01 

Lisa Gordis ‘78 

Allison Klein ‘04 

Grant Klein ‘09 

Juliana Klein ‘04 

Alexandra and David ‘88 Kahn 

Rhona Kisch ‘78 

Leslie Lainer ‘83 

Nancy Lainer ‘89 

Shadi Lalezari ‘00 

Shahrzad Lalezari ‘01 

David Lieber ‘09 

Dena Lieber ‘04 

Sarah Lieber ‘99 

David Meller ‘78 

Meredith Michaels ‘98 

David Mirharooni ‘94 

Robin Nourmand ‘94 

Natasha Novian ‘98 

Daniel Nussen ‘98 

Gregory Nussen ‘03 

Justin Nussen ‘01 

Gregory Rollman ‘03 

Michael Rosenblum ‘01 

Sarah Rosenblum ‘04 

Parisa Roshan ‘00 

Jordan Russ ‘07 

Joshua Russ ‘05 

Samantha Russ ‘01 

Anita Schmidt ‘98 

Aaron Shechet ‘94 

Eli Shechet ‘97 

Miriam and Jonathan ‘90 Stern 

Aaron Strauss ‘08 

David Strauss ‘12 

Michelle and Jeremy ‘89 Weiner 

Cassie and Eitan ‘98 Weinstock 

Jennifer and Amiel ‘88 Weinstock 

Seth Wexler ‘11 

7

Fund A Need Donors 

Fund a Need gifts provide targeted resources for Sinai Akiba’s 

academic and extracurricular programs. Whether helping to fund 

technology and literacy needs for classrooms through the purchase 

of laptops, Kindles and iPads, or ensuring that our grade-level trips 

and extracurricular excursions receive additional support, Fund 

a Need contributions make a difference to the entire student body 

at Sinai Akiba. We thank the following donors for making these 

academic and enrichment opportunities possible: 

$3,000 



$1,000 

Daphna and Pejman Salimpour 

$600-$750 

Abigail Goldman and 

Jonathan Anschell 

Annie Seaton 

$500-$550 

Luiza and Andrei Iancu 




Rosalie Kornblau 


Suzanne and Scott Lenz 

Ellie and Fred Pourbaba 

SAA Administration 

Irit Eliyahu 

Rabbi Andrew Feig 


Helen Molitz 


Farah and Ralph Salimpour 

Pam and Randy Schoenberg 


Jennifer Kattler Trilling 

and Lawrence Trilling 


Eileen Wolpe and Rabbi David Wolpe 

$250-$450 



Lisa and Gary Lainer 



Pamela Smith 



Pamela Weisberg 

$180 and under 

Anonymous 


Lise and Robert Applebaum 


Elliot Brown 

Galia and Samuel Cohen 

Julie and Arthur Cohen 

Gaby and Danny Cosgrove 


Jessica and Rabbi Jason Fruithandler 

Barry Greene 

Cici and David Hallegua 





Sharona and Daniel Nazarian 




Frederica and Robert Reiter 



Dalia Sassouni 

Alisa and Roy Shaked 

Sylvia and David Shapiro 




Angelle and Roger Wacker 

3

Annual Event and Auction 

Honoring Rabbi Laurence Scheindlin 

Legacy Event Sponsors 

THIS 

IS THE 

SCHOOL 

THAT 

LARRY 

BUILT 

The Annual Event and Auction, This Is the School That Larry Built, 

was a tremendous success with more than 500 guests in attendance 

to pay tribute to Rabbi Laurence Scheindlin and celebrate his 35 

years at Sinai Akiba. An endowment fund in Rabbi Scheindlin’s honor 

was established with the majority of the event proceeds. This fund 

in conjunction with a lead gift from the Lewis Brunswick and 

Rebecca Matoff Foundation will be incorporated into the Generations 

LA Endowment Campaign. Brad and Kathy Shapiro represented 

the foundation at the dinner. We are delighted to carry on Rabbi 

Scheindlin’s legacy at Sinai Akiba through this endowment. Our 

most sincere thanks to Rabbi Scheindlin and all the donors who 

supported the annual event. 

8 

$250,000 

Lewis Brunswick and 

Rebecca Matoff Foundation 

Mind, Heart and Soul Sponsors 

$20,000 



Joyce and Jeffrey Sudikoff 


Headmaster’s Partners Sponsors 

$10,000 

Sheila and Aaron Leibovic 

Daphna and Dr. Pejman Salimpour 

Pamela L. and E. Randol Schoenberg 

Akiba Ambassadors 

$5,000 



Dr. Luiza and Andrei Iancu 


Milken Community High School 

Jason Ablin 

Metuka Benjamin 

Sandy and Jack Terner 

SAA Honor Roll Sponsors 

$2,500 

Lise and Dr. Robert Applebaum 


Negin and David Ascher 

Melissa Bordy 

Michael Bordy 

Elliot Brown 


Dorita and Michael Delijani 

Paula and Donald Etra 

Debbie and Leon Farahnik 

Patti and Peter Felker 

Drs. Fariba and Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian 

Judy and Tom Flesh 

Ghodsian Family 

Gloria Lushing 

and Arny Gilberg M.D., Ph.D. 

Roslyn and Abner Goldstine 

Johanna and Dr. Jeffrey Gunter 

Karen and Neil Haltrecht 

Margrith and Heinz Jaeggi 

/Credit Suisse 

Dora and Neil Kadisha 


Debra and Robert Kasirer 



Deborah Kattler Kupetz 

and David Kupetz 

Dr. Lisa and Gary Lainer 


Vaughan and Nicolas Meyer 

Laurie Levenson and Doug Mirell 

Mojgan and Eddia Mirharooni 


Dr. Ellie and Fred Pourbaba 

Roya Akhavan and Behnam Rafalian 

Rita and Dr. Fariborz Rodef 

Roberta Goodman-Rosenberg 

and David Rosenberg 


Allison and Bennett Rosenthal 

Gita and Sam z’l Rosenwald 


Sinai Akiba Administrators 

Irit Eliyahu 


Marcia Fellner 


Shelley Lawrence 

Marla Minden 

Helen Molitz 

Janet Rosenblum 

Tracy Schatz 

Sinai Akiba Committee 

Sinai Akiba Grandparents Association 

Sinai Akiba PTA 

Sinai Temple Board of Directors 

Sinai Temple Clergy 

Pamela Smith 

Moussa Soomekh 



Kathryn and Dr. Carey Strom 


and Lawrence Trilling 

Lesley and Jeffrey Wolman 


Jan and Dr. Phil Zakowski

Tribute Ads, Contributions and Dinner Tickets 

Gifts of $5,000 

Alison Mayersohn 

and Rabbi Laurence Scheindlin 

Gifts of $1,300–$1,800 

Sara and Dr. David Aftergood 




Enid and Danny Lieber 

Lili and Dr. Jamshid Shafai 

Gifts of $1,000–$1,299 

Adele and Trevor Abramson 

Jackie and Yahya Ahdout 

Builders of Jewish Education 

Dr. Gil Graff 

Miriam Prum Hess 

Daryoush Dayan 

Sharon and Dave Gitman 


Bart Kogan 

SAA Education Committee Chairs 

Nancy Chaffetz 

Robert Goodman-Rosenberg 

Enid Lieber 

Julie Mayer 

Ronna Spiegel 

Susan Jacoby Stern 

Eric Swanson 

Anna Tenenblatt 


Dora Levy and Nadar Mossanen 

Mount Sinai Memorial Parks 

and Mortuaries 

Paulette and Ronald Nessim 

Esther and David Renzer 

Rabbi Karen Fox and Michael Rosen 

Miriam Schaeffer 

Drs. Andreia and Richard Silvera 

Susan Jacoby Stern and Joel Stern 

David Suissa, Jewish Journal 


Helen and Richard Weston 

Betty and Ross Winn, 

Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School 

Helen and James Zukin 

Gifts of $500–$999 

Nancy and Manny Abrams 

Anti-Defamation League 

Amanda Susskind 

Alan Weil 

Class of 1978 

Todd and Linda Adler 

Lisa Gordis 

Rabbi Joshua Katzan 

Rhona Kisch 

David Meller 

Rona and Ben Cosgrove 

Drs. Gaby and Daniel Cosgrove 

Shiva and Joseph Daneshgar 

Nazy and Ehsan Eshaghian 

Helgard and Irwin Field 

Myrna and Russell Frackman 

Jill Jablonow and Robert Freundlich 

Elenor and Arman Gabay 

Shirin and Mark Gabay 

Jory Goldman and Ted Feldman 

Ada and Jim Horwich 

Joan Isaacs 

Linda and Abe Knobel 

Angela and Dr. Jamshid Maddahi 

Julie and Joel Mayer 

Nicole and Allan Mutchnik 

Gail and Dr. Ken Nussen 

Jila and Said Rahban 

Fradya and Rabbi Joel Rembaum 

Dr. Karen Saywitz 

and Dr. Richard Romanoff 

Marla and Peter Rosen 

Lois Rosen 

Anne and Dr. Martin Rosenblatt 

Stella and Dr. Leslie Stricke 

Carla and Michael Terner 

Sharon and Mark Vidergauz 

Barbara Wagner, Marlborough School 




Revital and Ofer Abutbul 

Andrea and Lee Ackerman 

Linda and Todd Adler 

Dr. David Ackerman 

Abigail Goldman and Jonathan Anschell 


Shoreh and Dr. James Baharvar 

Dalia and Dr. Mike Bardi 

Orly and Giora Bareket 

Dr. Linda Sax and Norman Becker 

Debi and Elie Benaron 

Debbie David and Daniel Ben-Zvi 

Elaine and Gordon Berman 

Jodi Berman 

Drs. Aviva and Leon Biederman 

19

Bari and Lance Bogart 

Sarit Finkelstein and Nahum Boim 

Nicole and Bradley Brooks 

Cal/West Educators Placement 

Linda Camras 

Nancy and Peter Chaffetz 

Kathy and Dr. Basil Clyman 

Angela and Ben Cohan 

Dr. Elaine Cohen, 

Solomon Schechter Day School Network 

Galia and Samuel Cohen 

Debbie and Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove 

Jason Cosgrove 

Sharon Spira-Cushnir and Andrew Cushnir 

Jaleh Dadfarin 

Afsaneh and David Daneshvar 

Elham and Kourosh Dayan 

Melissa and Dr. Harvey Deutsch 

Marlynn and Rabbi Elliot Dorff 

Dr. Elana Gordis and Dr. Mitchell Earleywine 


Shahla and Daryoush Farahmand 

Drs. Naghmeh and Ramin Farzadmehr 

Mahshid and Dr. Farzad Feizbakhsh 

Karen Fishel 


Abby and Ira Friedman 

Rhonda Gale 

Esther Gendel 

Sande Gendel 

Julie and Robert Getman 

Sanford Gold 

Henrietta and Isa Goldfarb 

Dr. Felice and Rabbi David Gordis 

Lisa Gordis 

Sally and Dr. Jon Greenfield 

Beth and Barry Gumerove 

Michelle and Fred Halimi 

Agnes Harris and Deborah Harris 

Michelle and Brett Harwin 

Aviva and Mayer Hazan 

Judye and Martin Hendlish 

Rabbi Carla Howard, Jewish Healing 

and Hopsice Center of Los Angeles 

Jeanne and Dirk Huybrechts, 

Harvard-Westlake School 

Dr. Carol Ingall 

Aviva Kadosh 

Head of School Council, Builders of 

Jewish Education 

Glen Karonsky 


and Marcus Kassin 

Jackie and Dr. Robert Katz 

Rabbi Joshua Katzan 

Yaffit and Ronald Kaufman 

Sharon Kenigsberg 

Ellie and Dr. Sam Khorsandi 

Susan and Bahman Kianmahd 

Andrea Rubin Kichhaven 

and Jeffrey Kichaven 

Rhona Kisch 

Rosalie Kornblau 

Evie Kraft 

Nancy Lainer 

Leslie Lainer 


SAA’s Learning Support Program 

Edward Levine 

Janet Levine 

Dr. Pamela and Michael Levine 

Janet Levine Consulting 

Vivian and Richard Levy 

Linda and Aron Lichtenberg 

Mary Beth and Rick Lieberman 

Sheva Locke, 

Valley Beth Shalom Day School 

Nancy Cole Loeterman 

and Mark Loeterman 

Silvia and Dr. Ariel Malamud 

Rabbi Mitchel Malkus, 

Pressman Academy of Temple Beth Am 

Lisa and Eric Mamos 

Isabel and Milo Mandel 

Lana and David Marcus, 

Adat Ari El Day School 

Claire and David Markus 

Brenda and David Mehdyzadeh 

Dorice and Jacob Melamed 

David Mellen Design 

David Meller 

Marcy and Frank Melton 

Golda and Dr. Martin Mendelsohn 

Gillian Menter 

Sharon and Amos Meron 

Deena and Dan Messinger 

Raymond Michaud, 

The John Thomas Dye School 

Dalia and Hamid Moghavem 

Niloofar and Michael Moghavem 

Kathy and Dr. David Moghimi 

Ruthy and Dr. Jamshid Moossazadeh 


Drs. Sharona and Daniel Nazarian 

Sepideh and Fred Nehorayan 

Shiva and Sina Niku 

Lisa and Ben Nissanoff 

Frida Eytan and Mike Nosrati 

Myra and Saeed Nourmand 

Natasha Novian and Sharareh Novian 

Kate Axelrod and Peter Ocko 

Judit Fekete and Zoltan Pali 


Liora and Mauricio Pier 

Lisa and Steve Pompan 

Joshua Pourgol 

Dr. Bruce Powell, 

New Community Jewish High School 

Miriam Prum-Hess 

Farnaz and Maurice Refoua 

Nora and Mois Refoua 


Ralph Resnick 

Regina and Kevin Richter 

Rachel and Alan Risch 

Gail and Fred Rollman 

Arlene and David Rosen 

Lisa and Dr. Joseph Rosenbloom 

Adriane Rothstein and Mark Billy, 

Saint James Episcopal School 

Deborah and Jody Rubin 

Suzanne and Fred Rucker 

Sunny and Larry Russ 

Diana and Edward Sabin 

Jessica and Michael Sacher 

Sherry and Dani z’l Saleh 

Roen and Dr. Donald Salem 

Rabbi Dvora Weisberg 

and Rabbi Neal Scheindlin 

Sandi and Avi Schlesinger 

Darlene and Abraham Schlossberg 

Dr. Gita Zarnegar 

and Dr. Fredric Schlussel 

Susan and Issac Schmidt 

Rabbis Deborah and Brian Schuldenfrei 

Annie Seaton 

Alisha and Rabbi Ahud Sela 

Adrienne and Daryl Seltzer 

Drs. Alisa and Roy Shaked 

Rivka Shaked 

Dr. Sylvia and David Shapiro 

Dr. Gina and Mehrdad Shayefar 

Kathy Lebovic Shechet 

Sandy and Farshid Shohed 

Susan and Stephen Silberman 

Sabrina Hitter Silvers 


Lida and Ebrahim Simhaee 

Sinai Akiba Academy Teachers 

Sinai Temple Library Staff 

Sinai Temple Preschool 

Sinai Temple Preschool PTA 

Pamela and Kevin Singer 

Rhea Coskey and Kurt Smalberg 

Dawn and Dr. Ira Smalberg 

Cindy and Mike Smith 

Drs. Fredi and Steven Spiegel 

Ronna and Ronald Spiegel 

Julie Stein and Scott Gerhardt 

Sara and Benjamin Stern 

Miriam and Jonathan Stern 

Leigh and Rob Strauss 

Beth and Joel Sunkin 

Sharon and Jonathan Swerdlow 

Linda and Steven Tabak 

Nikki Sieger and Andres Terech 

Dr. Cynthia Trop 


Bryna and Stuart Vener 

Dr. Saul Wachs 

Leslie and Dr. Andrew Wachtel 

Leslie and Lee Wallach 


Mindy and David Weiner 

Michelle and Jeremy and Weiner 

Allan and Judy Weinstock 

Shelley and Dr. Steven Weinstock 

Pam Weisberg 

Millie and Paul Wexler 

Terry and David Wohlberg 

Orna and Keenan Wolens 

Sally Wolfe 

Debbie and Dr. Kayvon Yadidi 

Sunda and Mark Zafrin 

Lily and Rafael Zakaria 

Rosalie and Dr. Ed Zalis 

Shoshana and Parham Zar 

Dr. Michael Zeldin, 

DeLet at Hebrew Union College 

Lisa Zide 

10

Auction Donors 

We wish to thank the following businesses, families, 

faculty and staff for their generous support of the 

Sinai Akiba auction. Your donations contributed to the 

success of our event and we are so grateful. 

Advanced Advertising Group 

Anna August 

Melissa Azose 

Bellacures 

Bibi’s Bakery and Cafe 

Bouchon Bistro 


Buttercake Bakery 

California Pizza Kitchen 

Karen Carpenter 

CBS Television 

Sonia Chernotsky 

Cheryl’s 

Children’s Book World 

Clementine 

Isabella Cohen 

Color Me Mine 

Coral Tree Cafe 

Covenant Wines 

THISJackie and David Klein 

Danesh Dermatology & Laser Surgery 

Deborah Dicochea 

Diesel Bookstore 

Disneyland Resort 

Elat Market 

IS THE 

Rebekah Lauter 


Irit Eliyahu 

ETC Hotels 

Naghmeh and Ramin Farzadmehr 

Julie Flapan-Feig and 


Allen Foster 

Fresh Brothers 

Christine Friedman 

Edward Garcia 

SCHOOL 

Lukaro Salon 

THAT Matsuhisa Restaurant 

Gearys of Beverly Hills 

Stephanie and Daniel Ginzburg 

Lori and Kirk Goldstein 

Got Kosher 

LARRY 

Grand Havana Room 

BUILT 

Greg Transportation Service 

Charna Gross 

Ruth Gueta 

Hagafen Cellars 

Herzog Wine Cellars 

Humphrey Yogart 

Alison Hurwitz-Kelman 

Luiza and Andrei Iancu 

Intercontinental Hotel Century City 

James Perse 

Shideh and Pascal Javaheri 

Jeff’s Gourmet 

Jill Roberts 

Joe Allen Restaurant 

Judd’s Hill Winery 

Tina Kaplan 


Donna Kerman 

Kosher Gourmet LA 

Kosher Pizza Station 


Lorie and Andrew Lassner 


Learn to Love Tennis 

Let’s Have a Cart Party 

Los Angeles Dodgers 

Lulu’s Restaurant 

Luxe Hotel Sunset Blvd. 

Magnolia Bakery 

Annie Marks 

Alison Mayersohn and 


Menchies 

Menchies Santa Monica 

Sharon Metz 

Allison and Jeff Mirkin 

Hava Mirovski 

Mistral Sherman Oaks 

Helen Molitz 

Shelby Montevirgen 

Mulberry Street Pizza 

Nagila Pizza 

Rhonda Nail 

Napa Valley Grille 

Nate ‘n Al’s Deli 

Native Foods Cafe 

Nickelodeon 

Natasha Novian 

Emily Ostenberg 

Paint Lab 

Pat’s Restaurant 

Petersen Automotive Museum 

Pinkberry 


Joshua Pourgol 

Elham Rad 

Ragg Tattoo 

Richter’s of Beverly Hills 

Roots Canada 


Roen and Donald Salem 

Rush Street 

Estefany Sanchez 

Krystal Scime 

Scribble Press 

Luna Shalom 

Sheraton Delfina 

Sherman Oaks Castle Park 


Niza Shprung 

Danielle Simantob 

Sinai Judaica Shop 

Sinai Temple 

Six Flags Magic Mountain 

Skirball Cultural Center 

Kathy Smith 

Spago Beverly Hills 

Alexis Spenchian 

Style Bar Beverly Hills 

Beth Sunkin 

Tavern Restaurant 

The Beverly Hills Hotel 

The Cask 

The Ellen DeGeneres Show 

The Huntington Library and 

Botanical Gardens 

The Mark Hotel 

The Shave 

The Wine House 

Melanie Thomas 

Toms Toys 

Tumbleweed Day Camp 

Twenty Twenty Wine Merchants 

Ultrazone Laser Tag 

Vicki’s Lunchbox 

Liliana Vinnizskaya 

Vosges Haut Chocolat 

W Los Angeles Westwood 

WalksRus.com 

Warehouse Restaurant 

Warner Brothers 


Megan Weiner 

Westfield Shopping Centers 

Westside Tavern 

Williams Sonoma Beverly Hills 


Farnaz and Kambiz Zarabi 

Warren Zide 

11

Endowments and Special Funds 

Sinai Akiba enjoys an endowment fund and many named funds thanks to the 

generosity of several families. SAA’s students and programs benefit from the income 

of our endowment and special funds. We invite you to consider establishing 

an endowment fund, or to make a contribution to one of our existing funds. 

Families are also invited to mark special occasions by contributing to any of the 

following funds. For more information please contact the development office, 

or visit the school’s website under Support Akiba. As of June 30, 2012, total 

endowment funds stood at $8,365,120. 

Endowments 

Rosalie Swedlin and Robert Cort 

Endowment Fund 

Provides funds to enhance the quality 

of Jewish life in our community. 

Ezra Scholarship Fund 

Generates two annual awards: one 

for academic performance, a second for 

scholarship and financial need. 

Generations LA Endowment Fund 

Established in 2011 as a joint venture 

between PEJE (Partnership for Excellence 

in Jewish Education), the BJE 

(Builders of Jewish Education) the AVI 

CHAI Foundation and several local partners, 

Generations LA is Sinai Akiba’s 

first official endowment campaign. The 

school was selected to participate in 

this pilot program in order to grow our 

existing endowment and to serve as a 

model for day schools nationwide. 

Joel Goldman Scholarship Fund 

Created in memory of Joel Goldman 

and designed to fund scholarships for 

children who could not otherwise attend 

Sinai Akiba Academy. 

Sally Gunter Curriculum Grant Fund 

Established in memory of Sally Gunter, 

the fund provides professional growth 

opportunities for Sinai Akiba Academy 

teachers. The fund offers annual grants 

to teachers for research or for significant 

curriculum development projects. 

Kianmahd Scholarship Fund 

Provides a source of funds for tuition assistance 

and scholarships to deserving 

Sinai Akiba Academy students. 


Scholarship Endowment Fund 

Established in recognition of the importance 

of Jewish day school education 

and the growing need for tuition assistance. 

This fund will provide additional 

tuition assistance to eligible Sinai Akiba 

Academy students. 

Liggett Family Teachers’ 


Funds teacher benefits and training 

to ensure the high quality of the Sinai 

Akiba Academy teaching staff. 



Established in honor of Rabbi Laurence 

Scheindlin to recognize his 35 years 

as headmaster of Sinai Akiba. The 

fund will provide tuition assistance or 

program enhancements. The fund was 

established as part of the school’s 

Generations LA Endowment Campaign. 



Supports various aspects of the school 

program, including financial assistance 

and program enhancements. 

Sinai Akiba Academy Technology 


Supports and enhances Sinai Akiba 

Academy technology programs. 

Pam and George Smith Resource 

Center Endowment 

Funds the learning support program 

which helps students who have special 

learning needs. 

Bee and Sam Smotrich 

Scholarship Fund 

Benefits one or more students attending 

Sinai Akiba Academy and is determined 

on the basis of financial need. 

Spiwak Scholarship Fund in 

Memory of Sarah Baran 

Provides tuition assistance to 

deserving students who would 

otherwise not be able to afford a 

Jewish day school education. 

Tenenblatt Family Education Fund 

Supports and enhances the educational 

program of Sinai Akiba Academy. 

Ethel Weinberg-Jacob Weiss Fund 

for Jewish Education 





Special Funds 

Head of School Discretionary Fund 

Funds special projects and programs 

as determined by the Head of School. 

Dora and Neil Kadisha Teacher 

Appreciation Award Fund 

Funds teacher appreciation awards 

which recognize SAA teachers for their 

loyalty and longevity to the school. 

Teachers receive an award after 7 

years and 20 years of service. 

Betty Matoff Scholarship Fund 





Shafai Award 

Established by Dr. and Mrs. Jamshid 

Shafai, this award is given each year to 

students who demonstrate a long-term 

commitment to personal development 

and fulfillment of their abilities. 

Bryna Vener Orchestra Fund 

Supports the ongoing activities of the 

Sinai Akiba Academy orchestra. 

Sinai Akiba Academy Tuition 

Assistance Fund 

Funds tuition assistance for 

qualified students. 

Sinai Akiba Tuition 

Assistance Donations 

BJE Financial Assistance Funds 

BJE Generations LA Tuition 

Assistance Grant 

J.B. Berland Foundation 

Jim Joseph Foundation 




United Synagogue of 

Conservative Judaism 

12

SAA Committee and Sub-Committees 

We are truly grateful for the 

outstanding commitment and 

support of our numerous committee 

members and commend their 

efforts on behalf of Sinai Akiba. 

SAA Committee 

Lora Silverman 

Chair 

Lise Applebaum 

Melissa Bordy 

Eric Diamond 

Rachel Farahnik 

Cici Hallegua 

Jeanne Huybrechts 

Andrei Iancu 

Behzad Kianmahd 

Jackie Klein 

Alice Lainer 

Gary Lainer 

Laurie Levenson 

Silvia Malamud 

Donna Mandosa 

Julie Platt 

Ellie Pourbaba 

Rita Rodef 


Randy Schoenberg 

David Shapiro 

Eric Swanson 

Leslie Wachtel 

Pam Weisberg 

Endowment Committee 

E. Randol Schoenberg 

Chair 



Gary Lainer 

Howard Lesner 

Fredrica Reiter 

Donita Riley 



Robert Strauss 

Budget Committee 

Gary Lainer 

Chair 


Melissa Bordy 

Danny Cosgrove 

Eric Diamond 

Joseph Gabbaian 

Alan Grushcow 

Andrei Iancu 


Jackie Klein 

Gary Lainer 

Nahum Lainer 

Howard Lesner 

Robert Mokhtarzadeh 


Randy Schoenberg 

David Shapiro 


Anna Tennenblatt 

Leslie Wachtel 

Development Committee 

Andrei Iancu 

Development Chair 

Annual Giving Chairs 

Rebecca & David Kekst 

Ellie & Fred Pourbaba 

Delilah & Mark Urman 

Generations LA Endowment 

Campaign Committee 

Andrei Iancu, Chair 


and Jonathan Anschell 

Gaby Cosgrove 

Behzad Kianmahd 

Alice Lainer 

Gary Lainer 

Ellie Pourbaba 

Jamie Resin 


Deborah Rubin 


Pamela and Randy Schoenberg 


Michael Soroudi 

Annual Event Chairs 

Elizabeth Comley 

Julie Platt 

Daphna Salimpour 

Tribute Book Chairs 

Luiza Iancu 

Evie Kraft 

Alumni Council Chairs 

Meredith Michaels ’98 

Eitan Weinstock ‘98 

Grandparent Liaisons 

Sandy Shohed 

Sara Stern 

Headmaster’s Event Chairs 

Vaughan Meyer 

Sharona Nazarian 


Parent Gathering Coordinators 


Lisa Rosenbloom 

Debi Treiman 

PTA 


Fundraising Director 

Cici Hallegua 

President 

Education Committee 

Eric Swanson 

Chair 

Rebecca Berger 

Lindsay Budd 

Gina Danesh 

Debbie David 

Irit Eliyahu 

Frida Eytan 

Sharona Golbahar 

Tal Gozani 

Cici Hallegua 

Anjele Harouni 

David Hoorfar 

Karre Jacobs 

Fariba Janpanah 

Lisa Lainer 


Sharon Meron 

Helen Molitz 

Sharon Rapp 

Lisa Rosenbloom 


Pam Schoenberg 


Janet Tuchman 

David Weiner 

PR and Recruitment 

Committee 

Rita Rodef 

Chair 

Juliet Abselet 

Yael Apt 

Orly Bareket 

Adriane Bergman 

Elizabeth Comley 

Orit Eckstein 

Rachel Farahnik 

Karre Jacobs 

Rachel Karu 

Lisa Lainer 

Marla Minden 

Talia Resin 

Diana Sabin 

Linda Sax 

Natalie Shooshani 

Pam Singer 

Beth Spira 

Delilah Urman 

13

Parent Teacher Association 

Cici Hallegua 

President 

Sandy Shohed 

Vice-President 

Delilah Urman 

Community-Building Director 


Fundraising Director 

Rebecca Kekst 

School Support Director 

Neda Mehdizadeh 

Staff Events Director 

Kate Axelrod 

Tikkun Olam Director 

Allison Rosenthal 

Communication Director 

Amy Goldstein 

Treasurer 

Afsaneh Illoulian 


Julie Pardo 

Executive Advisors 

School Support Activities 

Rebecca Kekst 

Director 

Room Parents 

Lori Goldstein 

Jana Wallack 

Judaic Studies 

Sylvia Karlan 

Pamela Singer 

Student Lunch 

Gina Danesh 

Marcy Melton 

PTA Directory 

Sharona Berookhim 

Lisa Rose 

Lag B’Omer Picnic 

Lilian Kashfian 

Gina Shayefar 

Nadina Szew 

Nazy Zarabi 

Lost and Found 


Julie Stein 

Sara Stern 

Anet Tabaroki 

Tikun Olam Activities 

Kate Axelrod 

Director 

Big Sunday 

Jill Goldner 

Israel Action Committee 

Sarit Finkelstein 

Yael Gelfer 


Project 1-9-5 

Negin Ascher 

Grade Level Projects 

Mahshid Feizbakhsh 


Vaughan Meyer 

Bita Shalom 

Sylvia Shapiro 

Staff Events 

Neda Mehdizadeh 

Director 

Monthly Staff Gift Coordinators 

Galit Harel 

Suzan Lamishaw 

Staff Back-to-School Breakfast 

Mojgan Maddahi 

Nooshin Mahboubian 

Staff Holiday Luncheon 

Orna Kianmahd 

Susan Kianmahd 

Farnaz Refoua 

Mitra Saeidy 

Staff Appreciation Month 

Kim Legerman 

Sara Stern 

Staff Appreciation Event 

Shiva Mosch 

Elenor Gabay 

Community-Building 

Activities 

Delilah Urman 

Director 

Night at the Pier Coordinators 

Juliet Abselet 

Adriane Bergman 

Karre Jacobs 

Lisa Lainer 

Parent Meeting Coordinators 

Karre Jacobs 

Sara Stern 

Chesed 

Pamela Levine 

Book Club 

Annie Seaton 

Mishloah Manot 

Karin Cohen 

Minoo Faliv 

Anjele Harouni 

Fariba Janpanah 

Ruthy Moossazadeh 

Fundraising Activities 


Director 

Holiday Boutique 

Orit Cohen 

Orit Eckstein 

Sharona Novinbakht 

Shirin Parsi 

Boutique Food 

Karen Morovati 

Caroline Nourafshan 

Boutique Cashiering 

Mayrav Gaslin 

Marina Romano 

Dawn Smalberg 

Boutique Accounting 

Desiree Bleet 

Tarryn Breskal 

Marina Romano 

Book Fair 

Nora Amin 

Elayne Maghen 

Liza Moalemzadeh 

Rita Rodef 

Helen Shadi 

Auction 

Shira Elias 

Michelle Harwin 

Jackie Klein 

Claire Markus 

Lisa Zide 

Volunteer Coordinator 


14


A Sinai Temple School 

10400 Wilshire Boulevard. Los Angeles, CA 90024 

P 310 475 6401 F 310 234 9184 www.sinaiakiba.org

2011-2012 Annual Report - Sinai Akiba Academy

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