Cantor Marcus Feldman of Sinai Temple sang the national anthem at Dodger Stadium on July 7 as the Los Angeles Dodgers took on the Philadelphia Phillies. Approximately 50 people from the Westwood-based Conservative congregation — including Rabbis David Wolpe and Jason Fruithandler — turned out to watch their cantor perform.
Feldman, a Los Angeles native, told the Journal that it could not have gone any better, despite the Dodgers’ 7-2 loss.
“It was so much fun; it was thrilling. It was the largest audience I ever sang in front of,” he said in a phone interview. “You are oftentimes worried about forgetting the lyrics, [and] they have the lyrics up there, but I was focused on the flag.
“It’s one of those bucket-list things: You grow up going to Dodger games, and to be able to stand up on the field not just as an American but to be able to represent our people, especially in my profession, especially with all the anti-Israel stuff going on, it was a proud moment for me, my congregation and the Jewish community, too.”
Anyone who missed the game will have another chance to represent the Jewish people at Chavez Ravine on Aug. 30 for the Dodgers’ annual Jewish Community Day, when the team takes on the Chicago Cubs.
The Iranian-American Jewish organization 30 Years After has hired Shanel Melamed as its new executive director.
Shanel Melamed, new executive director of 30 Years After. Photo courtesy of Shanel Melamed
A graduate of USC, Melamed was born and raised in Los Angeles to “parents who fled the Islamic Republic of Iran shortly after the [Iranian] Revolution,” according to a press release. She previously worked at the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, where she served as an adviser on issues of public diplomacy and public engagement.
Melamed succeeds Tabby Davoodi, who co-founded 30 Years After in 2007 and who concludes a three-year term as executive director, the release said. The search to replace Davoodi began in March. Melamed started July 15.
30 Years After President Sam Yebri was among those who expressed confidence that Melamed will successfully lead the organization into its next stage.
The organization, the release said, “strives in a nonpartisan manner to educate and engage Iranian-American Jews in American civil life.”
Retired Israel Defense Forces Maj. Gen. Amos Horev — a former president of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and legendary war hero — shared his personal story before an intimate crowd during a July 10 luncheon with American Technion Society’s (ATS) young leaders.
Retired Israel Defense Forces Maj. Gen. Amos Horev, former president of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, and Diana Stein Judovits, director of the Western region of American Technion Society, nosh at Bedford and Burns restaurant in Beverly Hills. Photo courtesy of American Technion Society
“The participants were so touched to be with such a fascinating historical figure,” Diana Stein Judovits, director of the Western region of ATS said in an email. “Amos Horev’s story is the intersection of the history of Israel and the story of Technion’s role in transforming the state from a desert to an oasis and from an agricultural country to one of the most innovative nations in the world.”
ATS young leaders are members of the organization’s Ambassadors Leadership Development Program and are committed to the mission of helping ATS raise funds and awareness for the Israel Institute of Technology, according to a press release. Those present were: Paul Brandano, Gabriel Eshaghian, Tamar Geller, David Marcus, Lori Mars, Elan Mordoch, Michael Pycher, Joseph Shaposhnik, Michael Steuer and Sarah Weindling.
Additional attendees at the event, which took place at Bedford and Burns restaurant in Beverly Hills, included Rena Conner, president of the Southern California ATS chapter, and Journal President David Suissa.
The board of directors of the Jewish business networking organization JNET has elected Sandy Rosenholz of Senior Services Inc., as the new president of its Bel Air chapter. Rosenholz succeeds Alan Altschul of Open Mortgage, who has been the leader since 2013.
Alongside his ownership of Senior Resources, Rosenholz has over 44 years of sales experience.
JNET Tarzana AM chapter’s leadership team: Front row from left: Max Berger, Robin Kellogg and Ronit Krancberg. Back row from left: Scott Margolin, Phil Blum, Victor Schwartz and Dean Piller.
“We are thrilled that Sandy will be bringing his passion and exuberance to the Bel Air leadership team,” Jackie Mendelson, JNET board chair, said. “He is never short on ideas and will roll up his sleeves to make things happen. Sandy is a consummate networker with a lot to offer our membership.”
JNET also has announced the opening of its 12th chapter, JNET Tarzana AM, the first chapter in the San Fernando Valley to offer morning meetings. The first meeting was held on July 7 at Temple Judea over bagels and coffee.
The team is led by President Victor Schwartz of C-Suite Media Inc., and includes co-membership coordinators Dean Piller of Community Nationwide Mortgage and Scott Margolin of Eden Memorial Park; speaker coordinator Robin Kellogg of Robin Kellogg Associates; and public relations coordinator Philip Blum of Capstone Partners Financial & Insurance Services.
JNET began in 2005 in the Conejo Valley, and chapters now exist throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
— Ellie Frager, Contributing Writer
Moving and Shaking highlights events, honors and simchas. Got a tip? Email ryant@jewishjournal.com.
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