Howard Kaplan, general manager of Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries, is set to retire on June 30, 2021. Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles (JBBBSLA) Randy Schwab is slated to replace him.
Kaplan joined Mount Sinai in 2018 to oversee operations and find ways to keep the cost of Jewish burial accessible for grieving families. He helped develop new sections in both the Hollywood Hills and Simi Valley cemeteries to provide the local Jewish community with a variety of options to meet every need. Kaplan also created the Traditions Program for Chevra Kadisha at Mount Sinai, ensuring the financial accessibility of Jewish burial.
Since 1964, the cemeteries at Hollywood Hills and Simi Valley have been owned and operated by Sinai Temple of Los Angeles, but they serve families throughout Southern California.
Before joining Mount Sinai, Kaplan served for 13 years as Executive Director of Wilshire Boulevard Temple (WBT). Before joining WBT, he spent ten years as Director of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps and Conference Center and also held key positions at Temple Aliyah and the Brandeis-Bardin Institute.
With more than 30 years of Jewish communal work under his belt, Kaplan is now choosing to spend his time adoring his family, including his new granddaughter.
With more than 30 years of Jewish communal work under his belt, Kaplan is now choosing to spend his time adoring his family, including his new granddaughter.
“At age 65, I was given the opportunity to work in a completely new industry while still serving the Jewish community. However, at this point in my life I want to be able to spend more time with my wife and family,” he said in a statement to the Journal. “I have been truly blessed throughout my career, and my three-and-a-half years at Mount Sinai have been nothing short of wonderful. I love our dedicated staff and will miss seeing them on a daily basis.”
In a letter written by Eric J. Diamond, chair of Sinai Temple Cemetery Management Committee, he said the hiring of Schwab was “unanimously approved.”
For the past 15 years, Schwab has demonstrated leadership and community building experience through serving on the Bureau of Jewish Education of Los Angeles, as CEO of JBBBSLA, and as board president of Temple Isaiah, to name a few.
During his tenure at JBBBSLA, Schwab established new programs to benefit thousands of young people in Los Angeles. Before his work in the non-profit community, Schwab owned a design and manufacturing company for 22 years. After selling his business, he was inspired to follow his passion and utilize his business management skills to serve those in need in the Jewish community.
“I am inspired by the care and excellence that Mount Sinai Memorial Parks provides the community and am looking forward to working with the staff and Cemetery Management Committee to provide support and service to families during their time of need,” he said in a statement.
Kaplan said he was pleased that the management committee followed his recommendation to hire Schwab. Kaplan added, “Our shared goal is to provide our staff and community with a seamless transition, and I hope to be able to contribute to Mount Sinai’s continued success in the coming years.”
