Our Mission
Informed by our Jewish roots, we create deep connections that engage, challenge, celebrate, and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds with a primary focus on our local communities.
We envision a Los Angeles where people are deeply connected with each other, purposefully engaged in living joyful, meaningful lives, and are collectively building a more just world.
Connection
We believe shared experiences among diverse people bring us closer to each other and our true selves.
Jewish Roots
We believe Jewish culture, practices and rituals can help all people live lives of meaning and purpose.
Openness & Inclusivity
We believe we must commit to the work of being a deeply open community that embraces diversity, including of backgrounds, perspectives, and beliefs.
Justice & Equity
We believe in actively making our world a more just and equitable place.
Lifelong Growth
We believe in constant evolution and learning at all life stages and in all life’s settings.
Joy
We believe that fun, laughter and joy connect us in learning, growth, and healing.
We are a Jewish organization that includes those who support and those who are critical of any given Israeli policy, just as Israel’s active democracy does.
That said, we call on our wider community to be vigilant to the influence of systemic antisemitism on public discourse around Israel. We stand against holding Israel to standards not applied to any other country, and we believe that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel are antisemitic.
Israel
We believe in the dignity and rights of the Israeli people.
We believe in the dignity and rights of the Palestinian people.
We embrace the complexity of holding multiple viewpoints and seek to nurture a vibrant, pluralistic, mutually respectful conversation among our community members.
Meet Our Team
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ADMINISTRATION
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Heather McPherson is a non-profit professional with over 30 years of experience working on behalf of meaningful missions. Heather has worked in politics, environmental justice, the arts and education and has a deep commitment to affecting positive change through her professional expertise in fundraising. Having spent 20 years as the Director of Advancement at Children's Community School, Heather has overseen multiple successful fundraising campaigns including a $5 million endowment for financial aid.
Heather is a native Los Angeleno and has explored her Jewish heritage by choosing to learn about a variety of Jewish practices in order to embrace the rituals, beliefs and perspectives that bring depth and understanding to her life. Collaboration and community-building are some of her deeply held values, not forgetting that laughter and joy are also a part of a meaningful life - even at work.
DIRECTOR
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
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Lihi Shadmi was born in Tel Aviv and moved to Los Angeles at age 4. After traveling the world in her early-adult years she was inspired to make art and study early childhood education. Lihi graduated from Cal State Long Beach where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics.
Since 1998, Lihi has worked at SIJCC in various capacities. She taught in the Preschool for 6 years, and was instrumental in creating and implementing the Jewish curriculum. As Associate Director of ECE Lihi gets to work closely with teachers and children, while also leading the music program; playing guitar and singing songs throughout the week. Lihi strives to create a joyful and meaningful space for children and their families and is honored to be an instrumental part of a community to which she has long been connected. Her two boys, Aviv and Lev, are proud alumni of the SIJCC Preschool and lifetime lovers of graham crackers. You can find Lihi on Friday mornings leading the preschool community in our weekly Shabbat sing-a-long.
DIRECTOR
LIFE CYCLES
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As a ritualist, teacher, and spiritual counselor, Rabbi Kerry Chaplin (yes, that is her real name) practices and preaches an embodied, living spirituality through authentic relationship with one’s own mind, body, and spirit. He believes that sharing this authenticity with others and with the Divine, however you understand the Divine today, deepens connections that help us live better.
Before becoming a rabbi, Rabbi Kerry was a community organizer, living all things justice. In every community where she has served as a rabbi, from Hillel at UCLA and Vassar College, to Lab/Shul, to Beit T’Shuvah, Rabbi Kerry has been committed to helping those at the margins experience connection with themselves, others, and Something Bigger.
She is grateful for her teachers at the Ziegler School, Washington University in St. Louis, her yoga teachers, and so many others known and unknown. She lives and plays with her kiddo Frankie, wife Julia, and kitty Smudgy.
DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT
ADMINISTRATION
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After a 7-year run as Development Director at SIJCC, Shannon Rubenstone is thrilled to be back again supporting her favorite community center. During her time at SIJCC she has helped to secure over $1M in grant funding to expand multiple programs and increase campus security. She launched the annual Cabaret event back in 2015, and has produced many memorable Galas to help support our community. With a background in entertainment marketing, PR, and fundraising, Shannon loves to tell stories and build community. This is at the core of her work: it's all about continuing to grow and strengthen our amazing community.
An LA transplant from Portland, OR, Shannon spent most of her childhood at the local JCC, where her mom was the executive director. When she moved to LA after college she struggled to find her community, but after attending her first SIJCC event in 2014 she felt like she'd found her people. She's been an active member of East Side Jews, has participated in countless community events, and sent her kids to the ECE program.
Outside of her work at SIJCC, Shannon has a health coaching practice focused on creating more balance in all areas of life -- through nutrition, mindset work, meditation and more. She and her husband, Michael also recently bought a local laundromat to fix up, and live in Pasadena with their daughters, Frankie and Goldie.
DIRECTOR
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
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Dr. Elizabeth Schwandt has worked in early childhood education for almost 20 years. She is dedicated to promoting the importance of a true developmental, play-based program here at the SIJCC’s ECE Program, and believes fully that early childhood is the critical period of human development. Her daughter, Rae—a graduate of the ECE Program and now a student at Atwater Avenue Elementary School—would agree!
Liz has been at the helm of several organizations that serve young children (with a wide variety of needs and profiles) and completed her doctorate in Child Clinical Psychology in 2023. Her research examines the role of attachment in developmental neurobiology between the ages of 2 and 6. She has served as a clinical faculty member of several graduate institutions and has spearheaded several public health intiatives aimed at supporting Southern California’s most medically underserved families. Most importantly, Liz considers her position to be the perfect culmination of her life’s work and passions—she is committed to offering children opportunities to engage joyfully with each other and adults, to explore with wonder and security, and to tolerate the word “no” without the world ending.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
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Sharon Eisman is a former ECE Parent. She forgot every form, didn’t read a single email, left multiple stuffed animals and lunches behind, and now karma has come back to make sure our ECE families are in tip-top shape. You may recognize her from helping conceive and run multiple live comedy events in Los Angeles, as well as the JCC Cabaret and our 2019 Days of Awesome. If not, you may just see her face in the front office, drinking coffee. In a clear cry for help Sharon is also getting her Masters in Gastronomy from Boston University.
DIRECTOR, MARKETING & MEMBERSHIP
ADMINISTRATION
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Babs Gray is a comedian, writer, and podcaster who was inexplicably drawn to the thrilling world of working rentals and now marketing and memberships at SIJCC. Babs performs comedy all over the country and lives in Silverlake with her boyfriend, Adam, and cats - orange old man Archie, and diva / model Cindy.
SITE DIRECTOR
ADMINISTRATION
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Curt Neill is a writer, actor, and director who has been aimlessly floating around LA since he first moved here in 2006 after graduating from Western Oregon University. He started working at the SIJCC in 2024 as a Site Rep and then became the Rentals Coordinator and Events Manager. In his free time, he can be found playing any number of sports, making various forms of comedy, hanging out with friends, and catching up with his niece and nephews back home in Oregon.
CAMP MANAGER & COMMUNITY LIAISON
ADMINISTRATION
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Joey Devine is a San Francisco Bay Area native who moved to Los Angeles to work in the entertainment industry and now, high fives four-year-olds and lifts heavy objects for a living as the Site Manager at SIJCC.
EXECUTIVE ASST & DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
ADMINISTRATION
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Alex Mack is an ECE parent of two and queen of the office. If you need anything, you can find her at the front desk or running around campus. She is always just an email away.
PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
YOUTH & FAMILY
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Tiffanie Hsuld is an ECE parent and resident graphics, design, photography, and coordination Swiss Army Lady at SIJCC. You might see her snapping shots at events or wrestling her two chaos munchkins into the cargo bike in the lot.
SECURITY LIAISON
ADMINISTRATION
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Anna Valenzuela is decisive, patient and protective. On stage, she charms audiences with stories showcasing her incredible resiliency and insight. Off stage, she has worked with recovering drug addicts, adults with disabilities, and has a third degree black belt in Uechi Ryu Okinawan Karate. Since 2021, Anna has worked as a part time site representative for the SIJCC where she utilized all of her professional skills supporting private and community events.
Anna's extensive back ground working with at risk communities has provided her with a wealth of training and experience in addition to the training she has received at the SIJCC. She has first CPR and aid training, disaster training, anti terrorism training, seizure diction and support, HIPPA, mandated reporting, unidentified shooter training, de-escalation, control take downs, vehicle safety, heat safety, disaster response, and site security. No matter what happens around her, she is a responsive and calming member of our community.
Board of Directors
Adam Englander
Dave Hoffman
Dan Fields
Kelsey Goldberg
Bianca Gomez
Beth Halper, Secretary
David Levy
Deena Margolis, Chair
Brian Rainman
Isaac Resnikoff, Vice Chair
We are volunteers. We meet 5 or 6 times a year to ensure that SIJCC is fiscally healthy and actively pursuing our mission. SIJCC is a not-for-profit organization and depends on volunteers and donations to meet our goals. If you have any questions, please reach out to board@sijcc.net.
