A74 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG Ester Khaykin Law firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP Age: 28 Residence: Mayfield Heights Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law What is your favorite sports team: Cleveland Cavaliers If you could have dinner with any one person living or deceased, who would it be and why: Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I would love to learn more about her life and story. Her grit, dedication and passion for the law and justice inspire me to this day. What is your favorite local restaurant: Marble Room Steakhouse & Raw Bar
Richard Koblentz Law firm: Koblentz, Penvose & Froning, LLC Age: 74 Residence: Solon Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law
Sarah Kolick Law firm: Minc Law Synagogue: Beth El-The Heights Synagogue Undergraduate university: Smith College Law school: George Washington University Law School How has Judaism played a role in your career: As a Jew by choice, I have learned to embrace a pluralistic worldview while still upholding a personal code of morality. I am better able to provide judgment free services to my clients because I believe that my moral standards are to judge my life by and are not to be weaponized to stigmatize and shame others. This has challenged me to become more tolerant, more inclusive and less judgmental. How do you unwind when not working: Playing my harp, enjoying a spin class and reading feminist classics What advice would you give your 14-yearold self: Life’s too short, have more fun. If you could have dinner with any one person living or deceased, who would it be and why: Gloria Steinem, so that I could thank her for empowering 11-year-old me
to dress up as her as my famous Ohioan project for my fifth grade class. Because of Gloria Steinem’s feminist activism, I was able to grow up playing sports and attend law school where my feminine presence was not openly questioned. Gloria Steinem inspires me to continue the Feminist fight for women and people of all marginalized genders. What was your first part-time job growing up: Westlake Safety Town
Lee Korland Law firm: Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP Residence: Orange Synagogue: Park Synagogue Undergraduate university: Brandeis University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law How has Judaism played a role in your career: Judaism has taught me the importance of justice, fairness, lifelong learning and giving back to the community. These are core beliefs I’ve strived to incorporate into my practice. How do you unwind when not working: I enjoy yoga, hiking, rooting for my favorite Cleveland teams, and traveling the world with my family. What advice would you give your 14-yearold self: Don’t sweat the small stuff – and maybe consider investing in Apple stock. What is your favorite sports team: Cleveland Guardians What is your favorite local restaurant: Brassica Sandwiches & Salads What was your first part-time job growing up: Bagging groceries
Brett S. Krantz Law firm: Kohrman Jackson and Krantz Age: 61 Residence: Shaker Heights Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: Dartmouth College Law school: The University of Chicago Law School
JANUARY 31, 2025
LOCAL LAWYERS
Hannah Kraus
Jordan Lebovitz
Law firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP Age: 28 Residence: Solon Synagogue: Solon Chabad Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law What is your favorite sports team: Cleveland Browns What is your favorite local restaurant: Marble Room Steaks & Raw Bar in Cleveland Do you have an Israel experience: I’ve been to Israel four times – once with my eighth grade class at the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School, twice in high school with Diller AFU and Write on For Israel, and once in college on Birthright. I loved every single second of my time spent in Israel and look forward to going back.
Law firm: Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, Co. L.P.A. Age: 37 Residence: Moreland Hills Synagogue: Park Synagogue Undergraduate university: University of Michigan Law school: Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law How do you unwind when not working: When I’m not working, I am spending every spare moment with my wife, our two boys and our dog. What advice would you give your 14-yearold self: Try not to sweat the small stuff. What is your favorite local restaurant: Vero Pizza What was your first part-time job growing up: I was a valet at a local restaurant. Do you have an Israel experience: My family took a life-changing trip to Israel more than 10 years ago. I’ll never forget the feeling of the early morning hike up Masada. I cannot wait to take my children there one day.
Kenneth M. Lapine Law firm: Buckley King LPA Age: 82 Residence: Cleveland Synagogue: Suburban Temple Kol-Ami Undergraduate university: Dartmouth College Law school: University of Michigan Law School How do you unwind when not working: I spend time with friends and family. What advice would you give your 14-yearold self: Continue to focus on your studies and your athletic activities. What is your favorite sports team: Cleveland Guardians If you could have dinner with any one person living or deceased, who would it be and why: My grandfather, Joseph Rabinowitz, to learn how he got the courage in the early 1900s to emigrate to the United States. What is your favorite local restaurant: Giovanni’s What was your first part-time job growing up: Working summers at Bobbie Brooks. Do you have an Israel experience: I visited Israel in July 2022 – in the throes of a heat wave – and had a guide who grew up in Cleveland Heights, moved to Israel 40 years ago as a lawyer but decided to be a tour guide. It was a thoroughly delightful experience.
Jeffrey Leikin Law firm: Jeffrey Leikin, Esq., LLC Age: 65 Residence: Pepper Pike Synagogue: Park Synagogue Undergraduate university: University of Colorado Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law How has Judaism played a role in your career: My Jewish studies has provided a solid foundation to my work as an attorney. Teachings from the Torah formulate the basis to my commitment to help others and fulfill my obligations as a Jew. How do you unwind when not working: Relaxing at home and rooting for our home teams – the Cleveland Browns, Guardians and Cavaliers. What advice would you give your 14-yearold self: Interesting question as we all want to go back older and wiser than we were before. Probably the best advice would be to be a good listener. Listening affords the time to be patient, the time to think things over and the time to build relationships that will last a lifetime. What is your favorite sports team: The 1964 Cleveland Browns. If you could have dinner with any one person living or deceased, who would it be and why: My father. So much more I wanted