A78 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG exercise – especially cycling in the summer. Also, I love to see movies in theaters and travel. What advice would you give your 14-yearold self: Cultivate your inner score – nothing matters as much as staying true to what you know to be important. What is your favorite sports team: Oregon Ducks What is your favorite local restaurant: Fiamma by Mendel What was your first part-time job growing up: Mowing lawns Do you have an Israel experience: I’ve traveled to Israel a number of times, but the high point was the two months I spent in Yeshiva as a middle-aged adult. Having the opportunity to learn full time after working for two decades sharpened my appreciation for the opportunity.
figured out either. What is your favorite sports team: The Pittsburgh Steelers – I don’t really care much about sports, but my husband and son are obsessed with the Steelers, and when they’re happy, I’m happy. If you could have dinner with any one person living or deceased, who would it be and why: J.K. Rowling What is your favorite local restaurant: Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ What was your first part-time job growing up: Working at Haagen-Daaz at Legacy Village – it is long gone. Do you have an Israel experience: I have been to Israel many times, but my best memories there are visiting with our family who live in Gush Etzion and outside Tel Aviv.
Joshua D. Payne
Jill G. Okun Law firm: Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP Residence: Orange Undergraduate university: Tufts University Law school: Boston College Law School How do you unwind when not working: I like to read and work out to unwind. What advice would you give your 14-yearold self: I would tell myself to be confident and take risks. What was your first part-time job growing up: I worked as a camp counselor and in telephone solicitation as well. Do you have an Israel experience: I spent a week in Israel on a wonderful tour, but I would love to go back again and visit an ORT school.
Abbie R. Pappas Law firm: UB Greensfelder LLP Age: 36 Residence: Beachwood Synagogue: Beachwood Kehilla Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Columbia Law School How has Judaism played a role in your career: My involvement in the Jewish community has helped me develop a client base and a specialization in halachic estate planning. How do you unwind when not working: Spending time with my husband, two sons, and our extended family and friends. What advice would you give your 14-yearold self: Don’t worry, no one else has it all
Law firm: Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy Co., LPA Residence: Willoughby Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: The College of Wooster Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law How has Judaism played a role in your career: Judaism has instilled in me a profound duty to champion fairness, compassion and social responsibility. Guided by these core principles, I firmly believe that individual actions, both inside and outside the courtroom, have the power to create meaningful change, contributing to a safer and more just world. How do you unwind when not working: Hiking and keeping up with my 6-monthold. 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: Winston Churchill What is your favorite local restaurant: Yours Truly Restaurant
Maxwell Peltz Law firm: Zukerman, Lear, Murray & Brown Co., LPA Age: 30 Residence: Cleveland Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Undergraduate university: Ohio University Law school: University of Akron School of Law
JANUARY 31, 2025 How has Judaism played a role in your career: In 2014, I was arrested for standing up to antisemitism. The charges were ultimately dismissed. However, the arrest and subsequent court hearings helped me figure out that I wanted to be a lawyer one day. And I actually work for the firm that represented me. How do you unwind when not working: I like to play basketball, dubbing the nickname “The Jewish Jordan.” I also like to do jigsaw puzzles, cook and try new restaurants, and spend time with my wife and family. What advice would you give your 14-yearold self: Start playing golf and/or start taking basketball seriously so you could go pro. What is your favorite sports team: The Cleveland Browns, unfortunately. I am also a fan of the Cleveland Guardians and Cleveland Cavaliers. If you could have dinner with any one person living or deceased, who would it be and why: My best friend, Daniel Livshin, who passed away seven years ago. What was your first part-time job growing up: Kredo Hardware Do you have an Israel experience: I have been to Israel on four occasions. Once as a participant on birthright, I have led two birthright trips and I went on Onward Israel.
Elizabeth L. Perla Law firm: The Perla Law Firm, LLC Age: 43 Residence: Beachwood Synagogue: Beachwood Kehilla Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law How has Judaism played a role in your career: In my career, and every facet of my life, I aspire to have good middot – to be kind, compassionate and honest. How do you unwind when not working: I enjoy exercising, spending time with my family and the company of a good book. If you could have dinner with any one person living or deceased, who would it be and why: I would have dinner with my grandma. I would love to see her smile, make her laugh and get one more great hug. What was your first part-time job growing up: I worked as a swim instructor for toddlers. Do you have an Israel experience: After my husband and I were married, we traveled to Israel together. It was my first time. We ran into so many Clevelanders near the Western Wall. It reinforced the idea of how interconnected the Jewish world is.
LOCAL LAWYERS Katherine Poldneff Law firm: UB Greensfelder LLP Age: 45 Residence: Broadview Heights Synagogue: Temple Israel Ner Tamid Undergraduate university: Vanderbilt University Law school: New York University School of Law How has Judaism played a role in your career: There is an unspoken kinship between many Jewish attorneys, which I very much appreciate. In addition, participating in BBYO in my youth has led to many connections in the Northeast Ohio Jewish community that have had an impact on my career. Many people in that community, whether it be employers, clients, or colleagues, know you or know someone who does, and that is always a positive. How do you unwind when not working: Hiking in the national park with my dog, Bentley, reading a good book, or trying out a new recipe. I also love to travel and plan vacations. What advice would you give your 14-yearold self: Do what you love and don’t be afraid to take risks. 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: Maybe Charlotte Bronte. After reading hundreds of novels, Jane Eyre is still my favorite. Even in the context of a Gothic Victorian novel, the internal world and emotions of the heroine still feel authentic and relatable to this day, no matter how many times I read it. Bronte rose above difficult personal circumstances to do what she loved and present the world with a revolutionary feminist novel that has stood the test of time. What is your favorite local restaurant: L’Albatros What was your first part-time job growing up: Camp counselor
Matt Pollack Law firm: McDonald Hopkins Age: 46 Residence: Highland Heights Synagogue: Temple Emanu El Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law