Rabbi David Wolpe - Named the most influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek Magazine and one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world by the Jerusalem Post. David Wolpe is the Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, California. He previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. Rabbi Wolpe’s work has been profiled in the NewYork Times, and he regularly writes for many publications, including The LA Times, the Washington Post’s On Faith website, The Huffington Post, New York Jewish Week, and many others. He has been on television numerous times, including the Today Show, Face the Nation, ABC this Morning, and CBS This Morning. In addition Rabbi Wolpe has been featured in series on PBS, A&E, the History channel, and the Discovery channel. Rabbi Wolpe is the author of seven books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times. Rabbi Wolpe’s new book is titled, Why Faith Matters.

Honors/Awards:

• Named the number one rabbi in America by Newsweek (2012)
• Named one of the fifty most important Rabbis in America by Newsweek (2007-2012)
• Named one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world by The Jerusalem Post(2012)
• Named one of the one hundred most influential individuals in L.A. by Los Angeles Magazine (2006)
• Named one of the hundred most influential Jews in the United States by the Forward (2003)
• Recipient of the Hope Award from the Tower Cancer Research Foundation
• Winner of a Rackower award for Jewish Journalism
• Award for distinguished contribution from the Wellness Center.
• Award for excellence in single commentary by the American Jewish Press Association (2005)
  

  More About Rabbi Wolpe

Rabbi Nicole Guzik is a rabbi at Sinai Temple. Rabbi Guzik works with the Torah in the Round and Dor Chadash communities and is developing programming for our Caring Community and families with children with special needs.

Rabbi Guzik also serves as the Director of the Sinai Temple Israel Center. The Israel Center is a programmatic base that engages the Sinai Temple and Los Angeles community in pro-Israel education and awareness through speakers, classes, trips, and programs. Rabbi Guzik is proud to lead the David and Angella Nazarian Youth Leadership Program: a fellowship that engages our teen community in Israel advocacy and leadership training.

In the greater Los Angeles Jewish community, Rabbi Guzik sits on the UCLA Hillel Board of Directors, Executive Committee of the Pacific Southwest Region of the Rabbinical Assembly, and Executive Committee of the Board of Rabbis.

She is married to Rabbi Erez Sherman, assistant Rabbi at Shomrei Torah Synagogue. Together, they are the proud parents of daughter, Annie.

Rabbi Jason Fruithandler is excited to join the Sinai Temple community.  Rabbi Fruithandler has just finished two years at congregation Bnai Jeshurun where he served as, Teen Coordinator, Graduate Intern, and Rabbinic Fellow.  There he helped implement a mishpacha program combining adult education and family education with the already standing Hebrew School Curriculum.   He also sent 46 teens on service learning trips in New Orleans and Santo Domingo.  He is proud to have been the Student Rabbi of Congregation Ahavath Israel in Kingston, New York.  Rabbi Fruithandler looks forward as well, to being a part of the STARS, ATID, and USY communities.

Rabbi Fruithandler graduated from the Joint Program between the Jewish Theological Seminary’s List College and Columbia University.  He received a B.A. In Talmud and Rabbinics and a second B.A. in Sociology.  Rabbi Fruithandler completed his M.A. in Jewish Education at JTS’s Davdison School of Education and recently finished his ordination at the JTS’s rabbinical school.  He is proud to have been a part of the first cohort of cross-denominational Schusterman Rabbinic Fellows.  As part of the fellowship Rabbi Fruithandler focused on the intricacies of non-profit work, reaching out to Jews on the periphery, and re-envisioning synagogues for the next generation.

Rabbi Fruithandler has a wife of five years Jessica Fruithandler and a beautiful baby girl Liba Shifra Fruithandler.

Rabbi Emeritus Zvi Dershowitz - Until he became Sinai's Emeritus, Rabbi Dershowitz served this congregation 25 years on the pulpit, teaching, administering programs and activities, and available for all life cycle events. He continues his presence at Sinai and is now available to the entire Jewish community for counseling, officiating at weddings and funerals, even as he continues his teaching at the University of Judaism and other communal activities.

Cantor Marcus Feldman - A native of Los Angeles, Cantor Marcus Feldman trained in opera as a Baritone / Tenor and graduated from the University Of Southern California in 2007 with dual degrees in Vocal Performance, B.M. and Business Administration, B.S. (concentration in Real Estate Finance). While at USC, Cantor Feldman was a member of the university's top choral ensemble and sang leading roles in two of the main stage operas. Cantor Feldman began the study of hazzanut privately with Cantor Nathan Lam in 2005. While a student he served as Cantor of Sun City Jewish Services in Palm Desert, California and lead monthly Shabbat services and High Holy Day services with Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin. In 2010, as part of his cantorial studies, Cantor Feldman spent a semester in Jerusalem studying hazzanut with the renowned Cantor Naftali Herstik. Ordained at the Academy for Jewish Religion, California, in May of 2011, Cantor Feldman holds a Masters of Jewish Sacred Music from the same institution. Cantor Feldman was appointed to be the Second Cantor of Stephen S. Wise Temple in 2011, serving alongside his mentor and long-time friend, Cantor Nathan Lam. Additionally, Cantor Feldman regularly appears as a guest cantor throughout the state of California. Cantor Feldman is both excited and honored to join Sinai Temple as its Senior Cantor. He looks forward to following in, and adding to, the long and impressive tradition of cantors and music directors at Sinai Temple. Cantor Feldman views the cantorate as a sacred vessel for the seamless transmission of Jewish musical heritage throughout the ages. He strives to honor and preserve the rich traditions of the past while also always looking forward to the new gateways of the present and future in order to best serve the Jewish community in the 21st century.

Cantor Emeritus Joseph Gole - A native of Southern California, Cantor Joseph Gole attended the University of Judaism, Hebrew Union College, and earned his degree in opera and voice at the University of Southern California. A product of the Conservative Movement, Cantor Gole grew up in Los Angeles and attended Adat Ari El, Los Angeles Hebrew High and Camp Ramah. He studied privately with Hazzan Allan Michelson, Hazzan Samuel Kelemer, and Jewish repertoire coach Erwin Jospe. He has been the Cantor of Sinai Temple for eighteen years. Currently, he serves as the International President of the Cantors Assembly – the largest professional organization of cantors in world with 550 members and is a member of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. A recipient of the regional United Synagogue Award for outstanding creative programming, Cantor Gole has served as faculty at the University of Judaism and the Baal Tephilah Institute, and has encouraged numerous young hazzanim who now occupy leading cantorial positions. He personally trains our B’nai Mitzvah students and participates in life cycle events of our congregants. A brilliant concert musician as well, he has appeared with many major ensembles, including the Pacific Palisades Orchestra, the Guild Opera Company of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Executive Director - Howard Lesner - A Los Angeles native, Howard Lesner graduated from UCLA in 1973 and from Pepperdine in 1976 with a Master of Science in School Management and Administration. His Jewish education started at Sinai Temple and continued at the University of Judaism. Howard served as a public school teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District from 1973-1979, where he taught grades K-6. He directed Camp Tikvah of Temple Beth Am for seven years and was the founding director of Sinai Temple's Camp Maoz. He also directed programming for the USY Youth Department. In 1979, Howard became principal of the Elementary Day School at Stephen S. Wise Temple assuming the role of Associate Executive Director for the Temple in 1992. In 1999, he returned to Sinai Temple to serve as Executive Director. Howard is currently on the board of directors of the Los Angeles Hebrew High School. He and his wife Michal live in Westwood.

Head of School - Dr. Sarah Shulkind
Sarah was raised in Chicago in a home of educators, and attended Washburne Middle School and New Trier High School, both excellent public educational institutions. Sarah graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania with a double major in English and History. During her time at Penn, Sarah was awarded the Truman Fellowship, which is a national, prestigious graduate scholarship for college students committed to public service. Awarded for her work in educational reform and research, the fellowship experience helped her to focus and define her goals as an educational leader. Sarah has her M.Ed in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard University, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership from University of California, Los Angeles. She received the National Association of Secondary Schools Dissertation Award for her research on Middle Level Advisory Programs.

Sarah has presented on curricular integration, reading comprehension, student-led conferences, advisory programs, academic achievement, parent education, personalization, differentiation, and service learning in local and national conferences. She has published articles in Education Leadership, Principal Leadership, and The Middle School Journal.

During her time as Milken’s Middle School Principal, Sarah worked with a team of exceptional educators who, together, created a model Jewish school. Alongside this team, her greatest accomplishment was the visioning and strategic planning for the new Middle School campus and the translation of this vision into reality. She is especially proud of building a nationally recognized advisory program as well as establishing a 1:1 learning environment and launching the innovative Israel education program, Nofim. Over the last two years, the Middle School has focused professional development and instruction on teaching reading at the middle level, and she and her colleagues have tracked statistically significant student growth in targeted areas. Sarah also celebrates her faculty who in this year alone have presented at three national conferences and published their work in educational journals.
Sarah was raised in a Conservative Jewish home, where the Jewish learning, values and celebration were part of her everyday life. Her strongest Jewish role models were her four grandparents, all of who remain a significant force in her life today. Sarah attended at worked at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, where she met her husband Andrew. Sarah, Andrew and their three daughters, Lucy, Olivia, and Sadie are all active members of IKAR.

Rabbi Laurence Scheindlin - Headmaster Emeritus is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. He holds Master's degrees from UCLA and the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he was also ordained as a rabbi. Since 1977 he has led faculty, parents and students toward the advancement of education, religious life and institutional development at Sinai Akiba Academy. Under his direction Sinai Akiba Academy has grown from 170 to 700 students, developed an activities-based approach to instruction, an innovative learning support program, a culture of professional growth, and a warm parent community, engaged in major expansions and building renovations, and gained a reputation for excellence and creativity.

The school is known for its academic depth, the strength of its Hebrew language and Judaic program, and for its infusion of spiritual values in all aspects of the curriculum. Rabbi Scheindlin is a recipient of the Milken Outstanding Jewish Educator Award. He has published numerous articles, conducted workshops and taught courses on varied subjects including curriculum, school governance and administration, and in his area of unique expertise, the significance of emotions in both general and spiritual education.

Religious School Director - Danielle Salem-Kassin has had the pleasure of returning to the Sinai Temple community. She attended Sinai Akiba Academy Day School, where she met her husband in the 4th grade. She was also confirmed at Sinai Temple. Sometime later, she returned and taught at Sinai Akiba Academy and Sinai Temple Religious School. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Comparative Religions from the University of California Riverside. She holds a double Masters Degree in Education Administration and Hebrew Letters from the University of Judaism. Danielle has visited Israel many times and has led teenage groups on tours throughout the country. Her pledge is to make the Sinai Temple Religious School the best on the Westside, offering the highest level of Jewish Education through dynamic, challenging, and interactive programs.

Center Director - Tracy Schatz - Growing up as a member of Sinai Temple, Tracy Schatz taught drama, music, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah classes. Her background is in Education and Psychology. For ten years she was the coordinator of the Secondary Educational Center at UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Institute. She helped create Camp Ramah's Tikvah program, and taught drama and life-cycle courses for L.A. Hebrew High. She started out coordinating the programming and moved from that to coordinate membership and administration.  Now she's enjoying her job as Director of the Douglas Family Early Childhood Center.  Every day working with children makes her smile.  However, Her best credentials, are her four children and talented husband, Dale.

Eric J. Diamond is the Chief Operating Officer of Decron Properties, a diversified real estate investment and management firm headquartered in Los Angeles. Previously, Mr. Diamond held positions as President and Chief Executive Officer of Seven Forty Management, a private management company, and as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Barclay's Realty and Management Company, both in Los Angeles, California. These positions followed his eighteen (18) years in private law practice. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A. Economics, 1983) and the UCLA School of Law (J.D., 1986). In addition to his longstanding involvement in Sinai Temple, Mr. Diamond also serves as a director of the University Chapter Fraternal Home Corporation (Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity House Corporation at the University of Virginia). He formerly served as a director of Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services (Los Angeles) and the Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation (Indianapolis, Indiana).

Mr. Diamond is married to Deborah Smotrich Diamond. They have two sons: Jason and Jeffrey . Jason is a graduate of Sinai Akiba Academy and celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Sinai Temple. Jeffrey currently attends Sinai Religious School. Jason and Jeffrey are fourth generation Sinai Temple members.

Rabbi David Wolpe - Named the most influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek Magazine and one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world by the Jerusalem Post. David Wolpe is the Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, California. He previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. Rabbi Wolpe’s work has been profiled in the NewYork Times, and he regularly writes for many publications, including The LA Times, the Washington Post’s On Faith website, The Huffington Post, New York Jewish Week, and many others. He has been on television numerous times, including the Today Show, Face the Nation, ABC this Morning, and CBS This Morning. In addition Rabbi Wolpe has been featured in series on PBS, A&E, the History channel, and the Discovery channel. Rabbi Wolpe is the author of seven books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times. Rabbi Wolpe’s new book is titled, Why Faith Matters.

Honors/Awards:

• Named the number one rabbi in America by Newsweek (2012)
• Named one of the fifty most important Rabbis in America by Newsweek (2007-2012)
• Named one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world by The Jerusalem Post (2012)
• Named one of the one hundred most influential individuals in L.A. by Los Angeles Magazine (2006)
• Named one of the hundred most influential Jews in the United States by the Forward (2003)
• Recipient of the Hope Award from the Tower Cancer Research Foundation
• Winner of a Rackower award for Jewish Journalism
• Award for distinguished contribution from the Wellness Center.
• Award for excellence in single commentary by the American Jewish Press Association (2005)

  More About Rabbi Wolpe

Rabbi Nicole Guzik is a rabbi at Sinai Temple. Rabbi Guzik works with the Torah in the Round and Dor Chadash communities and is developing programming for our Caring Community and families with children with special needs.

Rabbi Guzik also serves as the Director of the Sinai Temple Israel Center. The Israel Center is a programmatic base that engages the Sinai Temple and Los Angeles community in pro-Israel education and awareness through speakers, classes, trips, and programs. Rabbi Guzik is proud to lead the David and Angella Nazarian Youth Leadership Program: a fellowship that engages our teen community in Israel advocacy and leadership training.

In the greater Los Angeles Jewish community, Rabbi Guzik sits on the UCLA Hillel Board of Directors, Executive Committee of the Pacific Southwest Region of the Rabbinical Assembly, and Executive Committee of the Board of Rabbis.

She is married to Rabbi Erez Sherman, assistant Rabbi at Shomrei Torah Synagogue. Together, they are the proud parents of daughter, Annie.

Rabbi Jason Fruithandler is excited to join the Sinai Temple community.  Rabbi Fruithandler has just finished two years at congregation Bnai Jeshurun where he served as, Teen Coordinator, Graduate Intern, and Rabbinic Fellow.  There he helped implement a mishpacha program combining adult education and family education with the already standing Hebrew School Curriculum.   He also sent 46 teens on service learning trips in New Orleans and Santo Domingo.  He is proud to have been the Student Rabbi of Congregation Ahavath Israel in Kingston, New York.  Rabbi Fruithandler looks forward as well, to being a part of the STARS, ATID, and USY communities.

Rabbi Fruithandler graduated from the Joint Program between the Jewish Theological Seminary’s List College and Columbia University.  He received a B.A. In Talmud and Rabbinics and a second B.A. in Sociology.  Rabbi Fruithandler completed his M.A. in Jewish Education at JTS’s Davdison School of Education and recently finished his ordination at the JTS’s rabbinical school.  He is proud to have been a part of the first cohort of cross-denominational Schusterman Rabbinic Fellows.  As part of the fellowship Rabbi Fruithandler focused on the intricacies of non-profit work, reaching out to Jews on the periphery, and re-envisioning synagogues for the next generation.

Rabbi Fruithandler has a wife of five years Jessica Fruithandler and a beautiful baby girl Liba Shifra Fruithandler.

Rabbi Dershowitz - Until he became Sinai's Emeritus, Rabbi Dershowitz served this congregation 25 years on the pulpit, teaching, administering programs and activities, and available for all life cycle events. He continues his presence at Sinai and is now available to the entire Jewish community for counseling, officiating at weddings and funerals, even as he continues his teaching at the University of Judaism and other communal activities.

Cantor Marcus Feldman - A native of Los Angeles, Cantor Marcus Feldman trained in opera as a Baritone / Tenor and graduated from the University Of Southern California in 2007 with dual degrees in Vocal Performance, B.M. and Business Administration, B.S. (concentration in Real Estate Finance). While at USC, Cantor Feldman was a member of the university's top choral ensemble and sang leading roles in two of the main stage operas. Cantor Feldman began the study of hazzanut privately with Cantor Nathan Lam in 2005. While a student he served as Cantor of Sun City Jewish Services in Palm Desert, California and lead monthly Shabbat services and High Holy Day services with Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin. In 2010, as part of his cantorial studies, Cantor Feldman spent a semester in Jerusalem studying hazzanut with the renowned Cantor Naftali Herstik. Ordained at the Academy for Jewish Religion, California, in May of 2011, Cantor Feldman holds a Masters of Jewish Sacred Music from the same institution. Cantor Feldman was appointed to be the Second Cantor of Stephen S. Wise Temple in 2011, serving alongside his mentor and long-time friend, Cantor Nathan Lam. Additionally, Cantor Feldman regularly appears as a guest cantor throughout the state of California. Cantor Feldman is both excited and honored to join Sinai Temple as its Senior Cantor. He looks forward to following in, and adding to, the long and impressive tradition of cantors and music directors at Sinai Temple. Cantor Feldman views the cantorate as a sacred vessel for the seamless transmission of Jewish musical heritage throughout the ages. He strives to honor and preserve the rich traditions of the past while also always looking forward to the new gateways of the present and future in order to best serve the Jewish community in the 21st century.

Cantor Joseph Gole - A native of Southern California, Cantor Joseph Gole attended the University of Judaism, Hebrew Union College, and earned his degree in opera and voice at the University of Southern California. A product of the Conservative Movement, Cantor Gole grew up in Los Angeles and attended Adat Ari El, Los Angeles Hebrew High and Camp Ramah. He studied privately with Hazzan Allan Michelson, Hazzan Samuel Kelemer, and Jewish repertoire coach Erwin Jospe. He has been the Cantor of Sinai Temple for eighteen years. Currently, he serves as the International President of the Cantors Assembly – the largest professional organization of cantors in world with 550 members and is a member of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. A recipient of the regional United Synagogue Award for outstanding creative programming, Cantor Gole has served as faculty at the University of Judaism and the Baal Tephilah Institute, and has encouraged numerous young hazzanim who now occupy leading cantorial positions. He personally trains our B’nai Mitzvah students and participates in life cycle events of our congregants. A brilliant concert musician as well, he has appeared with many major ensembles, including the Pacific Palisades Orchestra, the Guild Opera Company of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.