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2025 Board Slate

Nominees for the 2025/26 Board of Directors

Board Vice President: Andrew Bender wears multiple hats for his work: travel and food writer, magazine editor, cross-cultural consultant and Japan travel specialist for visitors from overseas (he’s lived in Japan, speaks Japanese, and worked with multiple Japanese companies).  
 
Andy loves exploring the tapestry of L.A.’s cultural and culinary scene, hiking the mountains and biking at the beach, and singing baritone with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles - and the Kol Mishkon Choir at High Holy Days.  
 
A member of Mishkon since the late 1990s, for Andy, it’s all about the community, building a home away from home for members and welcoming visitors. He sees this as an exciting time to be at Mishkon, a period of growth, under great lay leadership and a mensch of a rabbi.  

Incoming Board Director: Rachel Berger currently leads operations at a tech consulting firm, bringing extensive experience in program management and technology leadership from various health tech startups and the New York Times.
 
She lives in Del Rey with her husband, Josh Rubin—a professional clarinetist—and their baby daughter, Mira. She enjoys board games, crossword puzzles, hiking, and spending time at the park with Josh and Mira. 
 
A Mishkon member for almost three years, Rachel has found the synagogue to be a warm and supportive community. She is committed to helping Mishkon grow and thrive so that more people can experience the same sense of belonging and connection. 

Board Director: Carol V. Davis is a distinguished writer and academic who was awarded three scholars' grants to Russia. She has taught at JVS, JFS, and ORT and served as the poetry editor for the Jewish Journal. Currently, a Los Angeles dance company is incorporating her poetry into a performance piece. 
 
A classical music enthusiast, Carol also loves traveling and being immersed in nature. She is the proud mother of three children and grandmother to one grandchild. 
 
For many years, Carol served on the board of the Fulbright Alumni Association, Los Angeles chapter. A member of Mishkon for nearly nine years, she is dedicated to supporting and giving back to the congregation. She is also actively involved in programming for Mishkon’s Adult Education initiatives. 

Incoming Board Director: Brian Israel is an environmental attorney and partner at Paul Hastings, where he co-chairs the Environmental Practice Group. Previously, he was a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental Enforcement Section. 
 
Active in both Jewish and environmental causes, Brian chairs Friends of Israel’s Environment/Adam Teva v’Din, Israel’s leading environmental legal advocacy group. While in Washington, D.C., he was president of Ohr Kodesh Congregation from 2009 to 2011. 
 
Brian and his wife, Tsila—a retired clinical psychologist now in her second year at AJU Rabbinical School—have five adult children. They live in the Venice Canals and enjoy hiking, beach sunsets, paddleboarding (not nearly enough), concerts, and time with friends. 
 
They joined Mishkon two years ago, drawn to Rabbi Katzan and the warm community. Brian joined the board to make a positive contribution and help ensure the synagogue continues to thrive. 

Incoming Board Director: Alexander Kissin is the Co-Founder of Venice Insider Pass and serves on the Board of Directors for the Venice Chamber of Commerce. Before relocating to Los Angeles, he spent over a decade in private equity and venture capital, specializing in emerging markets.
 
He later led innovation and strategic planning at Verizon, where he helped launch new businesses and technologies. 
 
Alex lives in Venice with his wife Jennie Tucker and their son Weston, who attends the Mishkon Preschool. 

Board Director: Violet Malek studied Civil Engineering with a second major in Art. She worked for the State of California Department of Transportation before earning a contractor’s license to build and remodel homes alongside her husband. She co-chairs Mishkon’s Building & Grounds committee. 
 
She was married for over 27 years until she lost her husband to illness. Violet has two grown children—a son who is an urban planner and a daughter who is an artist and graphic designer. Both attended Hebrew school at Mishkon and celebrated their bar and bat mitzvahs here. She enjoys studying ancient history, civilization, and literature. 
 
What inspires her most about Mishkon is its members—their dedication, education, and hard work in ensuring the synagogue remains strong and continues to serve the community effectively. 

Board Director: Dr. Kevin Metzger, D.O., is a family medicine physician. He currently serves on Mishkon’s board and is a past board member of the Classical Mandolin Society of America. 
 
He and his wife, Malgosia, live in Redondo Beach and are proud grandparents to two wonderful grandchildren—a 3-year-old girl and an 8-month-old boy. They have been members of Mishkon for seven years, and he serves on the Tephila and Medical committees. 
 
Kevin’s greatest joy outside of medicine is playing music with friends. He continues to serve on Mishkon’s board because of the deep friendships he has formed — friends who have become like family. His commitment stems from a heartfelt desire to help sustain and strengthen the synagogue, ensuring it remains the source of blessing to others that it has been for him. 

Incoming Treasurer and current Vice President: Mark Nedlin spent his career in finance, working for Morgan Stanley, UBS, Citigroup, and a hedge fund. He holds an MBA and a master’s degree from Columbia University, as well as a Certificate from UCLA Extension’s Writers Program. Since retiring, he has focused on writing. 
 
Previously, Mark served on the board of a timber company in Eastern Europe and on the Executive Committee of the American Club of Zurich. 
 
He enjoys fishing, playing guitar, reading, chess, and watching bull riding. His record collection could stock a radio station, and his concert T-shirt collection belongs in the Smithsonian. 
 
Mark has been part of Mishkon for two years, as a Vice President and member of the Investment Committee, and he joined the board to help the synagogue grow and thrive. (Also, he’s single — and searching!) 

Incoming Co-President and current Treasurer: Solomon Ortasse has a background in sales and marketing and works in business development for an international hotel consulting and development company. He and his wife, Marleen Urbaitis, joined Mishkon in 1992 and have been active ever since. Sol has served on the Board twice, including as treasurer since 2016, and has helped organize events like Casino Night and annual galas. 
 
Family, Jewish tradition, and Israel are central to Sol’s life. He lived in Israel for three years during high school, and his daughter, Alexandra, began her education at Mishkon’s preschool before attending Sinai Temple’s Jewish day school and the University of Colorado Boulder. Though she now lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands, she returns for Jewish holidays. 
 
Sol is a sports fan and enjoys classic films, travel, and genealogy, where he traces his Sephardic and Ashkenazi roots. His commitment to Jewish learning and community comes from his father, a Sudan-born aeronautical engineer and Jewish educator whose family made Aliyah in 1935, placing a strong emphasis on Jewish education—a legacy that continues to inspire Sol’s leadership and dedication to Mishkon. 

Secretary: Michele Prince is the current Secretary of the Board of Directors and will continue in this role. A dedicated social worker and nonprofit professional, she serves as the Director of Volunteer Services at Cedars-Sinai, where she leads a team responsible for managing 4,000 volunteers, ranging in age from 14 to 94. 
 
Michele and her husband, Jeffrey, are passionate volunteers, and both serve on the board of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition. A member of Mishkon since 1998, Michele considers the congregation an integral part of her family. She cherishes Shabbat, enjoys hiking, and finds her greatest fulfillment in being of service to others—a core inspiration for her continued work on the board. 

Incoming Board Director: Michael Shulman is a software engineer at Google, where he leads engineering teams focused on enhancing efficiency and performance. He has also served on several nonprofit boards, including a tech startup incubator in Santa Cruz. 
 
Michael and his wife, Nancy, have two grown daughters and one granddaughter. One daughter lives in Laguna Niguel, while the other lives in Davis. In his free time, Michael enjoys travel, community involvement, spiritual growth, and sailing their boat, A Bientôt. 
 
A member of Mishkon for nearly two years, Michael is eager to embrace the challenges and opportunities within the synagogue, particularly in areas such as membership growth, facility improvements, and expanding the synagogue's online presence. 

Board Director: Rosalind Silver holds a master’s degree in Journalism and spent many years working as a copy editor for various newspapers in the L.A. area. A member of Mishkon for 45 years, Roz is now retired and is an active participant in Mishkon’s Torah Study class and other educational programs.  
 
An avid reader and book lover, she also serves on the Adult Education Committee. Roz enjoys being on the board to contribute to the community and stay connected to what’s happening at Mishkon. A lifelong dog lover, she has a special fondness for her own four-legged companion.

Incoming Co-President and Current Vice President: Sandra Solomon had a long and fulfilling career as a healthcare professional and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She began her journey after law school, clerking for an entertainment law firm and the California Insurance Commissioner, but her true passion was social work. 
 
Sandy worked with emotionally distressed children and their families at a Child Guidance Center, directed programs at Jewish Family Services, supported seniors at the Jewish Home for the Aging, and assisted veterans facing substance abuse, mental illness, homelessness, and medical challenges at the VA. She also served on the Jewish Home for the Aging Bio-Ethics Board. 
 
Happily married to Steve for 36 years, Sandy and her husband have a daughter, Karen, and two lively dogs. They joined Mishkon eight years ago, and Sandy now chairs the Social Action Committee. She also plays a competitive game of Mah Jongg. 
 
Sandy found that serving on Mishkon’s board has given her the opportunity to continue making a difference, and she looks forward to leading the synagogue to grow, thrive, and remain a vibrant community for all. 

Vice President and current Immediate Past President: Carole Stein is the publisher of several local community magazines, which she founded after a rewarding corporate career that included 15 years at the Los Angeles Times and an MBA from UCLA Anderson. An active community member, she serves on the board of directors of the Venice Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Santa Monica Rotary Club. She also loves hiking, biking, camping, and making Shabbat with family and friends. 
 
Carole joined Mishkon in 1995 and met her husband, David, at a Mishkon event in 1999—proof that you can find your beshert at shul! She served as Mishkon's president from July 2022 to June 2024 and currently chairs the fundraising committee. 

Immediate Past President and current President: Melissa Tarsky has been a dedicated member of Mishkon for many years. Over the past 18 years, she has served on the board multiple times, including roles as Family Committee Chair, Treasurer, and President. 
 
She holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business and has called Southern California home since June 1994. Melissa brings to the Board her deep passion for Judaism, valuable experience as a past President, and a strong sense of optimism for Mishkon’s future. 

Board Director: Roberta Tishman dedicated 35 years to her career as a Pediatric Speech Pathologist and is also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She enjoyed a long and deeply fulfilling marriage to Phil Raider, a former Mishkon president, who passed away 10 years ago. Roberta is stepmother to two wonderful daughters and a devoted grandmother to her vibrant 11-year-old grandson, Lev. 
 
An avid art enthusiast, Roberta spends much of her time exploring galleries and museums. She also loves knitting, crocheting, cooking, and traveling. 
 
Her involvement on the Mishkon Tephilo Board stems from a desire to honor her husband’s legacy and to help the congregation grow and thrive. 

 

Sun, June 1 2025 5 Sivan 5785