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 three 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.
jeff reynolds
Executive Vice president
Jeff Reynolds became a member of Temple Akiba of Culver City, like many others, when his children needed to attend preschool. His kids loved the ECC, and he subsequently joined the Board of Directors with a responsibility for that part of the organization. After some time in that position, he switched to being VP of Temple Administration. Outside of his work for Akiba, Jeff is a partner at Cipolla, Bhatti, Hoyal & Roach. Before becoming an attorney, Jeff worked in the fields of computer programming and journalism. In his position of Executive Vice President, Jeff hopes to bring his board experience to bear on a variety of issues facing the temple. He looks forward to working closely with the President to achieve the Temple’s goals.
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.
Ryan haselton
Finance Trustee
Ryan and his wife, Jessica, joined Temple Akiba in 2020 and have two daughters who have attended the ECC, religious school and summer camps. Ryan has been involved with Temple Akiba’s Finance Committee and looks forward to helping the Temple grow and continue to prosper over his term on the Board.
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!
robyn kupferman
Development Trustee
Robyn Kupferman first joined the Akiba community when her oldest son enrolled at the ECC and was impressed with the warm welcome she and her family received. Since then, Robyn has co-chaired the annual Temple Akiba Purim Carnival multiple times. (It is one of her favorite days of the year!) Together with her husband Aaron, and her boys Logan and Evan, the family participates in many Akiba activities, such as Religious School, Day Camp, and Resident Camp. In her professional life, Robyn supports homeless and domestic violence programs in Los Angeles County. She loves Temple Akiba's commitment to social justice is honored to have been asked to be on the board.
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.
rachel verne
Early Childhood Center Trustee
Rachel has been a member of Temple Akiba with her family since January 2023. She has been an active participant in Jewish life starting with a strong foundation moving from bat-mitzvah to confirmation at her temple in San Diego, being BBYO N'siah (president) for the Southern California Region, and then working as a Hillel intern in college. At Temple Akiba she has been a room parent since her daughter enrolled and was on the Temple 70th Gala sponsorship committee last year. Her daughter Mila will be graduating the ECC in 2025, just as her daughter Catherine starts Parparim. Rachel eagerly embraces her role as ECC Trustee and the opportunity to make connections between ECC families and the larger congregation, aiming to support families in remaining part of the Akiba community through ECC, religious school, and beyond.
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.”
verna Erez
Sisterhood Trustee
After leaving Israel and living in LA for 2 years, Sam and I moved to Culver City. We joined Temple Akiba in 1986 and immediately became volunteers in the Bingo Nights that were at that time run by Akiba and continued to volunteer for the temple. Our three wonderful children were b’nai mitzvahed and confirmed at the temple. Sam became Religious Action Trustee and I was Sisterhood president. Some years after Sam died, I became Recording Secretary for the Temple Board of Trustees, a position I held for 9 years. I am now returning to the Board as the Sisterhood Trustee.
ira pemstein
Men’s Group Trustee
Originally from Pasadena, CA, Ira and his wife Maria joined Temple Akiba in 2021. Since becoming a Temple Akiba member, Ira has been very active in the Akiba community. You will find Ira in attendance at most Friday night Shabbat services and at Saturday morning Torah Study sessions. Immediately after joining Temple Akiba, Ira joined the synagogue’s Men’s Group and routinely helped with planning and working Men’s Group events. Ira is currently a member of the Men’s Group leadership team which he loves being a part of and is thankful for the wonderful friendships he has made with all the men and women of the group. Ira looks forward to helping the Men’s Group grow and for the Men’s Group to assist Temple Akiba in fulfilling the temple’s mission. Prior to joining the board, Ira was the co-chair of the temple’s yearly gala, “A Night Out in Tel Aviv."
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.
