Lora Silverman – ’75 - was in the first graduating class at Akiba and is one of seven Akiba alums now sending their children to Sinai Akiba Academy. She wanted a Jewish day school education for her three children, Victor, and twins, Mara and Samantha, and although Akiba was the sentimental favorite from the beginning, after looking at several schools she was convinced that SAA was absolutely the best choice. “The education I got at Akiba has served me well throughout my life and I’m delighted that my children will have a similar experience--only better,” remarked Lora. After leaving Akiba, Lora continued her education at El Rodeo and Beverly Hills High. She attended college at MIT where she studied engineering and earned a law degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. She has her own law practice, Knee, Roos & Silverman, specializing in labor and employment law. Lora and her husband are active members of the Sinai community and Lora serves on the Sinai Akiba Committee, the school board. She is currently the budget chair and formerly served as the recruitment committee chair. Lora is married to Keith Stolzenbach, an Environmental Engineering professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Pamela Klamer Singer ‘77 After graduating from SAA, Pamela went to on to attend El Rodeo, Beverly Hills High School, and USC – majoring in Theatre and Set Design. Additionally, she earned a certificate from Otis Parsons Art Institute in Textiles and Surface Design. After graduating from USC, Pamela has worked on some Feature films such as: “Independence Day”, “AI – Artificial Intelligence”, “Matrix II” and “Jurassic park II” and “Jumanji”. Pamela also has been a set designer for such television shows as: Boston Legal, Picket Fences, and Ugly Betty. Pamela and her husband Kevin Singer have been married eight years and actually met in a salsa dance class and used to compete in amateur competitions. Recently, they opened a gourmet candy company called “Sweeziel Galoups” that make gourmet caramel corn in a variety of flavors. Pamela has many great memories of her small class of 14. Pamela mentioned her class of 1977 felt like a family and although the Sinai building has changed and expanded, she got a warm feeling as soon as she walked into Kohn Chapel, after all these years. Speaking of family, Pamela and her husband just became current SAA parents because their daughter Jasmine is a 2nd grader at Sinai Akiba. Pamela is thrilled to repeat the Sinai experience and SAA is certainly very pleased to welcome her family. Pamela is now the seventh alumni to return with a child enrolled at SAA.
Natasha Novian ‘98 - Natasha attended SAA from pre-school through 8th grade and then attended Beverly Hills High School. Natasha earned her Bachelor of Arts from CSU, Northridge in Liberal Studies and her teaching credential. She currently works at SAA as a teachers assistant. Natasha is in a Masters program to be a Language Specialist. Natasha has many pleasant memories of teachers she had that are still here such as, Shelley Lawrence, Marcia Fellner, and Donna Kerman. She had a lot of fun as a student at SAA and states that growing up here she felt a real sense of community. She remains friends with a few SAA alums and recently enjoyed her class of 1998 10 year reunion where their time capsule was opened.
Dena Kravitz '95 credits her nine years of SAA education and focus on tzedakah with her decision to enter family law and help people. When she is not at Harris Ginsberg, LLP working as a family law Associate, Dena has been contributing her skills as a family law attorney doing pro-bono work for the Harriett Buhai Center. She is especially impressed with the fact that the Harriet Buhai Center does not charge a fee to low-income families and prepares clients to represent themselves with their family law issues, thereby empowering them. Dena attended SAA all nine years and then Beverly Hills High school, UCLA, and Loyola Law School. She is also an active member of Hadassah. She feels that Sinai Temple and SAA is a very important part of her and her family's life. In fact, most of her family's long-time friends are from the Sinai community. She feels that SAA gives children a really solid moral and educational background and that SAA alums go on to excellent colleges and careers.
Negin ( Mokhtarian )Ascher - Class of 1987
Negin graduated in the class of ’87 with a small, close-knit class of 8 kids and noted that she was oneof the very first Persian students at SAA. Sherecalls that her class started the hot lunch program once a week and developed the first SAA yearbook. She has fond memories of Mrs. Johnson for History and English, and Mr. Cassis her Drama teacher and the Yosemite trip. After graduating from SAA, Negin attended Beverly Hills High and UCLA and was very involved in the debate teams making it to national finals. Law School at Fordham was her next step and then she came back to Los Angeles. She has always been impressed by SAA graduates not only with their professional success, but what good strong family backgrounds they come from. Although her husband David is originally from the South, Negin can attest to the deep sense of Sinai community as she met him years ago at a Friday Night Live function at Sinai Temple. David and Negin currently have nieces attending SAA and are excited that their daughter will be in SAA's kindergarten class in the fall. Negin and David are both active with D’or Hadash in reaching out to young families. From generation to generation, SAA is truly a close-knit family.
Danielle Kassin - Class of 1986
Danielle Salem-Kassin, Class of 1986, has been working as the Religious School Director at Sinai Temple.
After 7th grade Danielle attended Emerson Junior High School,
