About

Our Board

2019-2020 School Board

The Board meets monthly to discuss significant issues relating to the operations of Sinai Akiba Academy. In addition, the School Board has several sub-committees that are responsible for strategic planning, tuition assistance policies, development, recruitment, endowment, and other areas of importance, as they arise. The Board is composed of parents, grandparents, Sinai Temple members, and community representatives.

List of 27 members.

Rebecca Kekst
Bio
Board Chair

Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Barnard College; Columbia University
Additional Information:

Rebecca Kekst has been an active member of Sinai Temple since she and her husband, David Kekst, joined the synagogue in 1999. She was a founding member of Dor Chadash and has held many roles in the synagogue, the Douglas Family Early Childhood Center, and Sinai Akiba Academy. She has served as gala co-chair for the Sinai Temple dinner, co-chaired the Shabbaton for 3 years and most recently chaired the Catering Committee. While a parent in the preschool, Rebecca served as both PTA president and then chaired the board of the preschool. During her time at Sinai Akiba Academy, she has chaired the PTA, Development Committee and 50th Anniversary Campaign and Celebration. Rebecca is currently the chair of the Sinai Akiba Board. Rebecca also serves on the PK-12 committee for the Jewish Federation and has served on the Camp Ramah board for many years. Rebecca is married to David Kekst and has three children who have all attended Sinai Akiba Academy.
Sari Arnall
Bio
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Psychology, University of Florida
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, University of Florida
- Certified Public Accountant
Samantha Auerbach
Jamie Berman
Sheila Bolour
Tarryn Breskal
Linda Camras
Rachel Farahnik
Linda Friedman
Bio
Education
- Graphic Designer, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City
Current Position:
Organizer, The Pleasure of Organizing
Mayrav Gaslin
Bio
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree, Journalism, Northwestern University
Current Position:
President, Kavanah Communications
Additional Information:

Mayrav is a communications strategist and content consultant working primarily in the health care industry. She is also a tireless volunteer, particularly for Sinai Temple and SAA. She is a past executive board member of Sinai Temple and has served many volunteer roles at SAA, including being a room mom since the Stone Ages (give or take a few years).
Abigail Goldman
Lori Goldstein
Jeanne Huybrechts
Dalia Kamrava
Michelle Lobel
Lisa Mamos
Yael Mashbaum
Sharon Meron
Sam Parsi
Hezy Shalev
Bita Shalom
Bio
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree, Economics, UCLA
Additional Information:

Bita was previously employed as a Senior Account Manager in charge of Deferred Compensation Plans for CEOs and Executives of Fortune 500 Companies. She has also served as ECC Parent Association President and ECC Board Chair. Currently, she is serving on the Retention and Recruitment Committee (for the past 9 years) and on the Parent Association Board (for the past 8 years).
Andres Terech
Mark Urman
Bio
Education:
- Bachelor's degree Northwestern University - Evanston, Illinois
- MD from Northwestern University Medical School - Chicago, Illinois
- Fellow of the American College of Cardiology
- Fellow of the American Heart Association
- Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography
- Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases
Current Position:
Attending Cardiologist, on staff at Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute, in private practice

Additional Information:

Sinai Temple director since 2014; former co-chair Temple Membership Committee; SAA Oversight Committee of Temple board; Clinical Professor of Medicine at both Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Geffen Medical School at UCLA; former Clinical Chief, Division of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai; past Inaugural Medical Director of the Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute;
Pam Weisberg
Richard Weston
Bio
Education:
Current Employment:
Principal, dreamGEAR, LLC
Betty Winn
Parham Zar

10400 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90024 | 310 475 6401

Sinai Akiba Academy is a private Jewish day school in Los Angeles, serving students in Early Childhood through Grade 8. We also offer a variety of parenting classes and programs for children through our Parenting Center. A Sinai Temple school.

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