By Sinai Temple on
July 18, 2022
Shanaz “Shan” Farahi and her husband Judah joined Sinai Temple in 2007. Her sons, Benjamin and Ilan, attended the Religious School and celebrated their B’nai Mitzvah at Sinai Temple. Shan was actively involved in the Religious School and since 2018 has served on the Executive Board of Sisterhood. As a graduate from the University of Southern California with a Business degree, she works in the real estate industry focusing on sales and property management. Shan presently serves as Co-President of Sisterhood with Cici Hallegua.
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By Sinai Temple on
July 7, 2022
David Kekst grew up in the New York and Connecticut suburbs of New York City, where he attended a Jewish day school through 8th grade. He moved into Manhattan for high school and went on to earn a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1990 and a law degree from Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1994. After practicing white collar criminal defense and complex business litigation with a boutique Manhattan law firm, David and his wife moved to Los Angeles in 1997. They became members of Sinai Temple almost immediately thereafter and sent all three of…
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By Sinai Temple on
July 1, 2022
Rabbi Avi Taff joins the Sinai Temple community after having served the Valley Beth Shalom community for the last 13 years. Before becoming a Rabbi, Avi served as a paratrooper in the Israeli Army, worked as Youth Educator at Krieger-Schechter Day School in Baltimore, Maryland, as Director of the Special Needs Vocational Program at Camp Ramah in California, and directed a Jewish summer day camp for children with special needs. Avi has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Judaic Studies from the University of Arizona and was ordained by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in 2011. Upon…
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By Sinai Temple on
June 28, 2022
By Sinai Temple on
March 25, 2022
RITUAL PREPARATIONS FOR PASSOVER: KASHRUT, SELLING HAMETZ, AND THE FAST OF THE FIRST BORN Ritual Preparations for Passover The regulations and traditions regarding how to prepare your home for Passover are complex. Thankfully, there is plenty of helpful information available for free online. With ever-evolving technologies and new food products, it’s important to read an up-to-date guide from a trustworthy source. We recommend this one from the Rabbinical Assembly. They have also created this document focusing on issues of particular relevance for the current year. The day before Passover is a traditional fast day for firstborn Jews, commemorating how they…
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By Sinai Temple on
January 27, 2022
Sinai Temple is dedicated to providing a welcoming and caring community for its members, devoted to Jewish learning and support for Israel and the Jewish people, and committed to improving ourselves and the world through a growing relationship with God from generation to generation. We are committed to the principles and values of Conservative Judaism and we welcome Jews of all backgrounds and affiliations to observe life cycle events, and pursue our mission through prayer, rituals, learning, music and the other gifts God has given us. Interested in joining our team? We invite you to apply for our current job…
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By Sinai Temple on
October 4, 2021
By Sinai Temple on
August 9, 2021
Brad Smiedt is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Rivonia Road Capital, a Los Angeles-based alternative investment firm focused on the financial services industry. He is also the Co-Founder and Chairman of The Fundworks, LLC a software-enabled alternative lender, also based in Los Angeles. Before co-founding The Fundworks, Brad sourced, structured and oversaw private equity investments with Lightyear Capital and Fenway Partners. Brad started his career as an investment banking analyst at Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown. Brad’s son, Jonah, is a rising 7th grader at Sinai Akiba Academy and his daughter, Arielle, is a rising 4th grader. He is currently the Vice…
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By Sinai Temple on
August 6, 2021
Randy Schwab joined Mount Sinai as General Manager on April 1, 2021. Before joining Mount Sinai, Randy served as the Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles for nine years. Prior to becoming CEO, he spent five years as the Executive Director of Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles. Prior to working with non-profit organizations, Randy owned and operated a jewelry design and manufacturing business for 24 years. Randy has also served on several non-profit boards, including Builders of Jewish Education and Temple Isaiah where he served as Board President. Randy lives in Los Angeles, is married…
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By Sinai Temple on
August 6, 2021
Reuben Berman has been a member of Sinai since the early 1980s and has fond memories of his experiences including religious school, Bar Mitzvah, and wedding. Reuben’s children are currently enrolled in Sinai Akiba Academy. He recently joined the school’s Board of Directors. He is a past president and board of directors member of the Haas Business School Los Angeles Alumni Chapter. He is also a member of the UCLA Real Estate Alumni Group’s Endowment Circle, the Jewish Federation’s Real Estate and Construction division, as well as AIPAC. Reuben is the co-founder of Entrada Partners, a real estate investment firm.
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