A Year of Learning and Caring
ANNUAL REPORT
2006-2007/ 5767
“With the combined efforts, talents and
resources of our families, faculty and the
community-at- large, there is no end to
what can be accomplished at
San Diego Jewish Academy.”
Larry Acheatel
From the Executive Director
At San Diego Jewish Academy, the faculty,
administration, parent volunteers and
Board of Trustees share a common goal.
We strive to provide the highest quality
educational environment where students
are challenged to achieve their highest
academic potential, become individuals of
strong moral and ethical character, and make
Judaism a vital and relevant aspect of their
lives. This Annual Report is a reminder of
what a community of committed people can
accomplish by working together.
During the 2006-2007 academic year, our
students distinguished themselves at local
academic competitions in mathematics,
science and creative writing. We are very
proud of this year’s senior class that
received letters of acceptance from some
of the finest colleges and universities in
the country, and offers of over $1,000,000
in merit scholarships.
Among our many accomplishments this
year, SDJA was granted the highest level
of reaccreditation from the California
Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)
and the Western Association of Schools
and Colleges (WAIS). After exploring every
aspect of our curriculum, observing school
operations, and interviewing students,
administrators, faculty, parents and Board
members, the accreditation team expressed
their admiration for the way we place
values at the center of the educational
experience and for our faculty’s commitment
to developing each student’s intellect and
character.
This year, we filled two important positions
on our administrative staff. I am thrilled
to welcome two outstanding educators Rabbi Leslie Lipson and Daniel Sussman.
Rabbi Lipson, who has served as a pulpit
rabbi and a Jewish day school teacher,
will join us as Dean of Judaic Studies for
the Maimonides Upper School. Daniel
Sussman, who previously was vice principal
of a large elementary school and who brings
extensive experience in teacher training and
development, will assume the role of Golda
Meir Lower School Principal.
As Marna Weiss Padowitz leaves our school,
I wish to express my appreciation for her
contributions over the last two decades. As
a parent, teacher and administrator, Marna
has endeared herself to faculty and students
alike, and played a key role in designing the
Carmel Valley lower school campus. She
enhanced the curriculum with art, music and
technology specials and a learning center,
and integrated two preschools onto the
campus. I also want to thank Leo Spiegel
for the strong leadership he brought to
the Board of Trustees during his two-year
term as President and for his extraordinary
contribution in improving the financial
strength of this institution.
With the combined efforts, talents and
resources of our families, faculty and the
community-at- large, there is no end to what
can be accomplished at San Diego Jewish
Academy. On behalf of our students who are
the direct beneficiaries of your efforts and
generosity, I thank you for your continued
support.
Larry Acheatel
“When a person leaves this world, he
is accompanied not by silver, gold, or
jewels, but by Torah and good deeds.”
Pirkei Avot
Financial Report
San Diego Jewish Academy continues to
focus on long-term financial stability in the
management and growth of its financial
resources. SDJA is presently operating
favorably to budget and is expected to end
the school year slightly favorable.
For the 2006-2007 operating budget, the
majority of funding resulted from student
tuition and fees representing over 86%
of operating funds necessary to offset
annual expenditures. The remaining
funds are generated by annual gifts and
contributions, income related to facility rentals
and catering events.
Over 73% of operating expenses are
invested in wages and benefits for teachers
and staff, and maintaining the facilities. The
remainder is spent on providing financial aid
and instructional programs (academic and
athletic) and establishing cash reserves for
future debt service.
During 2006-07, the Operations’ staff
undertook a variety of projects to support the
educational mission of the school. These
included upgrading all computers across
campus, implementation of newly designed
website and automation of content updates,
creating new standardized staff performance
evaluations, ongoing campus beautification
and support for the building projects.
Notable projects that are underway to
improve efficiency, cost effectiveness
and overall employee satisfaction and
performance include development of an
employee intranet site and review of a
comprehensive scheduling system.
It’s not your job to complete the work, but
neither are you free to walk away from it
Pirke Avot 2:16
From the President
I am often asked why I chose San Diego
Jewish Academy as the school for my
children and why I serve on the Board of
Trustees. Without hesitation, I reply: “SDJA
is the place where children learn how to live
a Jewish life. It is our way of ensuring Jewish
continuity.”
I believe that the practice of tikkun olam,
repairing the world, is as critical to SDJA’s
curriculum as enriching general studies
courses, Hebrew and Judaic studies, and
comprehensive athletic programming. By
teaching the importance of fulfilling their
ethical obligation through acts of tikkun
olam, our children develop a sense of Jewish
community and identity.
While there are many examples of tikkun
olam projects this year, one that stands out
for me is Zikaron V’Tikvah, Remembrance
and Hope. Using butterflies as a symbol
of transformation, hope, faith and
religious freedom, parent volunteers
under the leadership of faculty member
Jan Landau, are creating a magnificent
memorial for the 1.5 million children
who perished in the Holocaust. As they
remember the past, our children are making
the world a better place.
During 2006-2007, the families and
friends of San Diego Jewish Academy
demonstrated their understanding of
tikkun olam by exceeding our expectations
in every aspect of giving. Through
collaborative fundraising efforts with
the Ken Jewish Community, we will be
enhancing our campus with a 37,000
square foot gymnasium and tennis courts.
At the same time, these funds will enable
us to significantly reduce the long-term
debt on our facilities. This new building will
serve as headquarters for the Ken Jewish
Community and a venue for large group
meetings for our school and communityat-large. Additionally, this year’s Every
Child Campaign surpassed its goal by
generating over $700,000, helping to close
the gap between tuition revenues and
school operating expenses and allowing us
to grant financial aid to many families.
As my 2-year term as Board President
comes to a close, I wish to extend my
heartfelt appreciation to the parents
who generously dedicate their time and
resources, the administrators, faculty and
staff who work diligently to provide an
outstanding educational environment for
our children, and to the Board of Trustees
who safeguard the very qualities that give
SDJA its unique character. Special thanks
go to past President Renee Sherman, who
is leaving the Board after eight years of
service, for the wisdom and advice she has
shared with me. And I offer Mazal Tov to
my successor, Beverley Pamensky. With
her passion, talent and leadership, I feel
confident that SDJA will continue to thrive in
the coming years.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to
serve this fine Jewish institution.
Leo Spiegel
PTO assembling Purim Baskets
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait
a single moment before
beginning to improve the world. “
Anne Frank
“Lifers” who have been at SDJA from
K-12, (L-R): Natalie Colker, Brandon
Sherman, Kristen Wilcox, Andrew Miller,
Lee Wollach and Jacob Frank
Year in Review
This year at SDJA, we have seen an unprecedented
increase in the level of academic excellence, number of
accomplishments and extent of community involvement.
Math, Science and Beyond
Once again, our students excelled in county and state-wide
math, science, and literature competitions, and received
acceptance letters from an impressive list of colleges and
universities.
Fourth and fifth graders won medals in four out of ten
events at the Greater San Diego County Elementary
Mathematics Field Day, hosted at SDJA for the second
time. In addition, two fifth grade poems were chosen for an
anthology by Border Voices, a program which publishes
the county’s best student art and poetry, and two third
graders won first and second place in the L.A. Jews for
Judaism writing contest. Two students earned medals in the
county-wide “24” math game competition that involved 240
contestants mentally forming and solving equations that
equaled the number “24”.
All sixteen eighth graders who entered the Greater San
Diego Science and Engineering Fair received awards,
and two advanced to the California State Science Fair.
Three juniors were selected as National Merit Commended
Scholars. Eleven students received Advanced Placement
(AP) Scholar Awards, including five who earned the
designation AP Scholar with Distinction, in recognition of
their exceptional achievement on college-level AP Exams.
Following the tradition of past SDJA graduates, our seniors
have been accepted at prestigious colleges and universities
around the country, including UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC,
Boston University, Carnegie Mellon, University of Michigan,
Northwestern University, and many more. The graduating
class of 43 seniors received 197 acceptances to 66
colleges and universities in 25 states and 3 countries. They
were offered over $1,000,000 in academic scholarships.
Innovation, excellence and
community
Faculty and administration always search for innovative
ways to make the curriculum more relevant and learning
more exciting.
Multi-cultural awareness was an important theme,
promoting tolerance and understanding of others.
Golda Meir Lower School students participated in
a multi-cultural fair, rotating among different ethnic
booths and learning important information about
diverse countries and cultures. Stations represented the
lands from which our families originated, with decorative
displays of clothes, foods, games, art and literature.
A special Mix-It-Up Day enabled K-5 students to eat lunch
with new friends, participate in team-building activities, and
expand their social awareness. Parents “mixed-it-up” as
well, at a progressive dinner called A Taste of SDJA. As the
adults changed tables for each course, they were able to
meet and interact with other members of the SDJA family in
an informal, social setting.
On the festival of Sukkot, over 200 grandparents and
special friends experienced Hachnasat Orchim, the
welcoming of guests, in the SDJA Sukkah. The event
included performances by the lower school choir, Kolot
Tikvah (Voices of Hope), and the upper school jazz
ensemble, followed by butterfly-making for Zikaron V’tikvah
(Remembrance and Hope).On Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli
Independence Day, students celebrated joyously with a
carnival, Israeli dancing, and musical entertainment.
From a Hebrew scavenger hunt in the supermarket to
holiday happenings, from fulfilling the mitzvah of beautifying
ritual objects to grade-wide celebrations, K-5 Hebrew
and Judaic studies students engaged in learning through
many different modalities. New textbooks placing greater
emphasis on conversational Hebrew were introduced. In
third and fifth grade, classes piloted a new conversational
enrichment program designed to make Hebrew fun and
dynamic.
Generously donated by SDJA’s PTO, brand new ovens,
stoves, and kitchen cabinetry have been installed in
Building A for Kosher cooking classes.
This year, Maimonides Upper School course offerings
included twelve AP courses, eight Honors classes, eight
levels of Hebrew, three levels of Spanish, a Critical Reading
class, Speech and Debate class, and seventeen different
electives, including Video Production, Write Design,
Advanced Photography, Strength and Conditioning, and
Ceramics.
Eight levels in the upper school NETA Hebrew
curriculum now include a higher level of Hebrew
literature and a beginner class which has been added
to accommodate students who have little or no Hebrew
background. Jewish Ethics, Kabbalah, and the American
Jewish Experience were added to the Judaic Studies
curriculum offerings.
An innovative tefillah (prayer) program has brought the
MUS community to new spiritual heights. Five separate
and concurrent services are comprised of two enrichment
services, two community services, and one traditional
service. Lower school students regularly participate in
tefillah, where they learn both the kevah (fixed words
and times) and kavannah (meaning and intention) of
the prayers, and join together as a community at weekly
Kabbalat Shabbat services.
The class of 2007 took part in an exciting, web-based
investment competition, which educated players by
confronting them with the challenges of managing money in
the world’s stock markets. Students competed to build the
biggest (simulated) stock market portfolio to raise money
for their class trip to Israel.
In anticipation of the annual senior class trip, twelfth
graders took a year-long seminar course that focused on
the Shoah and modern Israel. Their five-and-a-half-week
journey included an exploration of synagogues in Prague,
which helped students understand what Jewish life was like
in Central Europe before the Holocaust. On Yom Hashoah
they traveled to Poland, where they visited ghettos and
concentration camps. Students continued on to Israel,
where they celebrated Shabbat and Yom Ha’atzmaut in
Jerusalem. They viewed the country through a historical
lens, beginning their tour in the ancient hills of Gilboa and
finishing in the north, where current issues with Lebanon
and Syria were discussed.
TIKKUN OLAM: making a better
world
Our students learn that it is up to each of us to make the
world a better place, as we continually seek opportunities to
practice tikkun olam.
In April, SDJA hosted and participated in J-serve Day,
a Jewish, nationwide day of community service to help
“repair the world”. This successful event offered three
community service projects, including a program to support
the physically disabled poor in Mexico by building 550
wheelchairs. Organized by volunteer parents Marsha
Berkson, Rayna Colton, and Shari Schenk, the day was a
high point in SDJA’s constant striving for tikkun olam, and
also promoted Jewish connections among the hundreds of
Jewish teens who worked on this worthy project.
A student-created Darfur Club undertook a tzedakah project
to raise consciousness about the suffering of the Sudanese
people, raised $2,000 to buy solar cookers, invited one
of the “Lost Boys of the Sudan” as a guest speaker, and
collected signatures for a petition to President Bush.
Hevra, the fifth grade leadership group, created
birthday bags for terminally ill children, collected
can rings to raise money for Children’s Hospital, and
worked with the entire school to collect and distribute
Thanksgiving baskets to VIP Preschool families in
Imperial Beach. Hevra welcomed and escorted the
Holocaust survivors who visited the school on Yom
Hashoah, showing them honor, kindness and a respect
for their past.
SDJA hosted over 50 of San Diego’s Holocaust survivors
at a moving and inspiring program on Yom Hashoah,
Holocaust Remembrance Day. The event included a
candle-lighting ceremony, an emotion-filled fifth grade
performance of songs and readings, and the words of Micki
Schwartz, a Holocaust survivor who shared his poignant
experiences with the upper school. Students showed
particular compassion for the fact that the survivors, now
mostly in their 80’s, would be among the last to be able to
tell their own heartrending stories of survival.
The day was made even more significant when survivors
and students made butterflies for Zikaron V’Tikvah and
affixed them at the entrance of the school to a designated
“survivor wall”, marked with the plaque, “From Holocaust to
New Life.”
Enhancing life through
performance and art
Once again, SDJA provided opportunities for students to
explore their creative talents in a variety of artistic forms
and venues.
Kolot Tikvah performed on many occasions, including
Hanukkah at Seacrest Village, SDJA’s Grandparents and
Special Friends Day, Open House, Kabbalat Shabbat, and
Darfur Day.
During Young Art Month, the works of several students
were displayed at The Museum of the Living Artist in
Balboa Park. Two students won awards and progressed to
the Southern Area Youth Art Month Exhibition in Corona.
SDJA’s Musical Theatre Company “Academy on Stage”
performed its smash hit “The Tower” to sold-out audiences
at the Lyceum Theater in March. Featuring songs and
dances by 88 talented students, the story (composed and
directed by Cara Freedman) revolved around a young teen
traveling the world in search of peace, and learning lessons
of tolerance, cooperation and the richness of diversity.
Upper school music students played a medley of Mozart
melodies, Hanukkah songs, and jazz pieces at the annual
winter concert. Other performances took place before the
Academy on Stage production, at Open House, and at
SDJA’s annual spring concert.
The college level course “AP Music Theory,” offered this
year for the first time, explored the structure of music
and developed the students’ ability to aurally discriminate
complex patterns in classical music. The music department
created a new website, www.sdjamusic.com, which serves
as a student resource for news, study guides, music links,
and access to sheet music.
Athletics: healthy bodies and
healthy minds
Athletics continued to be an integral component of SDJA’s
curriculum, providing lessons in sportsmanship, teamwork,
goal setting, overcoming adversity, and competition.
This winter, both the Women’s and Men’s Varsity soccer
and basketball teams were selected to play in the CIF San
Diego Section’s Division IV state playoffs. Accolades went
to Amanda Norman, who finished the basketball season as
one of the nation’s top five scorers, and Ali Adelman, one of
the county’s top softball pitchers, which has made them all
the more attractive to college recruiters.
Construction on the new gymnasium has begun, and next
year SDJA athletes will have a state-of-the-art facility in
which to practice, train and build on their athletic success.
“I came to realize that my
happiness was not dependent on
what the school could do for me,
but on what I could
do at the school. “
Jacob Frank, SDJA “lifer” from grades K-12
Zikaron v’tikvah (Remembrance and Hope)
Inspired by the documentary “Paper Clips” and the poem written during the Holocaust, “The Butterfly,” educator Jan
Landau and parent/artist Cheryl Price initiated a project called Zikaron v’tikvah. Beautiful three-inch ceramic butterflies,
symbols of Jewish hope, freedom, strength, and survival, have been created by SDJA families and friends to adorn
the walls of the campus. It is hoped that 1.5 million ceramic butterflies will make their way to the school and serve as a
memorial for the children who lost their lives in the Holocaust.
The Holocaust Memory
By Sara Simon, Samantha Mausner, Belanie Nagiel, and Dalia Breziner.
About sixty years ago a terrible thing happened-six million Jews died!
Our teacher Ms. Rosenfield told us a short story about some children
that were about nine or ten years old. These children were in the
concentration camps and were separated from their parents. They
were struggling to stay alive!
When the Nazis weren’t watching over them, the children told their
stories through pictures that they painted or drew with whatever
materials they could find. They described their lives in the concentration
camps where they were never able to go outside the barbed wire
fences. The name of the book is, I Never Saw Another Butterfly.
SDJA has butterflies all around our school. Our goal is to display one
and one-half million butterflies in honor of the one and one-half million
children who lost their lives in the Holocaust. In this way, we will remind
people about the terrible tragedy that occurred sixty years ago.
This is a conversation between the butterflies, as they try to find a way to
help the children.
The Kindness butterfly says, “Believe in yourself, kindness will repay you!”
The Mitzvah butterfly says, “You will be freed by the power of a mitzvah
that will enable you to see a new world!”
The Righteous butterfly says, “The righteous will help you believe in
yourself!”
The Caring butterfly says, “Care for others who need your help!”
The Honest butterfly says, “Believe in the attribute of honesty, and you
will be free!”
The Brave butterfly says, “Be brave, and fight for your freedom!”
Take advantage of your freedom, and remember your past!
“Learning is the raising of
character by the broadening of
vision and the
deepening of feeling.”
Menorah Journal, 1916.
Footprints, by Sam Ulrich, 11th grade
At San Diego Jewish Academy, we believe that self-expression fosters self-confidence and creativity.  Fine arts and creative writing are an
integral part of the curriculum from kindergarten through 12th grade.  Due to space constraints, many wonderful contributions could not be
included. Here is just a sample of the outstanding poetry, essays, art and photography that was produced this year by our students. The
two poems on this page were the “Jews for Judaism” contest winners among 600 entrants.
My Prayer for the People of Israel
Shalom
Samuel Vilenski
Lauren Lechtner
Third grade
Third Grade
My wish for Israel is –serenity
S
“MY PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL”
I dedicate this prayer to the people of Israel:
My wish for Israel is –hope
May God bless the land of Israel.
My wish for Israel is –a hand of love
A
May God make peace for the people of Israel.
My wish for Israel is a- long life
L
May God let people live together even if they are
different.
My wish for Israel are for boundless –opportunities O
May God eliminate poverty.
May God change the minds of those who put bombs in
the buses.
May God give the opportunity for all the children of Israel
to love each other.
May God let all the people of Israel be united.
“May the people of Israel be capable of receiving these
blessings from God .”
Amen !
My wish for Israel is a –miracle

H
M
“Prayers: Words with Winged Feet”
Carli Wittgrove
I pray that you are happy,
that you intrepidly pursue your future,
rather than dwell on the past.
Don’t let anyone shut down your dreams.
You have smart heads and warm hearts.
Let these guide you through life.
Continue to play long games of four-square and draw
silly pictures on the walls.
Continue to be regaling and easily amused.
Continue to play “chicken” in the pool and have water
balloon fights on hot days.
Continue to be outgoing and free-spirited.
Continue to play with your many mascotas and take
turns hitting Winnie Pooh piñatas.
Continue to be fun-loving and enamored of life.
Maggie Died
Jack Ross
First Grade
Inside of Me
Erin Abrams
Fifth Grade
Twelfth Grade
Decorate your lives the way you want to,
with the same colorful chalk and carefree spirit with
which you painted the paper plates and sidewalk.
You will be accepted in this world,
Not for what your family was then, but for who you are
now.
Continue to splash in the cool clear blue waters of the
lagoon.
Continue to tease us gringos in your jargon when you
founder in hopscotch.
Continue to exude warmth and kindness to those
around you.
Continue to squelch us gringos in futbol, you barefoot
and deft, the smaller, younger team.
Continue to be mischievous and play the “circle-hit”
game.
Continue to shock your gringo senses with your lucas
candy and spicy tamarindo.
Believe that you can do anything;
Cling tenaciously to your dreams.
You are your families’ hope for the future.
They wanted the best for you.
(Dedicated to the children of Pimpollo
Orphanage, Oaxaca, Mexico)
Untitled photograph of reflection in monument
Brandon Sherman
Hanukkiah
David Lombrozo
Kindergarten
Pastel Portrait
Jack de Tar
Tenth Grade
Shadow of Dreams
Jody Miller
Fifth Grade
Open Hands, Open Heart
Emma Tuttleman-Kriegler
Ninth grade
Ode to the open arms of my mother’s open heart,
the arms that protected me from the life which was so
unknown to me yet,
the kite that was trapped by the gigantic tree waiting for the
right gusts of wind that push it to soar free, was I.
The comfort of the tree’s rhythmic heart draws me back still,
always open, always grateful for my return.
The palms that connect me to the branches of my bloodline
have an understanding touch for when the winds arise and
seem too strong
for the golden-haired kite, am I.
Release is always tender for those bent on “Je suis ici” and
“Vous ette mien.”
It’s not until the last of our finger tips touch, when I come to
the realization that I am my own tree.
Her hands taught my hands how to survive
by risking rejection and hard work as I am thrust into the
world
through an explosion of knowledge and beauty,
both of which my mother has personified for eternity.
That explosion of female empowerment
has clearly embodied the Fara Fawcett hair-do of my
mother,
which forms the cowlicks that mimic
those of the golden haired kite, I am.
Hatiyul Sheli
Dan Gorodezky
Fourth Grade
The Seventh Day
Noam Paz
Third Grade
S abbath queen comes to every house
H onoring God for all that we have
A time to rest and celebrate
B urning candles on the table
B ring tzedaka to shull for the poor
A ll the boys wear talits
T ime to pray at shul
Q uiet and peaceful night
U nbelievable holiday
E ach person gets blessed by God
E veryone is happy
No one is alone
“Leadership is an internal quality….all
human beings can be leaders. Certain
people become leaders when they
take on certain personal qualities (which
all people possess) and raise them to a
higher level…..” Yitz Greenberg
L’hitraot Marna Weiss
Marna Weiss
Parent, Teacher, Director, Principal, Friend
and Leader
Marna Weiss’ journey at San Diego Jewish
Academy began as a parent in 1983. Before
long, she assumed the positions of first grade
teacher and member of the board. She was
promoted to Director of Admissions, and in
1996 she was appointed principal of Golda
Meir Lower School.
Over the past eleven years, Marna has
built GMLS to be academically rigorous, yet
centered in character education and Jewish
values. She has succeeded in making the
school a safe and caring environment for
all her students. Marna has often stated,
“While it is important for students to be
academically challenged, and to be the best
and the brightest, what good is it if they
are not menschen?” These words ring true
throughout the school.
As principal, Marna established a strong,
literature-based language arts program, the
Everyday Math Program, parent coffees,
playground activities like “Bucky’s Game”,
fifth grade Hevra Leadership program, and
our Cool Tools Character Education program.
Marna has proven herself an excellent
leader through her dedicated faculty and
staff – many of whom have worked at SDJA
for as long as she has, and have benefited
enormously from her guidance and support.
When Marna was honored at this
year’s Annual General Meeting with an
endowment fund in her name, GMLS
Director of Judaic Studies Debbie Kornberg
paid her a special tribute: “Over the years
that I have worked with you, I have come
to appreciate the many strengths you carry,
especially your calm nature when dealing
with difficult situations, your amazing
organizational skills that allow you to always
be one step ahead, your fantastic sense of
humor, and your wealth of knowledge of the
English language. But I think I can speak for
all of us—parents, teachers, and students
-- when I say that we have appreciated
knowing that your door has always been
open to us for any reason at any time. We
know that you are someone whom we can
talk to, and you can always be trusted to
keep a confidence. Over the years, you
have not only been our colleague, our
principal, our confidant, you have been our
friend.
“It takes a special woman like you, with a lot
of courage, to take on the possibility of the
unknown. But being a leader also means
one can never become stagnant, and so
you have chosen to take on yet another
challenge – becoming principal of La Jolla
Country Day. We know that SDJA will
always hold a special place in your heart,
but we understand that in order for you to
grow as an individual, you need to move
on and take on those new challenges of
leadership.
In the words of our sacred Bible, ‘May your
words be filled with wisdom and dignity
and your tongue be filled with kind
teachings.’ Proverbs chapter 31
We love you and wish you only the best.
San Diego Jewish Academy will always be
a home for you.”
.
“The aim of education must be the training of
independently acting and thinking individuals,
who, however, see in the service of the
community their highest problem. “
Albert Einstein
Giving
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
The goal of the capital campaign
is to provide the funds to build and
maintain the facilities and ultimately
eradicate the long term debt. Under
the dedicated leadership of Leo
Spiegel, and given the continued
generosity of our donors, the school
was able to reduce and refinance its
long term debt and begin construction
of a much needed, new Gymnasium.
We are enormously grateful to all the
following donors for their generosity to
our Capital Campaign:
1987 Trust
Cindy & Kenneth Altschuler
Jean Daniels
Deborah Dowis
Miriam & Samuel Engel
David Fox
Hanna & Mark Gleiberman
Monica Handler Penner & Amnon Gires
Francine & Marshall Katz
Susan & Richard Levin
Linda & Rabbi Arnold Levine
Shana & William Lew
Zita & Morris Liebermensch
Evelyn & Wilfred Moch
Barbara Pache
Robyn & Stanley Rapoport
Theresa & Mark Sadoff
Richard Shapiro
KEN/SDJA Campaign
This innovative approach to
collaborative, capital fundraising,
raised $3.25 million and was led
by Carlos Michan and a dedicated
Steering Committee consisting of
Reuben Artenstein, Nadin & Alberto
Benrey, Brenda & Wolf Bielas, Karen
& Jaime Breziner, Sammy Camhi,
Beto Cohen, Yoel Galante, Leonardo
Goldstein, Karen & Roberto Jinich,
Esther Michan and Sammy Michan.
The success of this campaign will
enable the KEN to have a permanent
home in the SDJA gymnasium and
offer enhanced programming to its
members while making the school
more financially secure. We wish to
thank the following donors for their
help in making this dream a reality:
Alicia & Moises Abadi
Sara & Jean Jacques Abitbol
Jessica & Avi Abu
Becky & Nathan Adler
Lucy & Isaac Alchalel
Shira & Leon Alchalel
Anonymous
Monica & Jose Aroeste
Deborah & Abraham Artenstein
Jave & Reuben Artenstein
Patricia & Miguel Beer
BBG Communications
Nadin & Alberto Benrey
Rebecca & Roberto Besquin
Rina & Alberto Bessudo
Lillian & Alejandro Bialosotzky
Brenda & Wolf Bielas
Jaime Brener
Karen & Jaime Breziner
Alicia & Isaac Calderon
Hannah & Samuel Camhi
Alicia & Alberto Chaljon
Raquel & Jaime Chaljon
Silvia & Arturo Chayet
Manuel Chazan
Ilana & Abraham Cheikka
Margo & Albert Cohen
Victoria & Edward Cohen
Mina & Enrique Cohen
Maggie & Samuel Dujovich
Rebeca & Abraham Edid
Nancy & Salomon Edid
Monica & Samuel Efter
Sara Epstein
Monica & David Federman
Aaron Feldman
Frida & David Franco
Erika & Max Freifeld
Ana & David Gaistman
Jenny & Alberto Galante
Ifat & David Galante
Sara & Yoel Galante
Ilana Gold
Meg & Allan Goldstein
Laura & Leonardo Goldstein
Eva & Strul Goldstein
Gabriela & Manuel Gonicman
Sore & Igal Gordon
Ronit & Enrique Gorodezky
Sylvia & Salomon Gorshtein
Vivian & Daniel Guefen
Deborah & David Guss
Becky & Isaac Guttin
Michal & Alberto Hamui
Ricardo Jinich
Karen & Roberto Jinich
Sonia & Sergio Jinich
KEN Jewish Community Center
Lisette & Stuart Kipper
Lorye Kleinfeld
Barbara & Uri Kucinski
Caryn Kurian
Debora & Marcos Levy
Dalia & Daniel Lieberman
Judy & Elias Lilienthal
Monica & Salvador Lombroso
Iliana & Bernardo Lombrozo
Rebeca & Carlos Lubezky
Sally & Luis Maizel
Elizabeth & Andres Marek
Esther & Jorge Mareyna
Luna & David Memun
Silvana & Alberto Michan
Esther & Carlos Michan
Jenny & Henry Michan
Doris & Samuel Michan
Lillian & Mauricio Miselewicz
Charlotte & Elias Mizrahi
Esther & Mario Modiano
Anel & Roberto Moutal
Raquel & Rafael Mussali
Liora & Ron Newfield
Barbara & Sheldon Ostroff
Maggie & Robert Ovadia
Alice & Samuel Penhos
Rosa & Alfredo Ratniewski
Emma & Alberto Romano
Renee & Elias Romano
Bonnie & Abraham Romanowsky
Martha & Ari Rostenberg
Leslie Russo
Iliana & Eduardo Salamonovitz
Galia Sefchovich
Adriana & Abraham Sherman
Reina & David Shteremberg
Susie & Nathan Shteremberg
Nora & Daniel Silberstein
Leonardo Simpser
Leah & Ricardo Singer
Cynthia & Eduardo Sneider
Jodi & Leo Spiegel
Debbie & Jose Stepensky
Liz & Salomon Tacher
Laura & Simon Vainer
Esther & Benjamin Vilenski
Linda & Roberto Waisbord
Fanny Wellman
Bruce Yanofsky
Alicia Mussaly & Jaime Zaga
Eva & Enrique Zagursky
Sonia & Jose Zyman*
LEGACY CAMPAIGN
The goal of the Legacy Campaign
is to ensure the long term growth,
prosperity and educational excellence
of San Diego Jewish Academy. Under
the leadership of Beverley Pamensky,
the Legacy campaign encouraged
the creation of outright endowments,
planned gifts and bequests. We wish
to acknowledge all the members
of the Legacy Circle whose vision
and consideration ensure that SDJA
will continue to flourish and impart
knowledge and Jewish values to
endless generations:
Clifford Acheatel
Janet & Larry Acheatel
Raquel & Natan Bakcht
Marsha & Howard Berkson
Cynthia Bolker
Karen & Jaime Breziner
Chortek Family Foundation*
Janet Clancy
Rita Cohen
Mardelle & Jeffrey Davis
Meg Goldstein
Sharon & Albert Goodman
Judy & Gerald Handler
Monica Handler Penner
Hadassah & Beno Hirschbein
Ann & Richard Jaffe
Eleanor & Irving Jaffe
Sophia & Leon Kassel
Theresa Dupuis & Gary Kornfeld
Nancy & Steven Krasnoff
Fanny Krasner Lebovits
Yvette & Bill Lechtner
Cheryl & Gary Levitt
Celia & Nate Levy
Deena & Rabbi Melvin Libman
Esther & Carlos Michan
Oppenheimer Scholarship Fund
Barbara Pache
Beverley & Martin Pamensky
Linda & Shearn Platt
Gary Rotto
SDJA Parent Teacher Organization
Shari & Frederick Schenk
Renee & Mark Sherman
The Shillman Foundation
Sperling Family Fund
Steiman Family Trust
Jodi & Leo Spiegel
Sharon & Steven Tradonsky
Caryn & Alan Viterbi
Erna & Andrew Viterbi
Mort Vogelson Memorial Fund*
Zelda Waxenberg
Susan Chortek Weisman & Eric Weisman
Jeanne Zlotnick
ENDOWMENT FUNDS
While endowment gifts of $100,000
or above can establish a named fund,
donors making outright gifts of $5,000
or above, and bequests or planned gifts
of any denomination, are all included in
the SDJA Legacy Circle.
Joseph Oppenheimer Financial Aid
Fund
Established in 1999 by a gift from
Joseph Oppenheimer, this was
San Diego Jewish Academy’s first
endowment fund. The fund was
established to provide financial aid for
students and to foster family oriented
Jewish education. Joseph served on
the SDJA Jewish Day Schools for the
21st Century Task Force from
2002 – 2004.
Sperling Family Financial Aid Fund
Established in 2000 by Bobbie and Lee
Sperling, this innovative gift was funded
over the course of 5 years, through
the proceeds from the sale of donated
art, whose value appreciated over
time. Bobbie and Lee’s commitment
to Jewish education extended to their
children, Rebecca and Steven, who
graduated from SDJA in 1995 and
1996 respectively, but also included
their desire to ensure that financial aid
be available to families that would not
otherwise be able to afford an SDJA
education. After serving on the Board
for 2 years, Bobbie taught at SDJA
from 1990 – 2004.
Chortek Family Foundation
Endowment Fund
Established in 2004, this gift from
the Chortek Family Foundation is
intended to provide financial aid for
students and ensure funding for the
Senior Class trip to Israel. Elaine &
Peter Chortek serve as the Honorary
Chairs of the Legacy Campaign, their
daughter Susan, serves on the Board
of Trustees and as co-chair of the
Parent Teacher Organization and their
grandchildren Shana and Sammy are
currently enrolled in the Golda Meir
Lower School.
SDJA Music Fund
Established in 2005, this gift from
Marsha and Howard Berkson affirmed
their belief that music enriches
children’s growth and development,
teaching both discipline and creativity.
Their endowment will strengthen the
music program, providing instruments
and extra coaching throughout the
school and ensure that music is always
a part of the SDJA curriculum. Their
son Jacob is enrolled in the Golda Meir
Lower School and their son Brandon
is enrolled in the Maimonides Upper
School.
SDJA Financial Aid Fund
Established in 2005 by the Board of
Trustees, this fund is comprised of
numerous donations of $5,000 and
above in support of the Board-adopted
commitment to allocate at least 10% of
annual operating expenses to Financial
Aid.
SDJA Professional Development
Fund
Established in 2005 by the Board
of Trustees, this fund is comprised
of donations of $5,000 and above
and is intended to ensure that SDJA
Staff and Faculty can benefit from
continuing education and professional
development in their respective fields.
Shillman Distinguished Scholars
Recognition Fund
Established in 2006, this gift from the
Shillman Foundation encourages and
commends the pursuit of excellence
in Mathematics and Science. Those
SDJA students awarded 1st, 2nd and
3rd place in regional Mathematics and
Science competitions or who achieve
eligibility in the National Merit Student
program, are named and listed as
Shillman Scholars. They are invited
to an annual reception in their honor
at the estate of Dr. Bob and Mao
Shillman. The Shillman’s son’s Max
and Barney, currently attend SDJA, and
their niece, Michelle, graduated from
SDJA in 2006.
Marna Weiss Golda Meir Lower
School Principal’s Fund
Established in 2007 by the Board of
Trustees and founded with a gift from
the SDJA Parent Teacher Organization,
this fund was created to honor and
acknowledge GMLS Principal Marna
Weiss and her 21 years of exemplary
service to the school. As indicated
in its title, proceeds from this fund are
intended to be utilized at the GMLS
Principal’s discretion.
MARNA WEISS FUND
Elanit & Larry Abrams
Janet & Larry Acheatel
Ilana & Micki Acks
Jaqueline & John Adler
Becky & Natan Adler
Heidi & Noam Arzt
Jodi & Lawrence Bartlett
Cheryl & Ken Bender
Irit BenDor
Ariela & Sergio Berkstein
Ilana & Mauricio Bogomolny
Janet & William Bohannon
Cynthia Bolker & Greg Rizzi
Marion Braun
Karen & Jaime Breziner
Roseann & Steven Brozinsky
Marvelyn & Scott Bucky
Stan Caplan
Silvia & Arturo Chayet
Pauline Cohen
Rayna & Adam Colton
Pam & Bard Cosman
Kelli Cox
Mardelle & Jeff Davis
Margaux & Jordan Dinerman
Rebeca & Abraham Edid
Susan Elden
Claire & David Ellman
Jonathan Ellman*
Ruth Schwartz & Isaac Engel
Jane Fantel & Laura Galinson*
Terry Fechter & Aura Fechter
Belinda & Uri Feldman
Rhona & Ray Fink
Haya Fleury
Josephine Foulks
Davida & Rabbi David Frank
Beryl & Julian Frank
Debbie & Mitch Friedlander
Paulette & Sidney Friedman
Beatrice & Louis Galper
Jean & Franklin Gaylis
Monica Handler Penner & Amnon Gires
Meg & Allan Goldstein
Sheryl & Mark Goodman
Barbara & Jeffrey Gordon
Judith Gross & Marc Steingart
Ricky & Guershon Harel
Roxanne Hersh
Tobi & Nachum Inlander
Sonia & Andrew Israel
Jack Jaffe
Ann & Richard Jaffe
Karen & Roberto Jinich
Susan & David Kabakoff*
Linda & Hillel Katzeff
Debbie & Rabbi David Kornberg
Cailen & Nathaniel Krasnoff
Carol Tamaki & Jonathan Kroll
Jan & Sam Landau
Lydia & Sasson Lavi
Susan & Richard Levin
Julie & Roberto Levin
Debora & Marcos Levy
Marion Lew
Deena & Rabbi Mel Libman
Susan & Pierre Lotzof
Vanessa & Michael Lurie
Dani & Errol Marcus
Becky & Mauricio Margolis
Ryan Marks
Esther & Carlos Michan
Fran & Craig Miller
Charlotte & Elias Mizrahi
Tammy & Clive Moch
Marjorie & Michael Morrison
Ruth & Moises Nagiel
Beverley & Martin Pamensky
Alice & Sammy Penhos
Monica & Michael Posner
Stella Read
Debra & Ramon Reid
Danielle & Nitzan Reouveni
Janet Rosenfield
Sylvia & David Roth
Judith & Jonathan Rudin
Diane & Howard Schachat
Shari & Fred Schenk
SDJA PTO
Renee & Mark Sherman
Jill & Norman Smith
Julie & Stephen Soden
Bobbie & Lee Sperling
Jodi & Leo Spiegel
Leah & Guri Stark
Ellen Statman
Ellen & Jeff Steindorf
Suzanne Swersky
Tami & Jon Taylor
Caryn & Alan Viterbi*
Zelda Waxenberg*
Susan Chortek Weisman & Eric Weisman
Adam Weiss
Katherine Wexler
Teshy & Jerry Wellman
Katie & John Wilcox
Perri Wittgrove
Edna Yedid
EVERY CHILD ANNUAL
CAMPAIGN
SDJA’s Every Child Campaign helps
close the gap between tuition and
the actual costs of educating our
students. Contributions from parents,
grandparents and community friends
support school-wide educational
excellence and our financial aid
program, fulfilling the campaign’s
motto, “Benefiting Every Student Every
Day”.
Expertly chaired by Jose Aroeste with
co-chair Denise Handler Shoemaker,
the campaign culminated with the Annual Dinner honoring Ann and Richard
Jaffe, who helped SDJA realize our
dream of building our own campus.
Dinner co-chairs Debbie and Edmond
Elghanian, Yvette and Bill Lechtner,
and Esther and Carlos Michan and
their extraordinary volunteers worked
tirelessly to pay tribute to the Jaffes
and to help the Campaign raise an
unprecedented $700,000.
Scholars’ Circle
Chair: Leo Spiegel
Minimum gift $10,000
Anonymous
Anonymous
Marsha & Howard Berkson*
Cynthia Bolker & Greg Rizzi*
Tanya & Charles Brandes
Elaine & Peter Chortek*
Alice & Phil Cohn
Karen & Glenn Doshay
Marleigh & Alan Gleicher
Leah & Andrew Gore
Stacy & Jon Halberg*
Hadassah & Beno Hirschbein
Ann & Richard Jaffe
Eleanor & Irving Jaffe
Carol & Richard Kornfeld*
Esther & Carlos Michan
Esther & Carlos Michan
Doris & Samuel Michan
Monica Handler Penner & Amnon Gires
The Silverstein Family*
Jodi & Leo Spiegel
Caryn & Alan Viterbi*
Erna & Andrew Viterbi*
Susan Chortek Weisman & Eric Weisman*
Graduates’ Circle
Chair: Perri Wittgrove
Minimum gift $5,000
Anonymous
Janet & Larry Acheatel*
Cheryl & Ken Bender
Comerica Charitable Foundation
Ruth Schwartz & Isaac Engel
Randi Feinberg
Jane Fantel & Laura Galinson*
Jean & Steve Hamerslag
Judy & Gerald Handler
Hilary & Selwyn Isakow
Roberta & Roy Josepho
Robert Kibble
Theresa Dupuis & Gary Kornfeld*
Lisa and Gary Levine
Cheryl & Gary Levitt
Shana & Bill Lew
Joe & Sima Oppenheimer
Cheryl & Michael Price
Marlene & Michael Recht
Denise & Stephen Shoemaker
Rancho La Puerta
Jan Tuttleman
US Trust
Perri Wittgrove
Wayne Foster Entertainment
Educators’ Circle
Chair: Denise Handler Shoemaker
Minimum gift $2,500
Anonymous
Marsha & Howard Berkson
Cindy & Larry Bloch
Juanita Brooks
Emily & Dan Einhorn*
Shirley & Edward Farajzadeh
Stacy & Jeff Feinberg
Jewish Day School Scholarship Fund*
Judi & Douglas Krupp
Lisa & Gary Levine
Karen & Michael Levinson
Trisha & Larry Liebermensch
Silvana & Alberto Michan
Partner Press
Northern Trust Bank
Beverley & Martin Pamensky
Shirley & Harold Pidgeon
Lori & Ken Polin*
Penny & Robert Sarver
Lillian & Sheldon Scharlin*
Shari & Fred Schenk*
Maria & Mark Schlossberg
Jean & Gary Shekhter*
Laura & Brian Tauber
Randi & Charles Wax*
Honor Roll
Minimum gift : $1,000
Elanit & Larry Abrams
Kerry & Joe Aiello
Kerry & Joe Aiello
Adina & Ian Aires
Cindy & Ken Altschuler
Anonymous
Anonymous
Jill & James Brown
Janine & Scott Brown
Linda & Mike Circosta
Janet Clancy
Wendi Diamond & Darrel Cohen
Jenny & Sid Craig
Denise & Micha Danzig
Mardelle & Jeff Davis
Perla & Julius Fox
Betty Feinberg
Karen & Robert Friedman
Ana & David Gaistman
Stacy & Dan Gatto
Hanna & Mark Gleiberman
Meg & Allan Goldstein
Joyce & Sam Hoffman
Jessica & Bruce Koren
La Jolla Spa MD
Yvette & Bill Lechtner
Tammi & Clive Moch
Marna Weiss & Raymond Padowitz
Pamplemousse Grille
Darlene & Mark Pidgeon
Edna & Michael Pines
Cheryl & Michael Price
RBF Consulting
Shulamit & David Ritblatt
Arlene & Gerald Rosen
Theresa & Mark Sadoff
Teresita & Alfred Salganick
Gail & Jonathan Schwartz
Scripps Laser Vision
SDJA Parent Teacher Organization
Joyce & Gerald Sinclair
Elyse Sollender
Bobbie & Lee Sperling
Southwest 49 Forum
Judy & Michael Steinhardt
Marcia Selz & Eduardo Subelman
Teresa & Alan Weinstein
Jeanne Zlotnick
EVERY CHILD CONTRIBUTORS
Ilana & Micki Acks
Erin Kenney & Marc Adelman
Becky & Natan Adler
Sherry & Kevin Ahern
Thank You Plants
Donna & Robert Aizuss
Anderson Piping Contractors
Andrew Miller Productions
Cecelia Appelbaum
Lina Wolf & Jose Arakanchi
Arena Eyeworks Optometry
Monica & Jose Aroeste
Art Creations Unlimited
Deborah & Abraham Artenstein
Heidi & Noam Arzt
Rachel & Jaime Atri
Raquel & Natan Bakcht
Lili & Bijan Bakhshi
Larry Balaban
Leslie & Jim Barker
Karen & Ray Barshick
Chair Dance
Diane Benaroya
Irit BenDor
Jonathan BenDor
Nadin & Alberto Benrey
Ruth & Norman Berger
Suzie Bergstrom
Sylvia & Keith Berkson
Ariela & Sergio Berkstein
Sherry & Alan Berlin
Connie Berry
Rebeca & Roberto Besquin
David Bevilaqua
Brenda & Wolf Bielas
Wendy & Gary Birnbaum
Rahleen & Laurence Bloch
Adrienne & Edwin Blumberg
Jeanne & Andrew Blumenfeld
Body Evolution
Janet & William Bohannon
Anna & Jeff Bornstein
Joyce & William Boyajian
Marion Braun
Bob Breitbard
Stephanie & Michael Breslauer
Dan Bressler
Karen & Jaime Breziner
Broadway San Diego
Marion Lew & J C Brown
Laina & Maurice Buchbinder
Marvelyn & Scott Bucky
Liz & Isaac Calderon
Camp Mountain Chai
Stan Caplan
Jan Capon
Carolyn M. White, DDS
Casey Berry, Schenk, Francaville, Blatt &
Rentield LLP
Center for Movement and Balance
Richard Chandler
Rosalie & Martin Charlat
Charisma Beauty Care
Silvia & Arturo Chayet
Coleen & John Choisser
Elaine & Peter Chortek
Stephen Clark
Margo & Albert Cohen
Wendi Diamond & Darrel Cohen
Mina & Enrique Cohen
Sandra Block & Jeffrey Cohen
Lupita & Ronald Cohn
The Cohn Restaurant Group
Rebecca & Jonathan Collopy
Rayna & Adam Colton
Congregation Beth El
Deena & Myles Cooper
Pamela & Bard Cosman
Kelli Cox
Jenny & Sid Craig
Denise & Micha Danzig
David & Sons Jewelers
Marisa Gayne & Paul Davis
Del Mar Golf Center
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Aura & Terry Decker
Lynn Detlor
Diana & David Deutsch
Ricki De Wolff
DIG Garden and Home
Margaux Dinerman
Disneyland Resort
DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP
Nancy & Jeff Dosick
Ken Druck
Donna & Rabbi Menashe East
Barbara & John Edgington
Rebeca & Abraham Edid
Monica & Samuel Efter
Judyth & Abraham Eisen
Julie & Steven Eisenberg
Estelle Silverstein & Jeffrey Elden
Debbie & Edmond Elghanian
Claire & David Ellman
Danielle Popp & Art Engel
Miriam & Samuel Engel
JoAnn & Peter Epstine
Escape Day Spa
Eyestructure
Facts Management Company
Michael Feinman
Andrea & Ira Feinswog
Merril & Franklin Felber
Sara & David Feldman
Belinda & Uri Feldman*
Diane & Elliot Feuerstein
Rhona & Raymond Fink
Firefly Boutique
Jay Fiske
Flora & Seth Flam
Debbie Ford
Four Seasons Resort, Maui
Perla & Julius Fox
Frida & David Franco
Davida & Rabbi David Frank
Beryl & Julian Frank
Barbara & Harrison Frank
Beryl & Julian Frank
Cara & Mark Freedman
Erika & Max Freifeld
Fresh Seafood Restaurant
Bertha & Enrique Fridman
Karen & Robert Friedman
Annette Friskopp
Wendy Burk & Harold Frysh
Tania & Ruben Fux
GAIA Day Spa
Rebecca & Bruce Gaither
Rebecca Gaither
Sara & Yoel Galante
Wanda & Cam Garner
Julia Garwood
Merle & Brendan Gaylis
Jean & Franklin Gaylis
Rhoda & Hymie Gaylis
Marcia & Stanley Gelfand
Sara Geller
Melissa & Barry Gillman
Melissa & Barry Gillman
Sue & Jim Gilstrap
Glamour Nails
Barbara & Jeffrey Gordon
Sara & Igal Gordon
Ronit & Enrique Gorodezky
Ronit & Enrique Gorodezky
Sylvia & Solomon Gorshtein
Rabbis Susan Freeman & Phil Graubart
Kit & Clarence Greenwald
Isabelle Gross
Robin & Rafael Gross
Shoshana & Neil Gross
Dana & Ira Grossman
Vivian & Daniel Guefen
Judy Hante
Happily Ever Organized
Yossi Harari
Ricky & Guershon Harel
Harold Stevens Jewelers Inc
Harold Stevens Jewelers Inc
Wynne Heilbrunn
Helen Segal of Poets Designs
Roxanne & David Hersh
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
Suzanne & Steven Hilton
Joyce & Samuel Hoffman
Monica & Andrew Hoffman
Barbara & Jim Hopkins
Hornblower Dining Yachts
Laurie & William Hoshaw
Inna & Raphael Houri
Tali Ilan
Richard Jaffe
Charly Jaffe
Lori & Jack Jaffe
Maxi Jaffe
Janetelli Jewelers
Jewelry Designs by Raquel
Jewish Community Foundation
Karen & Roberto Jinich
Jolly Time Popcorn
Eddie Reynolds & Ed Jones
Tammi & Todd Jones
Sharon Josepho
Kay & Andrew Kaplan
Jodi & Robert Kaplan
Candye Kane
Keri & Aaron Katz
Kenneth Katz
Linda & Hillel Katzeff
Ileana & Omer Katznelson
Kearny Mesa Lexus
Debbie & Sol Kempinski
Stephen Kerr
Kiehl’s
Beth & Ross Klareich
Amelia Klein
Cheryl & Lon Kolker
Sharon & Nat Koren
Debbie & Rabbi David Kornberg
Stephanie & Milton Krasner
Steven Krasnoff
Susy & Israel Kravzov
Carol Tamaki & Jonathan Kroll
Deborah Sweet Kucinski
Eileen Kurlander
La Jolla Family Smile Design
La Jolla Transportation
Max Landau
Jan & Sam Landau
Language Bazaar
Lydia & Sasson Lavi
Linda’s Nails & Reflexology
Anita & Rabbi Martin Lawson
Leatherock International Inc.
Yvette & Bill Lechtner
Fran & Bobby Lent
Linda & Gregory Lepkowski
Mira & Shalom Lev
Gloria & Bahram Levi
Julie & Roberto Levin
Linda & Rabbi Arnold Levine
Bea Levinson
Cheryl & Gary Levitt
Debora & Marcos Levy
Celia & Nate Levy
Shana & Bill Lew
Deena & Rabbi Mel Libman
Beth & Daniel Linge
Gladys Lipton
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Jane Willoughby & Ingram Losner
Susan & Pierre Lotzof
Rebeca & Carlos Lubezky
Laura & Matt Lubomirsky
Barbara & Selwyn Lurie
Vanessa & Michael Lurie
David Luttbeg
M&M Gems
Madera’s Golf Center
Madison Del Mar
Denise Malicki
Dani & Errol Marcus
Market Restaurant
Max Mara
Mcormick & Schmick’s Resturant
Berthalicia & Nathan Meltzer
Luna & David Memun
Jacqueline & Enrique Metta
Metro Flooring
Cecilia & David Michan
Doris & Samuel Michan
Fran & Craig Miller
Scott Miller
Lillian & Mauricio Miselewicz
Cara & Eric Mitnick
Naomi & Shabtay Mizan
Monica & Victor Mizrachi
Charlotte & Elias Mizrahi
Sharine & Efraim Mizrahi
Neala’s Skincare
Moments in Time
Montage Resort & Spa
Moroccan Magic
Adriane & Allan Morrison
Marjorie & Michael Morrison
Michelle & Phil Moses
Susan & Nissim Mualim
Eden & Jeff Muller
Monica Munoz
Kendall & Douglas Murken
Music Mart
Raquel & Rafael Mussali
Teri & Howard Naftalin
Teri & Howard Naftalin
Ruth & Moises Nagiel
Janice & Jeffrey Nesses
Liora & Ron Newfield
Paula Norman
North Coast Pilates
The Old Globe
Omni Hotel San Diego
Optometric Express
Maggie & Robert Ovadia
Barbara & George Pache
Pacific Athletic Club
Pacific Entertainment
Pacific Rim Mechanical Contractors
Pacific Soils Engineering, Inc.
Paradise Resort & Spa
Michal & Amir Paz
Kelly & Jeremy Pearl
Alice & Samuel Penhos
Orly & David Perez
Pfizer Foundation
PlanetBuff.com
Elizabeth Polacheck
Ricki Polisar
Nancy Muller & Jeannie Posner
Monica & Michael Posner
Cheryl & Michael Price
Margo Rabenau
Sheryl & Neil Rabinowitz
Harry Rachman
Radiance Yoga & Therapeutic Exercise
Center
Evelyn & Ernest Rady
Jay Rains
Robyn & Stanley Rapoport
Ruth & Michael Rassler
Marci & Andrew Ratner
Shirley & Emanuel Ravet
Ofra & Eyal Raz
Liz Levine & Andrew Resnick
Revolution Fitness Center
Eddie & Ed Reynolds
Linda & Michael Rivkin
Linda & Michael Rivkin
Cynthia Bolker & Greg Rizzi
David Robinson
Jaynie Schultz & Ronald Romaner
Janet Rosenfield
Sandra & Robert Rosenstein
Jeffrey Rossman
Joy & Richard Rothberger
Ana & Abraham Rothman
Gary Rotto
Monica & Natan Rozen
Dana & Alan Rusonik
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Susan Sacal
Sigal & Mitch Sagowitz
Salon Divine & Spa
Salon Jose
Salon Nobel
Salon Radius
San Diego Cardiovascular Association
San Diego Padres
San Diego Restaurant Management
Randall San Antonio
San Diego Marriot Hotel & Marina
Barbara Sandoval & Aaron Friedman
Gila & Keith Saxe
Linda & Carlos Sayd
Diane & Howard Schachat
Lynn & Robert Schaffer
Jilliene Schenkel
Shari Schindler
Jackie & Richard Schwartz
Elaine Schwartzbach
Score! Education Center, Del Mar
Seaside Home
Marcia Janger & Richard Shapiro
Dianne Shapp
Sharp Gallery
Renee & Mark Sherman
Monique & Jack Shevel
Galina & Alexander Shikhman
Bernardo Shteremberg
Sara Shteremberg
Nora & Daniel Silberstein
Miriam & Sydney Silverman
Carol & Samuel Simkin
Arlette & Gregory Smith
Cynthia & Eduardo Sneider
Jessica & Gary Soble
Julie & Stephen Soden
The Spa at Torrey Pines
Spa Violet
Stan Lawrence Photography
Frieda Spiegel
Leah & Guri Stark
Ellen Statman
June & Lee Stein
Ellen & Jeff Steindorf
Judith Gross & Mark Steingart
Peggy & Joseph Stemler
Ashley & Ryan Stone
Ashley & Ryan Stone
Shoshana & Randy Stotland
Sunroad Enterprises
Jackie & Beni Surpin
Deena & Mike Swidler
Target-Take Charge of Education
Susie & Nelson Taxel
Tami & Jon Taylor
Tapenade Restaurant & Fine Catering
Judy & Brian Travis
Flora Danque & Jennifer Tuteur
United Jewish Federation
URSD Productions
USANA
Laura & Simon Vainer
The Vero Group
Esther & Benjamin Vilenski
Daniela Slavin & Adrian Waisfeld
Daniela Slavin & Adrian Waisfeld
Bonnie Wakefield
Washington Mutual
Watkins Landmark Construction
Emi & Louie Watanabe
Sharon & David Wax
Zelda Waxenberg
Teresa & Mark Weinstein
Marina & Anatoly Weiser
Joann & Eric Weitzen
Esther & Gerry Wellman
Katie & John Wilcox
Arnee & Walter Winshall
Nan Sterman & Curt Wittenberg
Sharleen & Norman Wollach
Stacy & Monte Woodard
Thomas Yearsley
Yes I Can! Self Defense
Jessica Yin
Patricia Yockey
Yofi Collection
Diane & Robert Zabaronick
Natalya & Edward Zelkind
Joellyn & Ron Zollman
Levana’s Garden
Levana’s Garden is an innovative
learning garden and haven for creative
writing, reading and thinking. It was
created in memory of Levana Estline
z”l, a beloved SDJA Kindergarten
teacher for 18 years and is filled with
her favorite sayings. We gratefully
acknowledge the following donors who
celebrated or memorialized their friends
and family members with tributes to the
Levana’s Garden Fund.
Janet & Larry Acheatel
Anonymous
Karen & Jaime Breziner
Mardelle & Jeffrey Davis
Margaux Dinerman
Tsvi Estline
Howard Friedman
Meg & Allan Goldstein
Cheryl Kolker
Jessica & Bruce Koren
Deena & Rabbi Melvin Libman
Susan & Pierre Lotzof
Suki & Doron Lurie
Barbara & Selwyn Lurie
Esther & Carlos Michan
Kerstin Morgan
Teri & Howard Naftalin
Beverley & Martin Pamensky
Carole & Mike Rosenzweig
Theresa & Mark Sadoff
Shari & Fred Schenk
Daniel Schreiber
Renee & Mark Sherman
Lee & Mike Simon
Caryn & Alan Viterbi*
Susan Chortek Weisman & Eric Weisman
Perri Wittgrove
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
APPEAL
Once again the Professional
Development Appeal at the Annual
Dinner was tremendously successful.
These funds enable SDJA faculty and
staff to enroll in workshops, seminars
and training programs that enhance
and advance their skills, ensuring that
they are able to offer the best possible
education and support to every student.
Anonymous
Monica & Jose Aroeste
Irit BenDor
Nadin & Alberto Benrey
Marsha & Howard Berkson
David Bevilaqua
Rahleen & Laurence Bloch
Cynthia Bolker & Greg Rizzi
Tanya & Charles Brandes
Karen & Jaime Breziner
Mina & Enrique Cohen
Sandra Block & Jeffrey Cohen
Jeremy Cohn
Guadalupe & Ron Cohn
Leah Davida
Kevin Dininio
Monica & Samuel Efter
Claire & David Ellman
JoAnn & Peter Epstine
Laura Galinson & Jane Fantel*
Marcia & Peter Fisher
Andrew Gerhard
Melissa & Barry Gillman
Mia & Robert Goldklang
Meg & Allan Goldstein
Gary Heil
Tammy & Larry Hershfield
Joyce & Samuel Hoffman
Ann & Richard Jaffe
Lori & Jack Jaffe
Karen & Roberto Jinich
Linda & Hillel Katzeff
Robert Kibble
Jessica & Bruce Koren
Carol & Rick Kornfeld
Yvette & William Lechtner
Bea Levinson
Cheryl & Gary Levitt
Judy & Elias Lilienthal
Esther & Carlos Michan
Marjorie & Michael Morrison
Eden & Jeff Muller
Dana & Daniel Neipris
Lisa Nichols
Maggie & Robert Ovadia
Beverley & Martin Pamensky
Monica & Michael Posner
Cheryl & Michael Price
Sigal & Mitch Sagowitz
Diane & Howard Schachat
Lillian & Sheldon Scharlin*
Shari & Fred Schenk
Maria & Mark Schlossberg
Gail & Jonathan Schwartz
Jacquelyn & Richard Schwartz
Renee & Mark Sherman
Jill & Norman Smith
Jodi & Leo Spiegel
Laura & Simon Vainer
Caryn & Alan Viterbi*
Erna & Andrew Viterbi*
Teresa & Alan Weinstein
Special Programs &
Projects
Over the course of any year, numerous
donors step forward to help support
or initiate a host of meaningful and
enriching programs and projects. This
year such initiatives included, Academy
on Stage, the Learning Center, the
Robynn Nussbaum Memorial Fund,
Technology and Graphic Design, the
senior trip to Israel, Zikaron V’Tikvah,
and many others. We are truly
humbled and blessed by the generosity
of these donors.
Lila Abed
Sara & Jean Jacques Abitbol
Carol Abramowitz
Janet & Larry Acheatel
Ingrid & Roger Acheatel
Ilana & Micki Acks
Erin Kenney & Mark Adelman
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Rosemary Armour
Samuel Atri
Raquel & Natan Bakcht
Diana & Oren Barforough
Lisa Ann & William Barkett
Amy Barnhart
Elissa & Steven Beaver
Carolina & Isidoro Behar
Diane Benaroya
Cheryl & Ken Bender
Marsha & Howard Berkson
Marsha & Howard Berkson
Ariela & Sergio Berkstein
Nancy Blum
Nicola & Jonathan Borok
Marian Braun
Jaime Brener
Beau Bressler
Karen & Jaime Breziner
Irene Bronson
Roxanne & Anthony Brown
Brenda & Mel Brown
Janine & Scott Brown
Marcia Bryan
Lori Pivo & Giacomo Bucci
Cathy Chapman
Karen & Harris Cohen
Mina & Enrique Cohen
Rebecca & Jonathan Collopy
Rebecca & Jonathan Collopy
Dana Cook
Karen & John Creelman
Danny Boy Productions, Inc.
Sherril Davidow
Mardelle & Jeffrey Davis
Marisa Gayne & Paul Davis
Judith & Vincent De Philippis
Deborah & Neal Desind
Margaux Dinerman
Margaux Dinerman
Discount Printers
Barbara & Dean Dunphy
Amy Ehler
Debbie & Edmond Elghanian
Claire & David Ellman*
Jan & Bruce Fagan
Fashion Furniture Outlet
Randi Feinberg
Steven Feinstein
Andrea Finegold
Leo Finegold
Jessica & Robert Fink
Lee Finkel
Erna Frank
Beryl & Julian Frank
Cara Freedman & Marc Grossman
Jane & Bert Freeman
Lynn Schenk & C. Hugh Friedman*
Tania & Ruben Fux
Michelle & Todd Gabriel
Galinson Family Foundation*
David Gayne
Melissa & Barry Gillman
Melissa & Barry Gillman
Felicia & Marc Gipsman
Caryn & Sanford Glasky
Global Link 2000
Jason Glovinsky
Daniel Goldberg
Giselle Goldberg
Meg & Allan Goldstein
Sheryl & Mark Goodman
Barbara Gordon
Rabbis Susan Freeman & Philip Graubart
Greene King Investment, Inc.
Murray Greenspan
Dale Grisandra
Vivian & Daniel Guefen
Rebecca & Jerry Gumpel*
Becky & Isaac Guttin
Stacy & Jon Halberg*
Tammy & Larry Hershfield
Fran & Martin Hirschbein
Milly & Aaron Hock
Katelyn & Alex Hock
Jodie & Robert Kaplan
Avra & Barry Kassar
Stacey & Alan Katz
Sharone Kaufman
Ann Kennedy
Barbara & Selwyn Klein
Janet Klein
Ruth & Rabbi Arnold Kopikis
Jessica & Bruce Koren
Sharon & Nat Koren
Carol & Rick Kornfeld
Edith & Max Kozma
Linda & Jon Kurtin
Barbara & Mel Kusin
Theresa Dupuis & Gary Kornfeld
Carol & Rick Kornfeld
Norman & Judith Jo Kreiss Family Foundation
LM Advisors, Inc.
La Cima Development, LLC
Max Landau
Elaine & Dana Launer
Alexandra Leon
Caren Leon
Gerri Halling & Gregory Leon
Joyce & Jake Levi
Claris & Arturo Levin
Lisa & Gary Levine
Cheryl & Gary Levitt
Celia & Nate Levy
Nicole Levy
Shana & Bill Lew
David Lewis
Esther Lias
Deena & Rabbi Melvin Libman
Jane Willoughby & Ingram Losner
Suki & Doron Lurie
Christina Maginnis
Marcia Maisel
Denise Malicki
Felicia & David Mandelbaum
Katherine & Frank Mannen
Rochelle Marcus-Kahn
Hanna Marx
Master Electronics
Gina Mausner
Scott Miller
Susan & Jim Morris
New LIfe Club
Laurie & Paul Nussbaum
Barbara & Sheldon Ostroff
Barbara Pache
Beverley & Martin Pamensky
Pam & Joe Pamensky
Pamela & Kent Paterson
Jeanine & Geoffrey Patz
Eugene Paymar
Shirley & Harold Pidgeon
Lisa & Mark Pidgeon
Fanny Pienknagura
Vera Pienknagura
Gigi & Jeffrey Pincus
Edna & Michael Pines
Lori & Ken Polin
Cheryl & Michael Price
Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch
Sheryl Rabinowitz
Belinda Rachman
Radiance Yoga & Therapeutic Exercise
Marci & Andrew Ratner
Marlene & Michael Recht
Debra & Michael Reinersman
Arlene & Gerald Rosen
Kathleen Rotto
Aaron Rubin
Judith Rubin
SDJA-PTO
SDJA-PTO
Linda Sax
Diane & Howard Schachat
Shari & Fred Schenk
Joany Schlender
Jacquelyn & Richard Schwartz
Scripps Memorial Hospital
Sea World
Richard L. Shapiro Charitable Foundation
Adriana & Abraham Sherman
Judith Sherman
Susan & Ken Sherman
Samantha Sherman
Monique & Jack Shevel
Galina & Alexander Shikhman
Michelle & Daniel Shinoff
Diane & Jay Shore
Ida & Ben Shreiber
Debbie & Paul Shtein
Marian & Sydney Silverman
The Silverstein Family
Carol & Samuel Simkin
Carolyn & Andrew Singer
Mal & Stan Smiedt
Jill & Norman Smith
Ian & Linda Smulowitz*
Cynthia & Eduardo Sneider
Lynn & Jeffrey Snyder
Julie & Stephen Soden
Jodi & Leo Spiegel
Paule Stern
Maureen & Peter Stern
Marianne Stluka
Laura Stoia
Stoosh
Deena & Mike Swidler
Laura & Brian Tauber
Donna & Daniel Thompson
Ricarda Treffer
Maxine & Thomas Turner
Jan Tuttleman*
Two Dudes Productions
Ultra Star Cinemas
Julie & Albert Venditti
Caryn & Alan Viterbi*
Bonnie Wakefield
Jaimie & Kevin Wechter
Marina & Anatoly Weiser
Randi & Charles Wax
Susan Chortek-Weisman & Eric Weisman*
Marna Weiss-Padowitz
Randi & Charles Wax
Maxine Weseley
Kristin Wilcox
Nan Sterman & Curt Wittenberg
Susan Wooley
Jessica Yin
Zousmer Family Foundation
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Natan Bakcht
Marsha Berkson
Wolf Bielas
Cynthia Bolker
Jaime Breziner
Susan Chortek-Weisman
Janet Clancy (Outgoing)
Jane Fantel
Roberto Jinich
Rick Kornfeld
Bill Lew (Incoming)
Carlos Michan
Marjorie Morrison (Incoming)
Beverley Pamensky (Incoming President)
Harold Pidgeon
Shari Schenk
Renee Sherman (Outgoing)
Denise Shoemaker (Incoming)
Leo Spiegel (Outgoing President)
Caryn Viterbi (Outgoing)
Dr. Perri Wittgrove
Jeanne Zlotnick
PTO: Scott Brown, Susan ChortekWeisman, Julie Levin (Incoming)
Administration 2006-2007
Executive Director Director, Finance & Operations Director, Development Director, Admissions
Director, Marketing
Director, Judaic Studies, Golda Meir Lower School
Director, Family & Special Programs Principal, Maimonides Upper School
Principal, Golda Meir Lower School
Vice Principal, Golda Meir Lower School
Dean of Academic Affairs Editor: Diane Marks Schachat
Design Consultant: Nadin Benrey
Photographers: Nadin Benrey, Cheryl Jackson,
Diane Marks Schachat, Samuel Ulrich
Contributors: Janet Clancy, Brian Marks
Larry Acheatel
Tammi Jones
Meg Goldstein
Judith Gross
Diane Marks Schachat
Debbie Kornberg
Jan Landau
Dr. Jeffrey Davis
Marna Weiss
Barbara Gordon
Steven Kahn