Our Staff
Clergy
Rabbi Arye Berk is thrilled to be returning to Los Angeles, the city
where he was ordained as a rabbi in 2006, from the Ziegler School
of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University. Rabbi Berk is
a Canadian, who has enjoyed living in both Israel
and the United States.
His travels have given his family a unique status of having three children born
in three different countries.
Rabbi Arye believes the prayer services must be filled with
joy and questions. He knows that not everyone has the same level of comfort in
a sanctuary and believes it is his role as rabbi to make the service accessible
for everyone. "The Torah must be relevant to our lives today!" is one
of Rabbi Arye's favorite sayings.
Rabbi Berk looks forward to meeting each of you and to begin
learning from you. Please share your love for Los Angeles with Rabbi Berk as he
reacquaints himself with LA. Rabbi Berk is willing to set up meetings in
the synagogue, your home, or a favorite coffee shop.
Chaim Sabbah- Torah Reader
Chaim Sabbah’s extensive knowledge of Torah, Jewish customs and history derives from over half a century of regular daily active participation in Jewish religious services. Since 1986, he has been Adat Shalom’s regular Shabbat Torah reader, the person who conducts the early morning services during the High Holy Days and other Jewish holidays.
Marc Kraus - Rabbinic Intern
Administrative
Joanna Garcia –
Administrative Coordinator – joanna@adatshalomla.org
Candace Sorensen - Bookkeeper / Office Assistant - candace@adatshalomla.org
Early Childhood Center
Joanie Charnow,
Director – joanie@adatshalomla.org
I moved here from Arizona where I lived since I was 10 months old. As much as I loved the desert and the laid back life style I felt it was time for a change and California is where I chose to move. I received by BA degree from Prescott College and have been in the field of early childhood for more than thirty years. I have taught every age level from infants through kindergarten and during camp I supervised through high school. I worked at the Scottsdale Jewish Community Center for the past 16 years as a Camp Director and Director of Early Childhood Education. As an educator my philosophy is geared toward a very developmental teaching methodology. Teaching should be to each child's strength and in conjunction with those strengths an emergent curriculum is written. I consider families partners in the success of their children's education. My office door is always open and would love the chance to meet more of the Adat Shalom Community.
Chen Goldberg, Director's Assistant – ecc@adatshalomla.org
Religious School Office
Michael Raileanu, Education Director and Community Builder - michaelr@adatshalomla.org
Michael Raileanu was born and raised in El Paso, TX and grew up in a family of teachers and dedicated Zionists. He got his first classroom assignment at the age of 15 and has been teaching non-stop ever since. He has held leadership positions in every Jewish educational setting, formal and informal, that can be named. He has spoken before groups ranging from preschoolers and their parents to governmental symposia.
He got his B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Texas, Austin and his M.A.Ed. from the University of Judaism. In 2007 he was the winner of the JProStl Peer Excellence Award for adult education. Additionally, he received both the 2010 Stuart I. Raskas Outstanding Day School Teacher Award & the Grinspoon/Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
Finally, he is a firm believer in the educational worthiness of regular synagogue attendance. Coming to synagogue with your children presents them with so many important parts of Jewish life: community, food, Hebrew, music, food, inter-generational activity, study, food, and friendship.
If you have ideas you would like to share or would like to discuss the Dodgers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Lakers, the Texas Longhorns, or the importance of frozen Peanut Butter M&M’s please feel free to make an appointment to come by his office
United Synagogue
Youth
David Nussbaum – adatshalomusy@hotmail.com
Maintenance
Cesar Olivares
Contact Us
Our staff is always available for any questions you might
have. Please send us an email.
Main Office: 3030 Westwood Blvd. Los
Angeles, CA 90034
Phone: 310-475-4985 Fax: 310-474-4975
Early Childhood Center Office Phone: 310-474-8573
Religious School Office Phone: 310-474-0197
