Executive Committee and Board of Trustees
Mike Diamond
President
Mike Diamond
Mike Diamond currently serves as the Temple Isaiah President. He has been a member of the Board and Executive Committee since July 2015, serving as past Treasurer. Mike and his wife, Elaine have been members of Temple Isaiah since 1984.
Mike has a Bachelor's Degree from UC Berkeley and a Masters and Ph.D. from UCLA. He is the founding partner of Academic Leadership Associates, LLC, an educational consulting firm. He is also an Emeritus Professor at the University of Southern California. He served in various leadership capacities including the Dean of the USC Leventhal School of Accounting and as a USC Vice President and Executive Vice President.
Mike is a second generation Californian and has lived in Los Angeles most of his life. Mike and Elaine have one son, Jacob, who currently resides in Washington, DC.
Mike has a Bachelor's Degree from UC Berkeley and a Masters and Ph.D. from UCLA. He is the founding partner of Academic Leadership Associates, LLC, an educational consulting firm. He is also an Emeritus Professor at the University of Southern California. He served in various leadership capacities including the Dean of the USC Leventhal School of Accounting and as a USC Vice President and Executive Vice President.
Mike is a second generation Californian and has lived in Los Angeles most of his life. Mike and Elaine have one son, Jacob, who currently resides in Washington, DC.
Jessica Dabney
Vice President
Jessica Dabney
Jessica is the current Vice President and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2013. She and her husband, James, have two children, Julia and Josh. They have been members at Temple Isaiah since 2004 and are active members of our TSBY program and The Green Team.
Jessica was born in New York but has lived in Los Angeles for most of her life. She is an attorney and principal at North American Realty, a property management, consulting and acquisition firm.
Sam Surloff
VP, Personnel
Sam Surloff
My wife Joanne and I have been members of Temple Isaiah for almost 20 years dating back to when our daughter Emily started preschool at the Temple.
I am honored and privileged to serve as the current Vice President of Administration, and to have previously served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors, for a year as Executive Vice President and as co-chair of the Annual Giving Campaign for several years. I currently serve on the Finance Committee and am excited that I was invited to rejoin the Board. I am a member of the Leadership Circle at the Temple.
I serve as President and General Counsel of Alagem Capital Group which, among other things, is the principal owner of the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the soon to open Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.
I am honored and privileged to serve as the current Vice President of Administration, and to have previously served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors, for a year as Executive Vice President and as co-chair of the Annual Giving Campaign for several years. I currently serve on the Finance Committee and am excited that I was invited to rejoin the Board. I am a member of the Leadership Circle at the Temple.
I serve as President and General Counsel of Alagem Capital Group which, among other things, is the principal owner of the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the soon to open Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.
Janet Hirsch
VP, Social Justice
Janet Hirsch
Janet is the current Vice President of Social Justice and the Chair of Am Tzedek: Isaians Pursuing Justice. She has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2015. She and her husband, Farrell, have two children, Rebecca and David. They have been members of Temple Isaiah since 1996.
Janet was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. She has lived in Cape Town, London, Washington DC, before moving to Los Angeles in 1987.
Janet was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. She has lived in Cape Town, London, Washington DC, before moving to Los Angeles in 1987.
Kristen Lonner
VP, Development
Kristen Lonner
Kristen is a member of Temple Isaiah and has served on the Board of Trustees since 2014. She currently chairs the Parent Advisory Committee for the Preschool which she has served on since 2013. Kristen is very active in many aspects of temple life including her own journey toward becoming a Bat Mitzvah to be completed in June of next year.
Kristen is an experienced political strategist and planner with an extensive career in the public and private sector. Prior to the creation of her own company, Kristen was an owner of Cerrell Associates, Inc. heading up the land use division. Her advice and strategic counsel are much sought after on issues including entitlement approvals, community relations, grassroots and decision-maker coalition building, and the development of hearing strategies, among others.
A UCLA graduate, Kristen is a past Director of the Alumni Association and previous Chair of the Ralph Bunche Scholarship. She currently serves as the President of the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce. She is a past President of the Westside Urban Forum and the Los Angeles County Young Democrats as well as a graduate of the L.A. Chamber’s Leadership L.A. program.
Kristen is an experienced political strategist and planner with an extensive career in the public and private sector. Prior to the creation of her own company, Kristen was an owner of Cerrell Associates, Inc. heading up the land use division. Her advice and strategic counsel are much sought after on issues including entitlement approvals, community relations, grassroots and decision-maker coalition building, and the development of hearing strategies, among others.
A UCLA graduate, Kristen is a past Director of the Alumni Association and previous Chair of the Ralph Bunche Scholarship. She currently serves as the President of the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce. She is a past President of the Westside Urban Forum and the Los Angeles County Young Democrats as well as a graduate of the L.A. Chamber’s Leadership L.A. program.
Sharon DeMayo
VP, Education
Sharon DeMayo
Sharon Halimi Eshaghoff
VP, Membership
Sharon Halimi Eshaghoff
Sharon is a native of Los Angeles and a mom of three boys: Oliver, Jack, and Aaron. She and her husband, Chad have been members of Temple Isaiah since 2010.
In the past years, Sharon has been very active in the preschool and temple. She created and currently holds The Circle, a gratitude and prayer opportunity which meets weekly on Fridays. She also holds a seat on PAC (Preschool Advisory Committee) and is the president of the PPA (Preschool Parent Association).
The Eshaghoff family feels that Temple Isaiah is a second home for them. When not at Isaiah, Sharon enjoys cooking, playing sports with her kids, and working in her private practice as a marriage and family therapist.
In the past years, Sharon has been very active in the preschool and temple. She created and currently holds The Circle, a gratitude and prayer opportunity which meets weekly on Fridays. She also holds a seat on PAC (Preschool Advisory Committee) and is the president of the PPA (Preschool Parent Association).
The Eshaghoff family feels that Temple Isaiah is a second home for them. When not at Isaiah, Sharon enjoys cooking, playing sports with her kids, and working in her private practice as a marriage and family therapist.
Suzanne Solig
Secretary
Suzanne Solig
Suzanne is the current Secretary and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2010. She and her husband Marty have been active members of Temple Isaiah since January 1983, fully participating in all aspects of temple life, including two B'nai Mitzvah trips to Israel with the clergy and an adult trip. She has chaired/co-chaired the Roots and Wings: A Mentoring Program at Santee and University High Schools since its inception in 2008, a program which won a URJ Irving Fain Social Action award in 2015. She has served on many committees, including the Fair Food Commission, the Membership Sustainability Committee, Justice Leaders, and the Board of Trustees nominating committee. She has actively participated in Isaiah Women and is a past president.
Born and raised in Southern California, Suzanne is a retired educator from Los Angeles Unified School District and UCLA School of Education. Suzanne and Marty have two adult daughters, Nicole and Erica, who grew up at Temple Isaiah, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Born and raised in Southern California, Suzanne is a retired educator from Los Angeles Unified School District and UCLA School of Education. Suzanne and Marty have two adult daughters, Nicole and Erica, who grew up at Temple Isaiah, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Allison Samek
Treasurer
Allison Samek
Allie is the current Treasurer and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2013. She has previously served as the head of the Preschool Advisory Committee and the Executive Vice President of Education. Allie has served on the budget committee of the temple since 2015. Allie joined the temple in 2008 and is also a member of Isaiah Women.
Allie is married to her husband Eric, and they have two sons, Gabe and Isaac. Allie has worked in Retail Management for over 20 years and is currently the CEO of Fred Segal. She grew up in Phoenix, AZ and attended Washington University in St Louis (BA) and Stanford University (MBA). In her free time, she loves to play Mah Jong and relax at the beach.
Allie is married to her husband Eric, and they have two sons, Gabe and Isaac. Allie has worked in Retail Management for over 20 years and is currently the CEO of Fred Segal. She grew up in Phoenix, AZ and attended Washington University in St Louis (BA) and Stanford University (MBA). In her free time, she loves to play Mah Jong and relax at the beach.
David Leichenger
Immediate Past President
David Leichenger
David is our Immediate Past President of Temple Isaiah. David and his wife Karen have been members of Temple Isaiah for over 20 years. Their sons Alex and Matt progressed through the Preschool and Religious School and celebrated their Bar Mitzvahs and Confirmations with Temple Isaiah.
The family traveled to Israel with a great group of Temple members and Clergy in June 2006 and has enjoyed being part of a Chavurah spawned from the Temple in 1996. David has served on the Temple's Religious Education, Reimagine and Personnel committees and is presently involved in other committees.
David is a lawyer with a primarily Plaintiff's law firm which was formed over 20 years ago.
The family traveled to Israel with a great group of Temple members and Clergy in June 2006 and has enjoyed being part of a Chavurah spawned from the Temple in 1996. David has served on the Temple's Religious Education, Reimagine and Personnel committees and is presently involved in other committees.
David is a lawyer with a primarily Plaintiff's law firm which was formed over 20 years ago.
Richard Birnholz
Board Member
Richard Birnholz
Sam is a previous Vice President of Development who oversaw Temple Isaiah's ongoing development efforts to ensure that Isaiah grew and thrived.
San and his wife Diane have been members since 1998. Both their sons attended Isaiah’s preschool and religious school and had Bar Mitzvahs with our tremendous Clergy.
Sam is a partner of Irell & Manella LLP, practicing intellectual property litigation.
San and his wife Diane have been members since 1998. Both their sons attended Isaiah’s preschool and religious school and had Bar Mitzvahs with our tremendous Clergy.
Sam is a partner of Irell & Manella LLP, practicing intellectual property litigation.
Mitch Bloch
Board Member
Mitch Bloch
Mitch and his family have been members of Temple Isaiah for several years. Despite a long gap, there is a wonderful connection to the Temple as Mitch had his Bar Mitzvah there in 1979.
Mitch has a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a law degree from Pepperdine. He is currently the owner of California Closeouts and Liquidations which buys and sells closeout and liquidated merchandise.
Mitch has a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a law degree from Pepperdine. He is currently the owner of California Closeouts and Liquidations which buys and sells closeout and liquidated merchandise.
Allison Bloom
Board Member
Allison Bloom
Allison Bloom has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2018. She and her husband, Gabriel Rutman, have two children, Piper and Aidan, and have been members at Temple Isaiah since 2007, active in our music programs. Allison was born in Miami, Florida and moved to Los Angeles in 1997. She is a freelance writer, non-profit fundraiser and active volunteer for several organizations.
Ellen Canter
Board Member
Ellen Canter
Ellen has served on the Board of Trustees first as President of Isaiah Women and then as VP of Membership. She ran the Temple Gift Shop for twenty years and has served on many Temple and Board committees.
She and her husband Ron, raised their three children, Preston, Brent, and Danielle as part of the Temple family in their almost thirty year Temple membership.
Ellen is from New York and was a third-grade teacher for fourteen years.
She has served on the board of Women Of Reform Judaism Pacific District.
She and her husband Ron, raised their three children, Preston, Brent, and Danielle as part of the Temple family in their almost thirty year Temple membership.
Ellen is from New York and was a third-grade teacher for fourteen years.
She has served on the board of Women Of Reform Judaism Pacific District.
David Chiu
Board Member
David Chiu
Torah Study minyan - both are things he attends weekly. As a member of the Green Team, David has assisted in putting on environmental education events for Temple Isaiah, as well as advocate for climate legislation at LA City Hall and our State Capitol in Sacramento. His Sacramento advocacy has expanded to work on behalf of Reform California, and through Temple Isaiah’s partnership with ONE-LA, he has pushed for policy changes in housing and immigration. Proud of his Chinese and Litvak ancestry, David delivered a Shabbat sermon from Isaiah’s bima on the theology of the medieval Chinese Jews, and also gave a lecture to Isaians on his experiences visiting his ancestral shtetl in Lithuania. In 2019, he was awarded Temple Isaiah’s Emerging Leaders Award. As a member of the Los Angeles Jews of Color group, he has consulted with the Jewish Federation on how Jewish institutions can better welcome racially diverse Jews. Writers for film and television, David and his writing partner have created content for companies such as Amazon Prime. He has also individually written for Jewish Women’s Theatre, including a piece that was performed for the Los Angeles City Council.
Idelle Davidson
Board Member
Idelle Davidson
Idelle Davidson and her husband, Peter, are long-time members of Temple Isaiah. Their sons attended Hebrew school and celebrated their bar mitzvahs at Isaiah. Idelle is active in ChaiVillageLA and serves on its board and communications committee. She is a member of the Temple’s caring community. Idelle is a freelance writer and author. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Time magazine, the Los Angeles Times and several other publications. She is a former director of publications for the American Heart Association and co-author of a New York Times-reviewed book on health.
Brittany Finney
Board Member
Brittany Finney
Brittany Finney joined Temple Isaiah’s Board of Trustees in 2020. Britt and her fiancé, James Conlon, joined the temple in 2019, shortly after settling back in Los Angeles.
Britt graduated Cum Laude from Brandeis University in 2017 with a dual B.A. in Global Studies and Anthropology, and then in 2018 with her M.A. in Global Studies, concentrating in refugee integration. While in Boston, Britt spent much of her time working with the International Institution of New England, counseling refugee and migrant clients from around the world about their integration into the US. Currently, Britt works at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger as a Development Associate, helping run fundraising campaigns and engaging in donor stewardship. At Temple Isaiah, Britt is heavily involved in Am Tzedek as a community organizing leader with OneLA. Britt also enjoys attending Torah Study classes and weekly Shabbat services.
On her maternal grandfather’s side, Britt is a 5th generation Californian, and 3rd generation Angeleno. Britt grew up in Palos Verdes, and still enjoys visiting there with James to hike and spend time with her family.
Nicolas Gentin
Board Member
Nicolas Gentin
Nicolas joined the Board of Trustees in 2020 and has been a member of Temple Isaiah since 2013. He has served on the Preschool Advisory Committee (PAC) and is a member of the Isaiah East Planning Committee which is developing plans for the future of the Isaiah Campus .Nicolas holds a BA from Brown University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He grew up in New York and lives in Westwood with his wife Olivia and their three children. His twin daughters and son all attended the Preschool and are in the Religious School. Nicolas is an executive at First Republic Bank.
Heidi Grey
Board Member
Heidi Grey
Heidi Grey is the current chair of the Preschool Advisory Committee (PAC) and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2018.
She and her husband, Lawrence, have two children, Snowden and Jaxson. They have been members of Temple Isaiah since 2012.
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Heidi has lived in Los Angeles since 1999. She is a screenwriter.
She and her husband, Lawrence, have two children, Snowden and Jaxson. They have been members of Temple Isaiah since 2012.
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Heidi has lived in Los Angeles since 1999. She is a screenwriter.
Lili Lee
Board Member
Lili Lee
Lilli Lee is beginning her first year as a member of the Board of Trustees. She has been on the Membership Events Team since 2019. Lilli and her husband Ben have three sons: Mason, Spencer and Vincent. The Lees joined the temple in 2013. Lilli is a Los Angeles native and has lived on the Westside all of her life: attending Kenter, Revere, Pali High and UCLA. She currently lives in Cheviot Hills and runs the marketing arm of her husband Ben’s busy real estate business.
Debbie Heald
Board Member
Debbie Heald
Debbie has served on the Board of Trustees since 2016. She and her husband Josh have three children — one attends the Preschool two attend the Religious School. She previously served on the Preschool Advisory Committee (PAC).
Debbie works as a civil litigation attorney at a global law firm and devotes part of her practice to pro bono matters. A volunteer for the Alliance for Children’s Rights, she has assisted students in obtaining special education services from their schools. She has also represented Holocaust survivors in obtaining lifelong pensions from Germany as a volunteer with Bet Tzedek.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Debbie graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in English and a Specialization in Business Administration and earned her law degree from USC.
Debbie works as a civil litigation attorney at a global law firm and devotes part of her practice to pro bono matters. A volunteer for the Alliance for Children’s Rights, she has assisted students in obtaining special education services from their schools. She has also represented Holocaust survivors in obtaining lifelong pensions from Germany as a volunteer with Bet Tzedek.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Debbie graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in English and a Specialization in Business Administration and earned her law degree from USC.
Matt Hedges
Board Member
Matt Hedges
Matt has been involved with Temple Isaiah governance since 2015. He has most recently served as Secretary on the Executive Committee. Matt is currently the co-chair for the nominating committee and involved with the Budget Committee. Previously Matt served on the Religious Education Committee as well as many other committees.
Matt and his wife, Karen, have two children, Jacob and Daniel. They have been members of Temple Isaiah since 2011.
Matt and his wife, Karen, have two children, Jacob and Daniel. They have been members of Temple Isaiah since 2011.
Jim Knott
Board Member
Jim Knott
Andy Moss
Board Member
Andy Moss
Andy and his wife Tina joined Temple Isaiah in 1991, and each year their experience at Isaiah continues to grow richer and more gratifying. Their daughter and son both had their B'nai Mitzvah at Isaiah.
Tina and Andy have benefitted immeasurably from their participation in their chavurah, in religious services, in adult education programs, and in the LifeQuest program. Also, Andy is grateful to be a member of Temple Isaiah Green Team, sharing a commitment to sustainability and environmental justice.
Finally, having taught English, including world literature, at Cal Poly Pomona from 1980 to 2014, Andy appreciates the extraordinary textual traditions – spiritual, literary, historical, and philosophical – of Judaism, and the opportunity to explore them in both the Torah study group led by Rabbi Zoë Klein and also in the Hearts and Minds Torah Study group.
As a member of the Board, Andy hopes to contribute whatever he can to this remarkable community at Temple Isaiah.
Tina and Andy have benefitted immeasurably from their participation in their chavurah, in religious services, in adult education programs, and in the LifeQuest program. Also, Andy is grateful to be a member of Temple Isaiah Green Team, sharing a commitment to sustainability and environmental justice.
Finally, having taught English, including world literature, at Cal Poly Pomona from 1980 to 2014, Andy appreciates the extraordinary textual traditions – spiritual, literary, historical, and philosophical – of Judaism, and the opportunity to explore them in both the Torah study group led by Rabbi Zoë Klein and also in the Hearts and Minds Torah Study group.
As a member of the Board, Andy hopes to contribute whatever he can to this remarkable community at Temple Isaiah.
Sam Shakerchi
Board Member
Sam Shakerchi
Adam Siegel
Board Member
Adam Siegel
Harris Smith
Board Member
Harris Smith
Harris is a member of the Budget Committee and became a member of the Board of Trustees in 2020. He and his wife, Jill, have two children, Stephanie and Jordan (twins). They have been members of Temple Isaiah since 2005 when they relocated back to Los Angeles from the San Francisco area. Harris was born in Baltimore and has lived in both Southern and Northern California for the past 31 years, moving back to Los Angeles in 2005. He is a CPA and recently retired as a Partner from Grant Thornton, an International Accounting and Consulting Firm, after 40 years. He is now an Adjunct Professor at USC, Marshall School of Business and the Leventhal School of Accounting and Chairman of the Board of JVS SoCal.
David Snow
Board Member
David Snow
David has been a member of the Board of Trustees at Temple Isaiah since 2015 and a member of Temple Isaiah since 2008. He is a native of Connecticut and currently lives in Cheviot Hills with his wife Cheryl, and his two children - both of whom attended Temple Isaiah pre-school.
David is a graduate of Yale University (BA) and UCLA (MBA). He is a Director and Founder of KidUnity, a non-profit organization that provides service learning and civic leadership programs. Before that, he served as Executive Director of Upward Bound House, a homeless shelter for families with children where he involved the Temple in many ways, from arranging pre-school tours at the shelter to participating in the 9th grade Isaiah Teen Philanthropy Fund.
David is a graduate of Yale University (BA) and UCLA (MBA). He is a Director and Founder of KidUnity, a non-profit organization that provides service learning and civic leadership programs. Before that, he served as Executive Director of Upward Bound House, a homeless shelter for families with children where he involved the Temple in many ways, from arranging pre-school tours at the shelter to participating in the 9th grade Isaiah Teen Philanthropy Fund.
Beth Raanan
Board Member
Beth Raanan
Beth Raanan is a third-generation Angelino on her mother’s side. She and her husband, Uzzi, joined Temple Isaiah almost 20 years ago. Their children, Ben and Emma, attended the preschool, Religious School and participated on the ITY Board. Beth’s first volunteer role at Isaiah was with Tot Shabbat, first as a committee member and then as the Chair with Cantor Kent. She has since been a member of the Preschool Cabinet, Preschool Parent Association, the Senior Rabbi Search Committee, and the Temple Board (as the Chair of the Preschool Cabinet). She is humbled and honored to serve as President of Isaiah Women.
Orly Tabibi
Board Member
Orly Tabibi
Orly Partiyeli Tabibi and her husband Carlo have been members of Temple Isaiah for several years. Both of their daughters, Georgina and Isabella, graduated from the preschool and their experience was magical. The family looks forward to starting preschool again with their son Phoenix while continuing the K-12 program with their girls. A Los Angeles native, Orly attended a Jewish day school. Being part of a Jewish community is a value that both she and Carlo highly regard and consider the Isaiah community part of their family. During the past five years at Isaiah, Orly has been very active in the Preschool’s parent association while also being a member of PAC, Isaiah Mothers’ Alliance, and the Board of Trustees. During her free time, Orly likes to spend quality time with her family, enjoying life experiences, traveling, and trying new foods. She loves to work-out and her new obsession is breathwork – she is all about Mind, Body and Soul.
Jerry Witkow
Board Member
Jerry Witkow
Jerry and his wife, Sue Shachar, joined Temple Isaiah in 2016 when they returned to their Westside roots after living in the valley for many years. Since joining the Temple, Jerry has become involved with the Green Team and participated in the interview process of candidates for the CFO position. Jerry and Sue’s 2020 trip to Israel with Rabbi Dara, Mike Diamond and an incredible group of Isaians triggered Jerry’s decision to become more actively involved with the Temple’s lay leadership team. Jerry is a native Angeleno with a BA in Political Science from Cal State Northridge and a JD from Loyola Law School. He is currently President and General Counsel of Shapco Inc., a privately- owned company involved in manufacturing, fabrication and distribution of steel pipe products together with the ownership and management of a nationwide industrial real estate portfolio.