TEMPLE AKIBA HAS A DEDICATED AND HARD WORKING VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY. WE THANK OUR GENEROUS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, Board OF trustees, and VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP US MAKE TEMPLE AKIBA WHAT IT IS today.
Cathy Penso PRESIDENT
Cathy has been a member of Temple Akiba since 1982 when she married Bruce, whose family joined Akiba in 1968. They have three grown children and two grandsons, who bring them much happiness. Cathy has served as Sisterhood President, VP Education, VP Ways and Means, VP Affiliations and on the Campaign of Light. It is an honor and a privilege to be elected to lead our Temple, devoted to bringing justice and goodness into the world. Cathy hopes to deepen the connections with our members, to more fully engage them in services, activities, and programs to make membership in Akiba more meaningful. Cathy is committed to ensuring Temple Akiba’s future, to continuing its legacy as a warm, accepting and inclusive “home” where our light shines brighter together.
Marc Bauer
Executive Vice president
Marc Bauer has been involved with Temple Akiba since he was 2 years old as a student in the Temple Akiba Nursery School (as it was known at the time). Marc married his wife Lacey at Temple Akiba in 2016. Marc and Lacey have two wonderful children – Mara, who loves her time every day at the ECC and Max, who will hopefully one day be able to attend the ECC.
Ira Diamond
immediate past president
Ira and his family have been members of Temple Akiba for 30 years. He has served as High Holy Day Chair and Vice President of Religious Practices on the Board. Ira and Carol have two sons who attended our Temple Akiba ECC and religious school and who are now wonderful young men. Ira is passionate about encouraging engagement at Temple Akiba for all age groups. Whether you attend services or classes, are a greeter at services, join a havurah, or participate in Mitzvah Day, it is very enriching and connects you to our community. Ira appreciates that Temple Akiba is such a welcoming and friendly place. He is also a big believer that smiling and greeting each other, even to someone you don’t know, will improve your day and make someone else feel good.
Morris Zlotowitz
Finance Trustee
Morris has been a member of Temple Akiba since 2012 and an active member of the Board of Trustees since 2014. "Temple Akiba has become our community and family." His vision for Temple Akiba is to continue to be a place for Jewish learning and fellowship in the Culver City and West LA community for future generations.
helene jaffa
Religious Practices Trustee
Helene, retired New York Elder Law attorney who moved to California in October 2012 and immediately started attending services, classes, and other Akiba activities, she became a member almost immediately and started to give time and effort to our synagogue and our Sisterhood. She has served and continues to serve on both Boards in any capacity where she can help. Helene is the proud grandmother of two children who benefitted from our excellent Hebrew school and feels like a grandmother to all our kids!
John Magoulas
Development Trustee
A native of Los Angeles, John grew up in the halls of Temple Akiba and has been a member for over four decades. He will bring a depth of financial resource development and relationship building skills to our Board of Directors. John previously served on the board of director's in the early 2000's as Vice President of Education and Vice President of Youth/Camps. John is proud to be part of a multi-generational family who are all members of Temple Akiba.
Tracey wise finkelstein
Religious School Trustee
Tracey is incredibly honored to join the Temple Akiba Board as your Religious School Trustee. She and her husband, Marc, happily joined Temple Akiba six years ago, when they enrolled their daughter, Marissa, as a Religious School kindergartner. Tracey was raised in suburban New York in a Conservative Jewish family that was extremely active in their synagogue, so she is proudly following in her parents’ footsteps. She also served on the Metropolitan New York Regional Board of United Synagogue Youth (aka USY, the Conservative Movement’s youth group)… in her youth. Some of her favorite experiences at Temple Akiba have been collaborating with Cantor Lonee on musical Purim Shpiels and Disney Shabbat, so she is particularly excited to be working with the Religious School families. Tracey also has dedicated most of her professional career to youth -- in children’s theatre, children’s entertainment (Film/TV at Fox Family Films and Walt Disney Studios), and arts education (The Los Angeles Film and Recording Schools, and Co-Chairing a high school screenwriting mentorship program). She has particularly enjoyed teaching musical theatre to many Temple Akiba Religious School students over the years, through her “Broadway Beatz” after-school program.
leah potok
Early Childhood Center Trustee
Leah has been a member of Temple Akiba with her family since 2018. She has been an active participant in Jewish life from her temple growing up in MD to Hillel in college to Temple Akiba in Culver City. Leah's children have both spent their toddler years at Temple Akiba's Early Childhood Center. Leah is excited to take on this role to help shape the future of the ECC for generations to come.
Jenna Sonenshein
Membership Trustee
Jenna Sonenshein and her family joined Temple Akiba in 2016 when she enrolled her children in the Religious School. She loves being a part of Akiba’s inclusive and welcoming community, and through Religious School, day camp, resident camp, and b'nai mitzvah, her kids feel like Akiba is a second home. After serving on the Membership Committee and helping with Mitzvah Day, Jenna is excited to take on a leadership role as Membership Trustee to build connections with existing members and grow our Temple community.
Lisa Tsimanis
Financial Secretary
Lisa Tsimanis, her husband Alex, and daughter Gaby joined Temple Akiba in 2010. They came to Temple Akiba by way of the ECC as many temple members have. Lisa loves all that the temple has to offer her and her family - her daughter attended Religious School, Day Camp, Resident Camp, and became a Bat Mitzvah, and recently joined the Senior TASTY board! After volunteering to lead the silent auction as part of the Purim Carnival and then for a fall fundraiser during COVID, Lisa took the next step to join the Temple Board of Trustees as the Financial Secretary.
Sara Fields
Engagement Trustee
Sara Fields is a long time Culver City resident and has been a Temple member since 2015. As an active member of the Tikkun Olam committee, she has represented the committee at the meetings of the Westside Coalition on Homelessness and its Faith Committee. She is currently leading a group developing a process for the Temple to take positions on public policy issues at the local, state and federal levels, in line with Jewish values. “As Director of Engagement, I look forward to helping our Temple members connect with one another and with community organizations to further our mission and values.”
Linda park
Sisterhood Trustee
Linda discovered and joined Temple Akiba in 1991 when she was seeking a spiritual home with a vibrant Religious School for her daughters. She has served on the Temple Board in various capacities for almost 20 years. She is committed to fostering L’Dor v’Dor and is proud to have served multiple terms as Sisterhood President. In this capacity she is honored to encourage religious and spiritual development as well as enhance and augment the experiences of the entire congregation. In her spare time, she co-manages the Temple Akiba Sisterhood Gift Shop.
wendy senelick
Recording Secretary
Wendy and her husband, Devin grew up at Temple Akiba. Starting with religious school and attending resident camp to becoming a Bat Mitzvah, and being married by Rabbi Maller (who also married her in-laws). Wendy and Devin have two teenage daughters, who attended the the ECC, day camp, religious school, resident camp, and became Bat Mitzvahs. Wendy is on the Sisterhood board, served as recording secretary and current VP of membership. Wendy is also the Chair for the Mishloach Manot fundraiser, bringing this fun tradition to Temple Akiba. She is honored to be part of the Board of Trustees.
Benjamin rapoport
Facilities Trustee
Benjamin Rapoport and his wife, Lana, have been Temple members since 2018 when their two daughters, Maya and Alena started ECC and Religious School. Benjamin has been an active member of the Security Committee and looks forward to working with fellow Board and Committee members to maintain and improve the facilities and security of Temple Akiba’s Campus.
jamie shwartz
Youth, Camp, & Family Programs Trustee
Jamie and her family joined Temple Akiba in 2016, when she enrolled her children in the Religious School. She loves being a part of Temple Akiba's community, through Religious School, day camp, and resident camp. She spent her youth as a camper at sleepaway camp, eventually becoming a counselor for many years. After college she worked in youth programming through the JCC and helped run high school programs. She looks forward to working as the Youth and Camp trustee for Temple Akiba. She has a husband, two boys and two dogs.
