2022-2023 Annual Report

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2022-2023 ANNUAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

TABLE OF CONTENTS LEADERSHIP

6 G E N E R A L ST U D I E S

10 ST U D E N T AC T I V I T I E S

14 ALUMNI

4 TO R A H

8 C H A R AC T E R D E V E LO P M E N T

12 AT H L E T I C S

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Y E A R I N P H O TO S

20 D E V E LO P M E N T HIGHLIGHTS

23 CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS

26 DONORS

18 FAC U LT Y HIGHLIGHTS

21 FINANCIAL REPORTING

24 E N D OWM E N T

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Dear YULA Family, As we conclude the end of another remarkable year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we have embarked upon together. The Talmud (Bava Metziah 30b) teaches in the name of Rav Yochanan that Yerushalayim was destroyed because they acted in accordance with the letter of the law of the Torah and did not perform actions that would have gone beyond the letter of the law. Tosafos asks, wasn’t the destruction due to sinas chinam — baseless hatred? Tosafos answers that both factors caused the destruction, because of the breakdown of human relations they understandably did not go above and beyond — lifnim meshuras hadin for one another. This past year, our Yeshiva did not follow the letter of the law, rather we embraced the theme of “Above and Beyond” with incredible enthusiasm and commitment. I am thrilled to share some highlights of the exceptional accomplishments we achieved collectively in this year’s Annual Report.

Throughout the school year, our students, teachers, staff, and parents have consistently gone above and beyond in their pursuit of excellence, which has been made all the more possible by our campus enhancements. The new Beit Midrash on the Girls Campus further enriched our Torah Studies, giving our students a dedicated space to learn and bond with their mechanchot. The renovation of the Kellerman Gymnasium that now hosts the Nagel Court and Uretsky Fitness Center has elevated our campus. Beyond the classroom, our students have thrived in various extracurricular activities, showcasing their talents and pursuing their passions with unparalleled enthusiasm. Whether making a siyum on a mesechta, going on inspiring trips to Poland and Israel, competing athletically at Sofi Stadium or intellectually at Harvard Model Congress, our students have demonstrated their ability to excel in multiple domains. It is also important to recognize that the spirit of “Above and Beyond” extends beyond the boundaries of our school walls. Our school has played an active role in the wider community, engaging in various community service events (such as OBKLA, blood drives, and overnight Chesed trips). Through these endeavors, our students have learned the importance of compassion and making a positive difference in the lives of others.

None of this could have been possible without the remarkable efforts of our dedicated and exceptional staff.

Additionally, we all owe a tremendous Hakarat Hatov to Seth Berkowitz, Alan Gindi, David Nagel, and our Board of Directors for their outstanding commitment and leadership. They have consistently gone above and beyond to ensure our staff can create an engaging and nurturing learning environment for our students.

As we look toward the future, I am filled with optimism and excitement for what lies ahead. I have no doubt that the values of “Above and Beyond” will continue to guide us.

Bi’veracha,

Rabbi Arye Sufrin Head of School 2

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LEADERSHIP

Dear YULA Community,

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Seth Berkowitz, President Alan Gindi, Co-Chairman David Nagel, Co-Chairman Howard Levkowitz, Vice President Brian Kleinman, Treasurer Shuli Steinlauf, Secretary Evan Anziska Shalom Aynesazan Shmuel Barak Donny Feldman David Gershov Nancy Gofman Gil Goldschein Steven Heumann Mark Horowitz Yona Elishis Yitzy Katz ‘00 Kamyar Mahboubi Dani Samson ‘86 Omid Shaye Daniel Uretsky ‘99 Efrat Zisblatt ‘90

Yona Elishis, Chair Shmuel Barak Shuli Steinlauf

TRUSTEE EVENT COMMITTEE Susan & Michael Baum, Chair Emeriti Sheryl Neuman & Mark Hyman, Chair Emeriti

We continue to upgrade our campuses at a staggering pace. As I write this, construction is progressing at the Girls Division on the Levkowitz Family Courtyard and the Horowitz Family Plaza. Both projects will transform the aesthetics and functionality of our outdoor spaces. At the Boys Division, construction has begun on the Emil and Gail Kestenbaum Beit Midrash. The Beit Midrash is both the most important and most used space at the Boys Division. It is shared, first and foremost, by our students, but also by the Jack and Gitta Nagel YU Community Kollel (five days a week from after 9am until nearly 10pm each evening), and by the Westside Shul, each and every Shabbat. We will be modernizing the room, including the installation of new lighting, shelving, furniture, tables, floors and we will be changing the entire color scheme. This nearly $1 million makeover will underscore that YULA is first and foremost a Makom Torah, a place where hundreds of people come to learn every week.

ADMINISTRATION

Tina ’85 & Michael Loboda, Chair Emeriti

Rabbi Arye Sufrin, Head of School

Elayne & Howard Levkowitz, Chair Emeriti

Rabbi Joseph Schreiber, Principal (Boys Division)

Zahava & Daniel ’99 Uretsky, Event Chairs

Racheli Luftglass, Judaic Studies Principal (Girls Division)

Our students continue to rack up incredible achievements. I could write endlessly about Model UN awards, national baseball championships for the boys, volleyball championships for the girls and many other accolades. What is most important to me, however, is that we’re blessed with a Head of School, administration, teachers, families, students, supporters and a community that are united around the primacy and relevancy of Torah, uncompromising general studies and character development, in a manner that bodes well very for the Jewish future.

Rabbi Shimon Abramczik, Dean of Students (Boys Division)

Thank you for all your support,

Rochel Gargir, Chief Operating Officer

Alison ‘98 & Evan Anziska Rita & Shalom Aynesazan Michelle Barak Ilana and Ari Berenson Ruth & Seth Berkowitz Debra & Steven ‘94 Bernstein Yona & Isser Elishis Shana ‘91 & Donny Feldman Victoria and Charlie Frankel Devora & Moishe Frankel Ruchie & Steve ‘96 Fried Michal ‘91 & David Gershov Barbara & Alan Gindi Nancy & Yasha Gofman Ilana & Gil Goldschein Simona & Steven Heumann Chaya & Mark Horowitz Cheryl Ibgui ‘84 Gila & Yitzy ‘00 Katz Lesley & Brian Kleinman Jacqueline ‘99 & Alain Kuppermann Melody & Daniel Mahboubi Marnie & David Nagel Naomi ’00 & Dovi Prero Stephanie ‘99 & Tzvi ‘95 Ratner-Stauber Miri & Reuben Robin Mirriam & Aaron Robin Shira & Benny Rosenberg

Rick St. Laurent, General Studies Principal (Boys Division) Yehudis Benhamou, General Studies Principal (Girls Division)

Dr. Natalie Williams, Principal (Girls Division) Rachel Shandalov, Assistant Principal (Girls Division) / Dean of College Guidance (Joint) Nancy Schiff, Director of Finance Jesse Orenshein ’14, Director of Admissions, (Boys Division) Samira Miller, Director of Admissions (Girls Division)

Seth Berkowitz President YULA Board of Directors

Alex Novak, Athletic Director

FINANCE COMMITTEE Brian Kleinman, Chair Evan Anziska Shmuel Barak

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GOLF COMMITTEE Michael Bernstein ‘98, Co-Chair Joe Coleman, Co-Chair David Nagel, Co-Chair Rula Almquist Nancy Dunlap Rochel Gargir Mike Guardo Sandra Jones Daniel Nagel ‘02 Zev Nagel ‘00

Gitel & David Rubin Rivkie & Dani ‘86 Samson Elisa ‘85 & Alan Schoenfeld Kelly & Omid Shaye Shuli & Avi ‘88 Steinlauf Jennifer ‘98 & Phillip ‘95 Wintner Efrat ‘90 & Uri Zisblatt

STUDENT COUNCIL Girls Division Yael Saada ‘23, President Lia Aharon ‘23, President Jules Robin ‘23, VP of Programming Maya Tzeela ‘23, VP of Programming Elliechaya Anderson ‘23, VP of Ruach Chana Horowitz ‘23, VP of Ruach Ava Kohanteb ‘23, VP of Ruach

LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP

Serving as President of the YULA Board of Directors has been an incredibly rewarding experience. All my thanks to each and every member of the Board of Directors for their contributions – both in time and money – to make the YULA community even better. The virtuous cycle that began even before our recent merger has only gained momentum since. Every conceivable metric is up. Enrollment for the combined divisions is at an all-time high, exceeding 450 students — “May Hashem, the G-d of our ancestors, only increase their number a thousandfold and bless them as promised” (Deuteronomy 1:11). Capital pledges are up, as are donations for scholarships and daily operations. I could not be prouder that we’ve managed to hold tuition flat for the 3rd straight year, despite the environment of raging inflation all around us. I continue to hope that the savings created by the merger will continue to pay dividends for the full half-decade we projected and that we will be able to continue to hold tuition flat – but, as with all future things, only time will tell.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ‘22-’23

Avigail Sasina ‘23, VP of Ruach Shana Kohanteb ‘23, VP of Media and Communications Gili Adry ‘23, VP of Student Store Sarah Shaye ‘24, 11th Grade Class Rep Kayla Nourmand ‘24, 11th Grade Class Rep SaLi Luftglass ‘25, 10th Grade Class Rep Anaelle Kuppermann ‘25, 10th Grade Class Rep

Boys Division David Abraham ‘23, Executive Committee Joseph Andron ‘23, Executive Committee Simcha Uretsky ‘23, Executive Committee Branden Neman ‘23, Student Store Coby Noorani ‘23, Student Store Benjamin Sarir ‘23, Chessed Chair

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INTRODUCING THE NEW GIRLS CAMPUS BEIT MIDRASH! The new Beit Midrash was completed this fall. The new Beit Midrash enabled more Beit Midrash learning than we have ever had before.

Having seforim readily available in this space has been a game changer for our students and Judaic Studies faculty. The Honors Talmud classes took place in the Beit Midrash which allowed for more conducive chavruta style learning.

PILLARS OF A YULA EDUCATION:

HOME TO THE NEW JACK Z”L AND GITTA NAGEL YU COMMUNITY KOLLEL The Kollel’s impact has been tremendous and we are proud to be the home of such an inspiring mission. Our students are benefiting tremendously by witnessing such powerful limud Torah every day. The daily Kol Torah and visual of Primacy and Relevance of Torah inspired students and staff all year long.

Rabbi Jonah Steinmetz, Silver Family Rosh Kollel, Jack and Gitta Nagel YU Community Kollel, and Rabbi Mordechai Shifman, Head of School, Emek Hebrew Academy.

UPWARD GROWTH OF TORAH LEARNING We have seen an unprecedented increase in Torah learning this year and the student body’s desire for ongoing learning is spreading throughout the community. On a regular basis YULA talmidim are found learning at various Kollels and night seders around the community. We are achieving our goal of creating independent learners and we are so proud!

ALL NIGHT LEARNING Over 150 talmidim, alumni, parents, and community members packed the Emil and Gail Kestenbaum Beit Midrash with a thunderous Kol Torah for all night learning on Shavuot. The evening culminated with a siyum on Mesechet Tamid and a morning vasikin minyan.

ANI MAAMIN INITIATIVE This new initiative at the Boys Division was introduced with the goal that every student should learn the 13 Principles of Faith.

Each shiur learned and was tested on, which culminated in a schoolwide assembly where each shiur nominated a student to present on one of the 13 principles.

FATHER SON LEARNING The Dor L’dor Torah Initiative continued with Sunday father-son learning attendance at an all time high this year. Our Father-Son Learning Series continued with special sessions led by 6

MAARIV INITIATIVE In the winter months, the students at the Boys Division initiated a new Maariv minyan. It jumpstarted a staggering growth in minyan attendance this year.

FLEISHIK FRIDAYS Fleishik Fridays continued to be a highlight of the week, with kumzitzs, delicious cholent and fleishik food and Erev Shabbos inspiration.

PARSHA POP Parsha Pop is a new tradition this year, where Rabbi Sufrin delivered a short Dvar Torah on a weekly basis.

STRENGTHENING THE MECHANECHT-STUDENT BOND As part of our ongoing efforts to facilitate relationships between our students and Limudei Kodesh faculty members or mentors, the Derachim Program added more offerings this year. This included bringing in two YULA alumni to teach this class, Moryelle Yashar ‘18 and Rachel Simon ‘19. Our students really enjoyed this program, and we couldn’t be more proud of our alumni making an impact on our current students!

INTRODUCING THE LEILA EXPERIENCE 17 self motivated freshmen and sophomores, who are unabashedly committed to working on their avodas HaShem, joined a new cohort, YULA . This program is L’EILA/

MEDICINE AND TORAH As part of health week, eight prominent medical professionals in the community presented to our students on various women’s health topics. It was inspiring to hear from these prominent members of the community on health and Torah and its application to our daily lives, intersecting two of the pillars of a YULA education.

MIDRASHA The Dr. Leila Leah Bronner z”l Women’s Midrasha program continued this year as a two part program, which introduced a new series every other week on ‘In-depth and Practical Hilchos Shabbos’ given by Rabbi Jonah Steinmetz. This year’s PrePesach Leil Iyun was especially well attended by the community with ten inspiring shiurim covering a variety of topics.

CHUMASH SUCCESS Additional Chumash tracks were added this year, to accommodate the growth of the student body and to enable each student to be placed in a track that would allow them to grow and learn. This was accomplished by hiring additional Judaic Studies teachers so that all of the chumash classes could happen simultaneously so as not to compromise the scheduling of other courses. This was a goal that we have worked towards and have seen tangible results from!

ACHIEVEMENTS Benjamin Light ‘24 placed 1st place and Baruch Mendelowitz ‘24 placed 3rd in the country in the Bronca Weintraub High School Bekiut Program.

Moshe Feldman ‘23 created a new weekly Thursday night mishmar program!

Mazal tov to our Friedman Family Masmidim students who made a siyum on Mesechet Megillah at this year’s Annual Torah Celebration. The siyum was made in memory of Jacob MM Graff z”l.

Mazal Tov to Eliana Waghalter ‘24 and Avital Ives ‘24 on winning the YU Torah U’Madda Award!

Kol Ha’Kavod to Ora Ryzman ‘26 and Eliana Waghalter ‘24 for placing into the Chidon National Finals! We are proud of all our students who worked so hard and competed!

Mazal Tov to Eliana Waghalter ‘24 for receiving the Lantern Award for Student Leadership by ORA (The Organization for the Resolution of Agunot) at the ORA Illuminated Virtual Dinner!

Ava Kohanteb ‘23, launched ‘Tehillim 150’ at YULA. Tehillim 150 is an OU Women’s Initiative’s national program for high-school girls to study a perek of Tehillim each day for 150 days with renowned educator Yael Davidowitz.

150 days, 150 ways to connect to our Creator!

We were thrilled to honor Rabbi Josh Maslow (Boys Division) and Rabbi Pinchos Hecht (Girls Division) for their dedication and commitment to our students. 28 Torah Growth awards were presented between the Girls and Boys divisions.

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PRIMACY & RELEVANCY OF TORAH

PRIMACY & RELEVANCY OF TORAH

PRIMACY AND RELEVANCY OF TORAH

designed to effectively enhance the campus avira as they worked together to strengthen their personal connection to Hashem and development into Jewish leaders. This exciting new cohort culminated with a special end of year trip to New York focused on spiritual growth throughout.

UNCOMPROMISING GENERAL STUDIES

100%

YULA GIRLS

YULA Boys pass rate in AP Biology, AP English Language and Composition an AP Psychology

pass rate in AP Art, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP English Language and Composition and AP Statistics

granted by the Jewish Foundation LA on behalf of the Jack and Gitta Nagel Foundation. Rabbi Dr. Menachem Hecht and Ms. Yehudis Benhamou will be spearheading a new initiative called the “Inter- Community Youth Initiative.” This innovative club will focus on cultivating new relationships between YULA students and other members of the wider LA community, with an emphasis on education. The Inter Community Youth Initiative’s ultimate goal is to combat growing antisemitism.

competed alongside 2,500 students at a county level.

COMPUTER SCIENCE AWARD YULA Girls Division has earned the College Board’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women’s access to AP Computer Science A. This award acknowledges 1,105 schools for their work toward equal gender representation during the 2021-22 school year.

PILLARS OF A YULA EDUCATION:

UNCOMPROMISING GENERAL STUDIES HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS This year, our largest team yet (28 students), traveled to Boston to attend our third Harvard Model Congress competition. Over 1500 students from approximately 80 high schools throughout the country met in Boston to compete. Even though we did not compete on Shabbos we still managed to win four awards!

MODEL UN Yasher Koach to our Model UN team for taking home 2nd place out of 50 teams from around the world at this year’s Model UN Conference. We have placed in the top 3 teams every year for the last 5 years. Special congratulations to this year’s captains (and Valedictorians), Ariella Gershov ‘23 and Jake Stephen ‘23 for their leadership!

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45TH ANNUAL LOS ANGELES MOCK TRIAL Congratulations to YULA students award recipients: Noam Goldberg ‘23—Alan I. Rothenberg Outstanding Prosecution Pretrial Attorney, Nili Torabati ‘24—Outstanding Prosecution Attorney, and Ariella Gershov ‘23, Ava Kohanteb ‘23, Nili Torbati ‘24, Noam Goldberg ‘23, Sarah Shaye ‘24 —Honorable Mentions. Our students

Mazal Tov to our Gold Key and Silver Key award winners, Gale Mendelsohn ‘23, Racheli Hannan ‘24, and Tamar Scheinfeld ‘24. Our talented students received these well deserved Scholastic Art and Writing Awards from The Alliance of Young Artists and Writers!

on what they had learned in the classroom. For example, the Marine Biology class visited the Aquarium of the Pacific where they were able to see all the fish they had studied. The AP European History class visited the Getty Museum where the students witnessed the beauty of Renaissance, Baroque, Neo-Classical and Modern art work; all artists and paintings they had analyzed in the class.

TRUIST SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

AMERICAN HISTORY INITIATIVE

SCHOLASTIC AWARDS

Mazal tov to Jake Stephen ‘23 winner of the Truist Scholarship, a Special Scholarship of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

FOCUS ON ACADEMIC TRIPS This past year part of the Girls Division General Studies curriculum was a renewed focus on experiential education. Students from different grades and classes were given opportunities to see, study and experience hands-

religion in American life, the spirit of commercial enterprise, the American understanding of ordered liberty, and the Hebraic spirit of America’s founding and culture.

NAGEL GEN-3 GRANT YULA High School was awarded the Nagel Gen-3 Grant. This highly competitive and prestigious award was

Several of our faculty were accepted into the Abraham Lincoln Teachers Fellowship, an initiative of the Tikvah Program. This program, launched in partnership with the Paul E. Singer Foundation, aims to identify a group of exceptional history and social studies teachers in Jewish day schools and yeshivas across the country who want to bring the great themes and grand stories of American civilization to life in their Jewish classrooms. This includes the role of 9

UNCOMPROMISING GENERAL STUDIES

100%

LET’S TALK ABOUT GAMBLING

Mr. Elan Javanfard, LMFT, the Division Director of Residential and Addiction Services at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services Los Angeles and Professor at Pepperdine University met with the 11th and 12th grade boys for an open conversation about the pitfalls of wagering, betting and gambling.

DRIVING SAFETY

THE BYSTANDER EFFECT

Rabbi Dov Rosenbluth, Director of Guidance at the Boys Division met with the students at the girls and boys divisions to speak about the Bystander Effect, and what it means to be a bystander versus an upstander. The main principle taught is to know that you should always help someone in need when you can, and you shouldn’t wait and assume that someone else will do it — be an upstander!

SUBSTANCE ABUSE SEMINAR

Over 100 parents attended the Substance Abuse Seminar this fall, focused on empowering parents with the right information and giving them invaluable tools to engage in conversation with their children. The students attended a similar seminar geared toward their grade level at school the following day.

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INSIGHTFUL SCHOOL WIDE ASSEMBLIES

PILLARS OF A YULA EDUCATION:

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IMPACT DAY WAS INCREDIBLE!

During all the festivities celebrating Chanukah at YULA, we annually take one day for our students to focus on making an IMPACT. Our students spent the day around the community at Etta, Garden of Palms, OBKLA, Yachad, Chai Lifeline, and Love n Groceries, to both give back to our community as well as be inspired to continue to make an impact in the future. Through phone calls, the students raised over $20,000 for Chai Lifeline, the most ever raised through community service hours by students!

CHESSED FAIR

One week into the start of school, students came together to learn about some of LA’s most impactful chessed organizations and how they can get involved. Thank you Chai Lifeline, Friendship Circle, Yachad, The Clubhouse, BKLA, Etta Israel, Nagel Jewish Academy, and My Extended Family for all that you do for the community!

We held many insightful and informative school wide assemblies led by the students and staff corresponding to various days with national and historic significance.

Some of these included a 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony, Black History Month Program, Women’s History Month Guest Speakers, Veterans Day Presentation, Armenian Genocide Commemoration, and American Jewish History Month.

HEALTH WEEK

Health Week at YULA emphasizes the importance of healthy eating, fitness, athletics and mental health.

The girls division were treated to a healthy lunch displaying various

healthy food choices, participated in yoga and dance for movement classes and heard from brilliant and dynamic speakers about the mind/ body connection. The Boy Division were challenged to disconnect from technology and explore health food options and how habits affect their behavior, they gathered to learn about mental health, they explored tech-free physical activities, and had a hygiene and health assembly.

STAFF GIVING BACK

This year, our end of semester Staff Celebration combined fun, connection, and chessed at OBKLA. Our faculty and staff prepped and packed meals for those in need, ate together, and celebrated an amazing first half of the school year.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

Moshe Cohen, LCSW, a national leader in educating students, parents and staff about digital citizenship, met students in both divisions to discuss responsibly navigating the vast digital world. In conjunction with the student presentation, he met with parents to share insight on how to ensure that our children have the knowledge to make appropriate decisions when it comes to technology and the internet.

STUDENTS DRIVEN TOWARD CHESSED

YULA students embodied Above and Beyond Character Development by showing unprecedented Hakaras HaTov to our beloved math teacher, Mr. Julio Castro. Their hard work and kindness was featured on ABC News 7 and will remain a part of the YULA legacy forever.

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CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

At YULA we are on a constant quest to educate our students and provide them with the tools necessary to stand firm against the sometimes-negative tides of society. Here are some examples of workshops and presentations offered by our guidance department to both parents and students this year.

Ms. Leah Sisemore, BSW, Education Outreach Coordinator of Impact Teen Drivers, and an Officer from the California Highway Patrol, addressed the sophomores regarding all aspects of driving safety. The program continued that evening for all sophomore Parents with a special focus on California’s GDL, Graduated Drivers License, its laws and restrictions.

Lublin, Rabbi Elimelech of Lezajsk, and the S’fas Emes, the Gerer Rebbe. They experienced firsthand how century-old Jewish communities, such as Lublin, Tarnow, and Lezajsk, were completely destroyed by the Nazis. The group spent an uplifting shabbat in Krakow and visited the grave site of Sarah Schenirer, the founder of the Beis Yaakov movement, where the girls learned how she changed women’s education.

It was an unparalleled, life-changing experience which will impact our students and parents for years to come.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES YULA students have the chance to take the lead both in and out of the classroom, with numerous robust clubs to join and leadership positions to occupy.

Dedicated student activities directors work closely with staff and students to plan programs that develop a passion for Judaism and are just plain fun!

FRESHMAN RETREAT: FROM CUBS TO PANTHERS! To help guide our freshman classes in their transition to high school, the students are taken off campus for a two-day retreat filled with team building activities and advice for transitioning to high school.

The girls spent time bonding with one another through activities such 12

The Freshman girls traveled to Snow Valley mountain to ski, sled, and snowboard. It was an especially fun and meaningful bonding trip! as ropes courses, volleyball, and alpine slides. The trip culminated with the girls writing letters to their future selves, tasking them to reach the current goals they have set. The boys bonded with friends, rebbeim, and staff over archery, raft building, ropes courses, beach sports, and an epic Kumzits with inspiring words from Rabbi Sufrin.

Naaseh Vnatzliach” and that is exactly what was felt throughout the inspiring and uplifting Shabbaton!

This was only the start of the amazing memories the freshman class will create together at YULA!

MOROCCAN DAY

JUST BECAUSE DAY We believe that our school community must unite with every shared experience. That happens in a classroom, at lunch, in a Mechanechet or Rebbi’s home, in the Beit Midrash, and off campus. It is important that we work hard, and it is also important that we play hard. Joining together on these trips for a shared experience outside of the classroom is an important way to strengthen these ties, which will lead to more effective relationships and learning! This year, we continued the ‘Just Because’ tradition with each division taking respective trips to ‘Sky Zone’ and a special picnic lunch.

SCHOOLWIDE SHABBATONS The theme for the girls schoolwide Shabbaton this spring was “Bshem Hashem

The boys had an unbelievable schoolwide shabbaton with over 250 talmidim and staff that made the weekend so special! Of course we will never forget the lights out seudah shlishit and Havdalah!

The girls had a beautiful Moroccan themed Chanukah Chagiga where students had the opportunity to celebrate one of the oldest Jewish communities and cultures through personal stories, cultural activities, a chamsa art station, delicious Moroccan food, and more.

Thank you to Rinat Newman and the entire Moroccan Parent Committee and student leaders for making the chagiga a huge success. A special thank you to Rabbi Lebhar, Avi Azeroual, and Rinat Newman for speaking to our students and sharing their meaningful stories.

POLAND TRIP 75 YULA students and parents from the Girls Division embarked on a meaningful Poland/ Holocaust Education Experience, which was the first of its kind. The itinerary juxtaposed visits to the Death Camps of Treblinka, Majdanek and Auschwitz with the graves of great Tzaddikim like The Chozeh of

The Freshman boys kicked off their Freshman Chill at Skyzone, spent the night at the Dovid Oved Retreat Center and hit the slopes at Snow Summit for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing the following day. It was an incredible experience!

SOPHOMORE TRIPS The Girls Division sophomores went on a chesed trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon! While they were there, they volunteered at the Red Cross and The Just One Project where they helped pack food for those in need. At the Grand Canyon, they went zip lining, hiking, and walked on a skywalk!

It was an amazing experience!

On the Boys Division Sophomore Jewish Experience to New York, the sophomores had the amazing opportunity to meet the Bobover Rebbe, to spent time at the Freedom Towers, visited the Ohel, attend the Sarakek Tournament and had the opportunity to tour the YU campus, visiting classes, experiencing campus life, and hearing from Ari Berman, the President of YU.

JUNIOR TRIPS The Girls Division Outward Bound Camping Trip took the juniors out of the comfort of their homes for a once in a lifetime experience of camping

The Boys Division Juniors Outdoor Adventure Trip was a great bonding experience for students and rebbeim, and a strong send-off as the class of 2024 gears up for their senior year.

Every day was packed with physical activities, ranging from cliff jumping, paddle boarding, and water sports, to go-carting and golf.

SENIOR TRIPS As the year wound down, the senior girls appreciated spending time together on their Senior Trip to Utah.

Most poignantly, each student shared their own personal experiences with the most recurring theme being Hakarat Hatov. Our seniors are not only thankful for the experiences, opportunities, and guidance that YULA has provided, but they were grateful to each other for the encouragement, support, and love they’ve been shown by their peers along the way.

The Boys Division Seniors Trip to Utah was full of outdoor adventurous glory!

The participated in water sports, land sports, scaled mountains and waterfalls in a perilous hiking experience, while bonding with each other and their rebbeim the entire time. What a trip!

Our seniors will be missed next year!

ISRAEL ADVOCACY

180+

students attended YIAC kickoff event with Israel activist Noa Tishby

100

YULA seniors took part in Modern Israel Senior Seminar

24

students serve on the YIAC board, planning Israel activism and advocacy events for the YULA student body

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special YIAC events including Yaakov Katz, editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post; Israeli-Ethiopian actor Shai Ferdo; ELNET event focused on Israel ties with Europe in the era of the Ukraine war; Unpacked presentation on Israel literacy; YULA alumni-led training on standing for Israel on the college campus

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student leaders served as presidents of YIAC

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student-led YIAC Lunch Club meetings focused on Israel current events, culture, and history 13

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities at YULA. These programs are geared towards developing character, leadership and encouraging community service.

Our staff work together to develop a year of programs that promote student development based on their interests, making school a more rewarding and fun environment, and a great opportunity to add to a college resume!

Here is a sampling of the hundreds of student activities that we had at YULA last year.

FRESHMAN CHILL

under the stars. The girls worked as a team hiking to the campsite, pitching their own tents, and grilling their dinner. The following two days were spent on various activities including rafting and paintballing and creating pottery in Solvang!

ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS Over

YULA Athletics consisted of

75%

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student athlete participation schoolwide, double the national average.

teams this year.

Boys Cross Country In its inaugural year, the Boys Cross Country team progressed to the CIF Cross Country Preliminaries.

Boys Basketball The boys Varsity Basketball team placed 3rd place in the Red Sarachek Tournament in New York this year. This year’s tournament featured 24 teams across the country!

Boys Baseball team won their New this year:

Boys Track & Field 14

The following teams made it to the playoffs this year Boys Cross Country Girls Basketball Boys Tennis Boys Soccer Boys Golf

The following teams competed in a higher league this year: Girls Tennis Girls Basketball Girls Soccer

1st

CHAMPIONSHIP at this year’s Columbus Torah Academy CBI Tournament in Ohio.

Girls Basketball The Girls Varsity Basketball team placed 3rd at this year’s Annual Hebrew Academy Tournament in Miami!

Girls Track & Field The Girls Track & Field Team won the Bronze award in Shotput and Long Jump.

Girls Track & Field team received the CIF All Academic Award for the

Highest GPA of a small school in Southern California.

Girls Flag Football For Women’s History Month, the Rams and Nike raised awareness of girls’ flag football by creating a youth football experience led by NFL and NCAA players and their coaches. YULA’s Flag Football Team was invited to participate in this amazing experience, which helped them prepare for the inaugural CIF Flag Football season.

Girls Volleyball Congratulations to our Panthers for taking home

1st Place at the 1st YULA National Volleyball Tournament, with 8 schools participating nationwide!

15

Left: Class of 2003 Alumni Reunion.

CLASS OF 2023 PROFILE

2 of our seniors will be joining the IDF this fall.

VALEDICTORIANS:

EXCELLENCE IN GENERAL STUDIES:

Ariella Gershov ‘23, Girls Division Jake Stephen ‘23, Boys Division

Avigail Amrami ‘23, Girls Division Andrew Rubel ‘23, Boys Division

SALUTATORIAN:

ESSAYIST AWARD:

Shalva Kaplan ‘23, Girls Division Raphy Amsellem ‘23, Boys Division

Moshe Feldman ‘23

BETH MASLANSKY Z”L MIDOT AWARD:

AWARD: Lyel Yashar ‘23

Kiki Schlanger ‘23 and Emma Greenfield ‘23, Girls Division, Josh Anziska ‘23 and Kovy Etshalom ‘23, Boys Division

EXCELLENCE IN JUDAIC STUDIES:

NAGEL SCHOLARSHIP:

Kayleen Rabbani ‘23 JACK NAGEL Z”L KETER SHEM TOV

6

ALUMNI

Frankel Family Israel Scholarship Fund: Thank you to Rena ‘82 and Jamie Frankel for their generous commitment to assist with scholarships to help YULA alumni’s attend Israel gap year programs.

This year, our seniors were offered OVER

$50,000 in merit scholarships annually!

16

Lia Aharon and Avigail Sasina, Girls Division, Lyel Yashar and Aryeh Zakowski, Boys Division

ALUMNI

47

alumni have children who are current YULA students

6

alumni are on the YULA staff!

Our students were admitted to the following institutions:

YESHIVOT

AISH Gesher Derech Gush Etzion HaKotel Heichel Eliyahu KBY Lev HaTorah Mevaseret Mikdash Melech Netiv Aryeh Orayta Reishit Shalavim TJ Toras Moshe Torat Shraga Yishrei Lev SEMINARIES Aish Amit Amudim Bar Ilan Eshel Harova Machon Maayan Michlalah Midreshet Moriah MMY Sharfman’s

Tiferet TVA COLLEGES Arizona State University* Baruch College Binghamton University* Brandeis* Buffalo State University* Cal Lutheran* Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Cal State—Los Angeles Cal State—Northridge Chapman University* Cornell University University of Florida IDC Herzliya University of MarylandCollege Park* University of Massachusetts— Amherst* University of Michigan NYU Princeton University Rutgers University* Santa Monica College Syracuse University* Touro College* UC Davis UC Irvine UC Los Angeles (UCLA)

UC Merced UC Riverside Otis College SCAD* University of Tulsa* Menlo College* University of Wisconsin Muhlenberg* University of Oregon* Penn State* UC Santa Cruz University of Albany University of Colorado— Boulder University of Utah Pepperdine UC Santa Barbara UC San Diego George Washington University* Purdue University of Arizona* Cal Poly Pomona CSU Long Beach SUNY Buffalo * Washington University in St. Louis Yeshiva University *Students were offered meritbased scholarships

ALUMNI

YULA Girls received the Daniella Lee Casper z”l ‘07 Israel Scholarship toward their seminary tuition.

Thank you to Kerri and Frank Lee and friends who established this fund in Daniella’s memory.

Alexa Heumann ‘23, Girls Division Noam Goldberg ‘23, Boys Division

YU CORE TORAH VALUES WINNERS:

Above: Rabbi Sufrin honored as mesader keddushin at Jack ‘18 and Sara Mackler’s wedding. YULA rebbeim were mesader kiddushin at 4 alumni weddings this year!

Right: Seniors visiting with alumni in Israel.

Above: Seniors and Alumni Shabbaton in the Old City.

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A

B

C

K

L

M

N

D

F

O

P

G

Q E S I

T

J

R

YEAR IN PHOTOS 18

A First day of school! Introducing our theme of the year #Above&Beyond B Pre-selichot kumzitz program for the Boys Division C Students and parents in Zybolitsky Gora, Poland at the mass grave for 800 children who perished in the Holocaust D Seniors and Alumni kumzitz in the Old City E Jewish music star Simcha Leiner at YULA for an Erev Shabbos GLOW UP concert F Dr. Jack Levkowitz z”l Purim Celebration at YULA. G Celebrating Israel’s 75th birthday on Yom Ha’tzmaut at the Girls Campus H Explored tech-free physical activity during Health Week with Mr. Hall’s yoga class I Le’ila program students visit with Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner and her son on their NY trip; J Boys Division Jazz Ensemble Concert

K Boys Division Rebbeim at the Annual Torah Celebration L Special Yom Hashoah Program at the Museum of Tolerance for students M Boys Drama department performs “12 Angry Men” N Boys Seniors at the Annual Crypto.com Arena Experience O New issue of Panther Post hits the stands P Cannes YULA Israeli Film Festival Q Girls Drama department performs “Arsenic and Old Lace” R Our Chabad Club joined forces with students from Yeshiva Ohr Elchonan to celebrate Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen style. S Standing room only at the Girls Division Open House we look forward to welcoming the Class of 2027 in the fall! T Introducing Security Appreciation Day—thank you to our security teams for keeping YULA safe!

YEAR IN PHOTOS

YEAR IN PHOTOS

H

YEAR IN PHOTOS 19

FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

YULA alumni supporters

751 Pledges/Gifts

194

DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS

107

First time donors

FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS Mazal Tov to Rabbi Tzvi Younger, Boys Division Rebbe, on his second time completing the entire Shas!

The Chicago Jewish community hosted a New Year’s Day Legal Holiday Shiur where the Boys Division Rebbe, Rabbi Nachum Sauer, gave a shiur on the halachot of maaras ayin.

As part of the OU Women’s Initiative, the Girls Division Judaic Studies Principal, Racheli Lufglass, was a keynote speaker at the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi Shabbat in West Hempstead this February. Mrs. Luftglass delivered shiurim on ‘Sefer Shmot’s Coming of Age Story’ and ‘The Emunah Battle’. Also part of the OU Women’s Initiative, this spring Bruria Seigel, Girls Division Torah Teacher, presented nationally on ‘Pesach Ideas and Inspiration’.

Rabbi Ari Bensoussan, Boys Division Rebbe, was featured regularly in the worldwide ‘Meaningful Minute’ podcast, whose mission is to share meaningful and spiritual empowerment in short

increments every day.

Boys Division History teacher, Philip Streich has been trained as an AP Reader for US Government and Politics.

As a result, he will be one of the exam readers for the AP Gov exam. The training provides invaluable information on reading rubrics and is often described as the best professional development for AP teachers.

Our Athletic Director, Alex Novak, was invited to join the NIAAA (National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association) Executive Leadership Cohort. As one of 12 Athletic Directors in the country, the cohort meets monthly to discuss best practices for athletic directors in schools nationwide. Alex is also one of the National Teaching Faculty members, and presented at the National Conferences this year.

As one of the CIF league representatives, Ms. Novak helped establish Girls Flag Football as a CIF Sport.

Jonathan Silberman, Boys Division History Department Chair, presented at this year’s Prizma conference on “Jewstory; the idea that the study of history at a Jewish day school needs to be centered on the events and contributions of Jewish history to world events.

To develop these ideas further Mr. Silberman is also participating in ongoing professional development with Tikva that is similarly aimed at integrating Jewish history into the high school curriculum and is hoping to unveil parts of these studies into the classroom next year.

Mazal Tov to Rabbi Shua Rose, Boys Division Rebbe, on the release of his single, “Hoshieini!” This song is truly beautiful, and the students have been playing it on repeat year long.

Our Boys Division Director of Admissions and Marketing, Jesse Orenshein, wrote a feature film ‘The Secret Art of Human Flight’ that had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival!

CELEBRATING MILESTONE YEARS 20 YEARS Brian Simon, History Department Chair, Girls Division

20

15 YEARS Rachel Margolies ‘99, Judaic Studies Teacher, Girls Division Rafael Meghangi, Soccer Coach & PE Instructor, Boys Division

10 YEARS Janelle LaRue, Resource Specialist, Boys Division Ziva Zeharya, Hebrew Department Chair & Academic Registrar, Boys Division Gregory Zlotin, History Teacher, Boys Division

DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS We wish to express our hakarat hatov to our Lay Leaders Seth Berkowitz, David Nagel, Alan Gindi and the Board of Directors for their active and continuous involvement in the fiscal success of the school.

Thank you to Yona Elishis the new Chair of the Development Committee.

Your involvement and insight this year has been invaluable.

Mazal tov to Chaya and Dr. Mark Horowitz on being honored at this year’s Night of Comedy and Magic!

As pillars of the community, Chaya and Mark are an example to everyone that knows them of what it truly means to care for the klal and to care for those around them. This year’s event raised a record breaking $224,000!

Our Annual Trustees Event this year featured our talented students in the Gelman Hall STEAM and Art Exhibits, the Girls Music Ensemble and the Boys Jazz Ensemble — they were wonderful!

Mazel Tov to Rena ‘82 and Jamie Frankel on being recognized as this year’s Trustee Honorees! Not only have Rena and Jamie been supporters and proud YULA parents for many years, Jamie has volunteered teaching Israel Education at YULA for 18 years!

Mazel Tov to Rachel Greenfield ‘00 on receiving the Alumnus of the Year Award. Rachel embodies YULA’s mission as an alumni. Thank you to our event chairs, Zehava and Daniel ‘00 Uretsky, and to Yitzy Katz ‘00 for MC’ing an entertaining program!

Over $1,000,000 was raised to benefit YULA’s scholarship fund!

21

Girls Operating Expenses

22%

14%

FINANCIAL REPORTING YULA GIRLS 75%

OPERATING REVENUE 7% 1%

OPERATING EXPENSES

2%

3% 2%

10%

3%

TUITION AND FEES

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

FUNDRAISING

NON EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES

2% 7% 1%EXPENSES EDUCATIONAL 12%

GRANTS ENDOWMENT

Boys Operating Revenue:

$5.2

TECHNOLOGY EXPENSES

Girls Operating Revenue:

ATHLETICS

YULA BOYS

A special thank you to Michael Bernstien, class of ‘98, who has been actively involved and has volunteered countless hours as the Tournament Director since the tournament was established.

MILLION in Financial Aid

75%

OPERATING EXPENSES 90%

OPERATING REVENUE 10%

$1.5

3% 3% 2% 2%

3%

22%

12%

2022-2023 COMMITMENTS TO JEWISH EDUCATION

Approximately

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Collectively, over the last 13 years, the Decron Team has raised over $6,500,000 for YULA!

Boys Operating Revenue:

MILLION

Boys Operating Expenses Spent on Campus Improvements

The YULA community, present and future, owe a tremendous amount of Hakarat Hatov to David Nagel, Michael Bernstein ‘98 and the entire Decron team for their efforts on behalf of YULA.

22

75%

90%

YULA MERGER PHASE II Special thank you to Nancy Schiff, Director of Finance and Brian Kleinman, Board Treasurer for their efforts on successfully merging the Girls and Boys business office into one department this year.Expenses Girls Operating

FINANCIAL REPORTING

DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Benefiting YULA High School

Each year since 2009, David Nagel and the Decron Team work year round to gather sponsors for the Annual Decron Golf Tournament. The tournament raises much needed funds for financial aid for the school. They have managed to take the fundraising from $250,000 in the first year, to over $750,000 at this year’s tournament. It’s a monumental task and an impressive, consistent, blow away number!

Looking forward to the 14th Annual Decron Golf Tournament on October 30th!

4% 2%

Girls Operating Revenue:

14%

DECRON GOLF TOURNAMENT

68%

Boys Operating Expenses

68%

75% TUITION AND FEES

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

FUNDRAISING 3%

NON EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES 4% 2%

3% 2% GRANTS 2%

3%

EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES 2%

ENDOWMENT

TECHNOLOGY

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

DECRON Properties Team Campus Tour and Thank You Dinner

22%

14%

ATHLETICS

Boys Operating Expenses

90% Staff Participation In Giving Campaigns

Girls Operating Expenses 23

CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS KELLY TZEDAKAH GRANT

GINDI FAMILY GIRLS CAMPUS

Construction of the Horowitz Family Plaza and Levkowitz Family Courtyard began this spring and will be completed for the start of the upcoming school year! We look forward to seeing phase II of the Horowitz Family Plaza this fall with the installation of the shade structure.

Sigal and Jonthan Kelly have established the Kelly Tzedakah Grant, a $1,000,000 grant which will allocate $100,000 for the next 10 years to annually benefit 18 students at the Boys and Girls divisions. The grant will be awarded to students in need of financial aid who are willing to pay it forward to the community by joining the Olam Chesed Yibaneh Society and who will commit to 18 hours of community service annually.

The new Beit Midrash, Uretsky Family Fitness Center, and the Nagel Court projects were completed this year!

NAGEL FAMILY BOYS CAMPUS CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS

Thank you Sherri and Babak Rashididoust for donating the new lighting in the Emil and Gail Kestenbaum Beit Midrash!

Thank you Lesley and Geoffrey Sitbon for dedicating the Head of School Seat and Shtender in the Emil and Gail Kestenbaum Beit Midrash.

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ARON KODESH CREATION Rabbi Dr. Menachem Hecht worked with a group of talented YULA students to design and build a one-of-a-kind Aron Kodesh for the new Beit Midrash on the YULA Girls Campus. In consultation with Torah Studies faculty, students created unique sketches for each shevet. Using the graphic design platform Adobe Illustrator, they developed their concepts into digital vector files, which they turned

CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS

Construction on the Emil and Gail Kestenbaum Beit Midrash is underway! The new Beit Midrash was designed to accommodate a more chavrutah style learning environment.

We look forward to welcoming the students in our newly renovated Beit Midrash on the first day of school!

into wood-cuttings by learning to use YULA’s state-of-the-art Laser Cutter/Engraver. The Aron Kodesh project was generously dedicated

by Ruth and Seth Berkowitz.

Thank you to Simona and Steven Heumann for dedicating the Heumann Corridor!

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ENDOWMENT YULA GIRLS

YULA BOYS

Ruth and Seth Berkowitz Lynda and Arie Buchman Gregory Cortese Elaine and Mark Gershenson Rachel and Jack E. z”l Gindi Barbara and Alan Gindi Naomi and Gregg Gittler Nancy and Yasha Gofman Harwitt Foundation Lauren and Ezra Kest Kestenbaum Family Foundation Lesley and Brian Kleinman Aviva and Scott Krieger Elayne and Howard Levkowitz Tina ‘85 and Michael Loboda Vivian and Jordan Lurie Rick Macaya Melody and Kamyar Mahboubi Debi and Harry Peled Gitel and David Rubin and Family Joanne Saks Sheri and Arnold Schlesinger Irine and Victor Schweitzer Sara and Ronald Solomon Jeff Stern Ann and William Warnick Fay z”l and Irwin Weiss Geri and Isaac Wiener

Susan and Michael Baum Lynda and Arie Buchman Class of 2012 Tabitha and Brian ‘89 Dror Robin and Meir Gelman Felice Gottlieb ‘00 and Shmuel Barak Ann and Avi Hier Sheryl Neuman and Mark Hyman Hedy and Ted Orden z”l Scholarship Fund (Helen and Moshe Sassover) Amy and Mark Kestenbaum Trudy and Louis Kestenbaum z”l Lesley and Brian Kleinman Rosina z”l and Robert Korda Elayne and Howard Levkowitz Tina ‘85 and Michael Loboda Cheryl and Ronnie Nagel Gitta and Jack z”l Nagel Marnie and David Nagel Judy Posner Sassoon Family Foundation Sheri and Arnold Schlesinger Stephen Sigoloff Sam Small Tamar and R’ Arye Sufrin Kity Wallace Fay z”l and Irwin Weiss Geri and Isaac Wiener

26

Q&A with Pamela (Gelman) Talansky, Class of 2002 Granddaughter of Sandford and Beverly Deutsch z”l

Q. A.

Your grandparents were instrumental in laying the foundation of the Los Angeles Jewish community. Tell me

about that.

My grandparents were active in many Jewish organizations in Los Angeles.

My grandfather was President of Shaarei Tefila, for many years. He served on the board of Yavneh Hebrew Academy, was instrumental in the growth of the OU on the West Coast and was very involved in YU. My grandparents were constantly involved in chairing events, opening their home for community events, and looking for ways to get involved in building a stronger community. People turned to them for guidance, support and leadership.

Q. A.

Why was Jewish Education so important to your grandparents?

My grandparents were both raised in Los Angeles in the 1930’s and attended Fairfax High School. We have strong family

Q. A.

How has that inspired you to get involved in our community?

I was fortunate to grow up around my grandparents, to see how much they cared for the community and to watch their commitment to the success of many causes. Watching their involvement, and my parents’ involvement has ingrained in me the importance of being an active community member and that strong leadership can have long-lasting effects.

Q.

What in their lifetime was important to your grandparents?

A.

My grandparents focused on their family, community, and chesed. My grandfather made people feel important, he showered people with compliments and had a way of making people feel good about themselves. I remember going to shul on Shabbos when he was President of Shaarei Tefilah, and when he would get up to speak, everyone would be attentively listening and engaged. He made it a point to welcome each person at shul on Shabbos and would make sure people had somewhere to eat.

Q. A.

What were some of their strong qualities?

What stands out as their most important qualities were kindness, hospitality, generosity, family oriented, leaders, and community builders.

Q.

Eleven of their grandchildren have attended YULA, tell me about that, and your family’s connection with YULA? Rabbi Sufrin likes to tell me that I ‘bleed black and yellow.’

YULA is in our blood, it’s who we are and what shaped our futures. My mother and her

A.

$225k

in earnings from Endowment in FY 23 toward operating costs

siblings attended Rambam, and many people see YULA as a continuation of Rambam.

Our family’s values align with YULA’s core values. It was important for my parents to continue this connection for the next generation by honoring my grandparents and their involvement in Jewish Education in Los Angeles.

ENDOWMENT

SANFORD AND BEVERLY DEUTSCH Z”L ENDOWMENT SOCIETY DEDICATED BY ROBIN AND MEIR GELMAN

roots and multiple generations of family in Los Angeles on both sides. There was no Jewish high school in Los Angeles when my grandparents were growing up.

My grandparents got involved in Jewish education and were motivated to build the Jewish community because they saw potential in Los Angeles and stepped up to fulfill this need.

Due to these efforts, when they had children, there were Jewish schooling options available. My mother and her siblings attended Yavneh and Rambam, two institutions my grandparents were very involved with and vested in their success

Q.

How do you think your grandparents would feel about having your parents name YULA’s Endowment after them (and the significance of it’s impact on the future of generations of YULA students)?

I think they would feel extremely proud that my parents are continuing their legacy of investing in the future of Jewish education in Los Angeles. The endowment is about looking forward, and about ensuring the continued growth of the community. This is the embodiment of what my grandparents stood for. It is such a beautiful and fitting legacy for them and is incredibly meaningful for their grandchildren and great grandchildren to be able to remember their contributions to the community.

A.

Donations to build our endowment sustain YULA’s future!

27

$25k-$49,999

Thank You Donors Please note: This issue of the Annual Report deals solely with the 2022-2023 fiscal year which ended June 30, 2023.

B Board Member S Staff Member C Capital Gifts Included

$10k-$24,999

Steven Alevy Allbright Painting Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Michelle Barak Burns Environmental CAM Services Century Heritage Builders Citi Private Bank Elissa & Edward Czuker Danny Wimmer Presents Tabitha & Brian ‘89 Dror Shana ‘91 & Donny Feldman, B Michal ‘91 & David Gershov, B Judith & Aryeh Goldberg Tami & Asher Gottesman Greenberg Glusker LLP Rachel ‘00 & Akiva Greenfield Hedy z”l & Ted z”l Orden Endowment Fund

Simona & Steven Heumann, B Annie & Avi Hier Taylor & Jeremy Kahn Tina ‘85 & Michael Loboda Melody & Daniel Mahboubi, B Meridian Capital Lauren & Mark Mintz Carol & Larry Mizel Cheryl & Ronald Nagel Carol & Larry Mizel Pacific Western Bank Seamless Flooring Rachel & Omid Shaye, B Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP Elizabeth & Peter Steinlauf

$100k-$249,999 Marnie and David Nagel, B , C Lee Samson, C

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Sarah & Yossi Wachtel Valerie & Gary Weitzer Effie ‘90 & Uri Zisblatt, B

$5k-$9,999

Dana & David ‘96 Abramson, C All Valley Washer Alison ‘98 & Evan Anziska Lisa & Geoffrey Aranoff Armon Investments Rita & Shalom Aynesazan, B Sandra & Avy Azeroual Yoli & Guy Bachar Dalya & Simon Backer

$50k-$99,999

DECRON Douglas Design Build Rena ‘82 and Jamie Frankel, S Barbara and Alan Gindi, B Lauren and Ezra Kest

Elayne and Howard Levkowitz, B P3 Fund (Jack & Gitta Nagel Foundation) Debbie and Sunny Sassoon, C Murielle and Steve Uretsky

$2.5k-$4,999

Cassi & Ken Alter Nely & Pirooz Amona Shawni Modrel-Astrof & Jeffrey Astrof Felice ‘00 Gottlieb & Shmuel Barak, B Ilana & Ari Berenson Rosalee & Chesky Braunstein Lynda & Arie Buchman Jenny & Moshe ‘00 Buchman Capital One Commercial Real Estate Jami & Alan Castel Chargie, LLC Darvish Capital Defense International

Corporation Daniel Duman Ilanit & Michael Fallas Talya & Michael Fayfle Jessica & Anton Feingold Ferguson Victoria & Charlie Frankel Devora & Moishe Frankel Naomi & Ben Fried Natalie ‘01 & Jonathan ‘99 Gerber Deborah & Mark Goldenberg Ilana & Gil Goldschein, B Gorman Roofing Services, Inc. Jenny Lewkowicz & Emanuel Gottlieb Anne & Bruce Greenfield Mazal & Victor Hadad Danielle ‘07 & Joshua Hirsch The Holdsworth Group, LLC Sheryl Neuman & Mark Hyman Miriam & Jonathan Istrin Joleen & Mitchell Julis Harold & Magda Katz Gila & Yitzy ‘00 Katz, B Lesley & Brian Kleinman, B Sara & Benny Kohanteb Faryborz Kohanteb Jacqueline ‘99 & Alain Kuppermann Lieder’s Pico Vivian & Jordan Lurie Deborah & Avi Marciano Nathalie & Glenn Marshak Tracy & Sidney Mathalon Debra & Scott Mund Na’amit & Zev ‘00 Nagel Parcel Pending Careena & Drew Parker Adena Silberstein & Levi Pinsky Platinum Security Hindi ‘96 & Rabbi Adir Posy, S Naomi ‘00 & Dovi Prero Elham & Shawn Rabbani TRG Fire System Sherri & Babak Rashididoust Esther & Daniel Rbibo Carol & Adam Reich Karl Reinecker

Adina & Don Rochel Rosie & Mark ‘86 Rosenbaum Shira & Benjamin Rosenberg Rachelle & Jim Rosten Zahava & Avi Ryzman Elimor & Rafi ‘02 Ryzman Elisa & Alan Schoenfeld Gabriel Simha ‘13 Karen & Eli Sokolov Sanam & Ashkan Soleymani Karen & Doron Stephen Mary & Aric Streit Dorit & Alan Teichman Ilana & Jonathan ‘05 Uretsky Soshea Weberman & Jance Weberman Lisa & Yoni ‘99 Wintner Sarah & Yitzchak Yasharpour

$1k-$2,499

AB Classic Restoration Action Investment Group, Inc. ALD Marketing AM Building Company Alanna Apfel B.M. Plumbing & Construction, Inc Bryndie & Moshe Bennaroch Karen & Meir Brunelle Cruz Construction Sue & Steve Darrison Batya & Joey ‘10 Dayan Dekel Capital, Inc. DePasquale, Kelley & Company EDJCO Enviroworx Pest Control Esther Rose Packer Foundation Cindy ‘01 & Leeran ‘01 Factor

Shirin & Howie Fialkov Lindsay & Etan Frankel Martha Frankel Nora & Irwin Friedman GE Consumer & Industrial Appliances Jenny & Billie Gelb Geo’s Painting, Inc Daphna & Ben Gerendash Cari ‘82 & Jonas Hanelin Harvest LLP Elaina & Nachum Hascalovici Howard Roofing IDIQ Nelly & Henri Kahn Dena & Chaim ‘07 Katz Phyllis & David Katzin KJ Carpet Wholesale Esther & Paul Lerer Esther ‘84 & Craig Levine Shevy & Dovid Lieder Holly & Terry Magady Sarah ‘08 & Avi Matanky, S Dalya & Motti Meisels, S Chavee Lerer & Victor Mellon Samira & Ari Miller, S National Econ Corporation Elizabeth ‘05 & Marc Neiman Nexus Maytal & Marc Noah Leora ‘06 & Isaac Orenbuch Wendy & Larry Platt

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DONOR LISTING

DONOR LISTING

AM House Ruth & Seth Berkowitz, B, C Chicago Title Commercial Roof Management Yona & Isser Elishis, B Rachel Gindi Ann & Mark Goldin Graff Family Grundco The J. Samuel Harwit z”l & Harwit-Aviv Charitable Trust Chaya & Mark Horowitz, B Katz Family Kerri & Frank Lee Gitta & Jack z”l Nagel One Call Renovations, Inc. PS2 Inc Mirriam & Aaron Robin, C Leslie & Geoffrey Sitbon, C Shuli & Avi ‘88 Steinlauf

Barak, Richter, & Dror Susan & Michael Baum Esther & Jacob Balich, B Boeckmann Charitable Foundation Robin & Elliot Broidy Cedars Sinai CIRM City National Rochdale City Service Contracting, Inc. CLA Conservice Custom Leasing & Sales, Inc. Ilana & Bobby Daftari Design & Develop Driver SPG Gilat ‘84 & Yossi ‘84 Englanoff Euro Design Electric Esthie & Walter Feinblum Jenny & Emil Fish Aliza & Jeffrey ‘88 Fish Rachel & Steven ‘96 Fried Chana ‘92 & Paul Gelb Robin & Meir Gelman Gibson Dunn & Crutcher Moran & Shalom Gozlan Sarah & Yanki Greenspan Elizabeth & Jules Greif Ellen Bronfman & Andrew Hauptman HD Supply Facilities Maintenance Angie & Moise Hendeles Leeba & Zev Hertz Rina & Sherwin Isenberg Israel Discount Bank JLL Capital Markets Marlene ‘86 & Mark ‘87 Kahan Eva & Abe Kaplan Elisa & Meir Keller Amy & Mark Kestenbaum Kimball, Tirey, & St. John Arlene & Robert Korda Aviva & Scott Krieger Mark Kruspodin Dina & Fred Leeds Aviva & Roy Mansano

Marquee Funding Group, Inc. Marcie Meier Gila & Adam Milstein Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Annie & Daniel ‘02 Nagel Dorit & Harry Nelson Rinat & Nathan Newman Shelly & Shmueli Newman Newmark Out-Fit Sarah & Adiv Pachter Pacific Computer Supply Ziva & Dov Plattner, S PNC Susan & Sam Porgess Stephanie ‘99 & Tzvi ‘95 RatnerStauber RealPage, Inc. Denise & Weston Richter Miri & Reuben Robin Rachel & Stephen Ross Gitel & David Rubin The Ruderman Group - Morgan Stanley RVW Wealth LLC Rivkie & Dani ‘86 Samson, B Helen & Moshe Sassover Brigitte & Jonathan Schoen Joy & Ron Sentchuk Sherwin Williams Superior Roofing Total Access Elevator Zahavah & Daniel ‘99 Uretsky, B Walker & Dunlop Weinstock Manion Reisman Shore & Neumann Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking Jennifer ‘99 & Philip ‘95 Wintner Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin Joseph Yemini Sabina & Aric Zamel

Lauren ‘10 & Natanel ‘10 Sazegar Deborah & David Schultz Rachel Shandalov, S Goldie Susman Helen & Howard Szabo Rachel & Jonathan Teller Jordana & Rabbi Kalman Topp Travis Junge Pool Service

DONOR LISTING

$500-$999

R & R Electric Co Einat & Shlomo Ronen June & Joseph Schames Thomas Schiff Catherine & Eric Schneider Robin & Rabbi Joseph Schreiber, S Klara & Martin Shandling Shaw Contract Sher Gelb, An Accountancy Corporation Tamar & Rabbi Arye Sufrin, S Sunrise Pool Blimy & Rabbi Hershy Ten Orly & Yoram Tzeela Unlimited Climate Control Unlimited Engineering Ephraim Vilenski VIP Community Mental Health

30

AFB Floors Aqua Creations Margo & Joey ‘09 Baum Alissa Rimmon & Kenny Bendik Ariana & Michael ‘98 Bernstein Debra & Steven ‘94 Bernstein Beth Jacob Congregation Robert Blitzstein Bunny Constructions Clarendon at Home Moshe Darvish ‘22 E Galindo Cleaning Services ETA Testing Maggie & Zachary ‘10 Finder Marsi & Chayim Frenkel Rochel & Shachar Gargir, S Eve & John Halwani Leslie & Eli ‘00 Hartman Jennifer & Rabbi Menachem Hecht, S Alan Kaye Esther Krieger Mindy ‘03 & Ben Lyons Rivka & Michael Most Gabriel ‘11 & Adina ‘16 Rabbanian Loren & Jacob ‘12 Rabbanian Julie & Adom Ratner-Stauber Miriam & Rabbi Dov Rosenbluth, S

$100-$499

Nachman Abend Yisca & Rabbi Michael Abraham, S Huvi & Rabbi Shimon Abramczik, S Shlomit & Larry Abrams, S Ronit & Rabbi Nissan Ahoobim, S Davina & Binyamin Amrami Lisa & Scott Arnold ASM Cleaning Services, Inc. Alma & Zuri Barnes Sara ‘97 & Yoni ‘98 Barzideh Melisa ‘00 & Jonathan Beck, S Yehudis Benhamou, S Naomi & Rabbi Ari Bensoussan, S Ilina & Vladimir Beron Beverly Hills Medical Institute Amy Bitton Tehillah Blech William Bolton Naomi Boussidan Batya & Rabbi Asher Brander Michal & Jeremie Braun Brothers in Arms Security Michael Burton, S Talia ‘02 Kandel & Ely Cole Michelle ‘96 & Yona Conzevoy Chava & Avi Dayan Farnaz & Mehrdad Dayani Dr. Jeff’s Telehospital Sabine & R’ Pini Dunner EH National Bank Rosie & Avery Einhorn

Yosef Mandel ‘11 Evvy & David Mankowitz Eliana & Jeff Marcus Jaklin & Simon Massachi Pizza World Allison & Abie ‘97 Mendelsohn Jeremy Mittman Yaffa & Josh Moorvitch Ruchama & R’ Elazar Muskin Nessa & Gerald Naftalin Erika & Pinchas Nissanoff Eliza & Jesse ‘14 Orenshein, S Evey & Martin Pollack Abby & John Pollitt Judy Posner Jenny & David Pulitzer, S Jonathan Rabbanian ‘13 Yosef Reich Sandi & Avrum Reiss Restoration Management Company Revere Jewels Rachel & Rabbi Shua Rose, S Dov Rosenblatt Melanie & Rafael Rosenkranz Sol Feiner & Zalman Roth Maria & Bahram Samouha Leah & Bradley Schachter Nancy & Mark Schiff, S Michelle & Benjamin Schoen Judith Schwartz ‘89 Shirley & Mal Serure Bracha & Yifal Shaham Melanie & Dov Shandalov Fay & Neal Shapiro Debra Fields & Jonathan Silberman, S Leslie & Neil Silverstein Edva & Craig Sims Erica & Levi Solomon Elianna Rome & Shimon ‘98 Solomon , S Allison & David Sostchen Melina Spadone Dina & Michael Spivak Marcia & Richard St. Laurent, S Jonathan Stern ‘95

Sara & Allan Sternberg Tanya & Raviv Surpin Beth & Alan Tarko Robin Tassler, S Eliana ‘17 & Evan ‘17 Teichman Susie & Fred Toczek Rebecca Radbod-Torbati & Arian Torbati Rachelle & Alan Tsarovsky Ann & Rami Vildorf Kasinee Karnsomport & William Walton, S Tere ‘87 & Nir Weinblut Naomi ‘14 Greenfield & Tzvi Wertenteil Jordana Wertheimer Michelle & Alan E. Willner Renee Winkler Moshe Yaghoubian ‘13 Sarah & Giorgio Yashar, S Berel Yemini Orly Zarur, S Sarah & Yehuda Zavdi Zbra Studios

$1-$99

Rivkah Afriat, S Sharon Arfa Sipporah & Rabbi Dror Baalhaness, S Layla Bayramova & Steve Farkas, S Carli & Rabbi Aaron Becker, S Chagit Blank David Castro Julio Castro, S Marcos Cohen, S Shira ‘96 & Joshua Cooper Fletcher Crossman, S Miri ‘02 & Shlomo Dayan, S

Stephen Eichenbaum, S Stephanie & Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom, S Orit ‘04 & Nick Faguet, S Pam Felcher, S Fish Grill Shterny & Tully Fishman, S Batsheva & Yossie Frankel, S Marcia & Sam Glaser, S Benjamin Greenfield ‘05 Ariella & Ben Hakakian Bracha & Natan Halevy Jonathan Hall, S Heather Holmes, S Margy & Jeremy Horowitz, S Yolanda & Martin Jauregui, S Samuel Kandel Sharona & Aryeh Kaplan, S Hilary Kaplan, S Jessica & Daron Keet Chanie & Rabbi Willy Kluger, S Janell LaRue, S Millie Leben Seryl & Seymour Litwin Racheli & Menachem Luftglass, S Danielle Magady, S Mark Schiff, Inc. Shira & Rabbi Josh Maslow, S Brenna Miller & Alex Mellott, S Penina & Rabbi Eli Morell, S Sara & Jonathan ‘96 Nissim, S Noam Nizzani, S Alexandra Novak, S

DONOR LISTING

Center, Inc. Geri & Isaac Wiener Natalie & Chaim Williams, S

Jonathan Eltes Belinda and David Eskanazi ‘87 Estee & Eben Feinstein Jennifer Feldman & Alex ‘01 Feldman Jaclyn ‘08 & Jacob ‘05 Fishbein Daniel Fishman Cheri Olaverty Flint & Mike Flint Sara & Steven Friedman Atara & Dael ‘96 Geft David Ghods Jack Gindi Dina & Michael Glouberman Gity & Howard Gluck Danielle & Aaron Goldblatt Chavi & Baruch Gorman, S Boruch Gralnik ‘14 Marlene Green Gyn Laparoscopic Associates Victoria Hanlon, S Jonathan Hay ‘18 Lori Hayes Rachel & Rabbi Pinchos Hecht, S Mindy ‘99 & Betzalel ‘99 Hellman Shira Hershoff & Rabbi Gavriel Hershoff, S Gary Hoffman Karen & Darrin Holender Holy Smokes Kosher BBQ Judy & David Horowitz Amy & Ryan Hyman Cheryl Ibgui ‘84 Jane Imerman Julie & David Iskowitz Doris & Behzad Javidzad David Kahn ‘92 Rena ‘07 & Ori ‘07 Kanefsky Dora & Menachem ‘12 Kashanian Noble Plumbing Lisa Kirschenbaum ‘84 Manny Kreitenberg Sharona & Pouya Lavian Robyn & Craig Lewis Sandy & Howard Loboda Malk Law Firm

Miriam & Ethan Piliavin, S Luka Ratkovich, S Emily Ricketson, S Diana Robinson, S Gail Rosenstein Karen & Moshe Sarto Chaya & Rabbi Nachum Sauer, S Jason Schoen Debora & Jay Semel Katherine & Brian Simon Dana & Joey ‘00 Small Mindy & Brian Sroka, S Maya Steinborn, S Nana & Philip Streich, S Perri & Jonathan ‘98 Tabak Marcelle & David Tehrani Rivka & Yonah Tehrani, S Julie Tichon, S Lisa Utrata & Mark Irwin, S Tzirrel & Rabbi Eliyahu Tzvi Younger, S Ziva & Sharon Zeharya, S Oksana & Gregory Zlotin, S

31

ATHLETIC BANNER DEDICATION CEREMONY

SAVE THE DATE!

NOVEMBER 28, 2023 1983-1984: Basketball: Westside League Championship (Boys) 1984-1985: Basketball: Westside League Championship (Boys) 1985-1986: Basketball: Westside League Championship (Boys) 1986-1987: Basketball: HAFTR SATRAN Tournament Champions (Boys) 1988-1989: Basketball: HAFTR SATRAN Tournament Champions (Boys) 1990-1991: Basketball: HAFTR SATRAN Tournament Champions (Boys) 1993-1994: Basketball: Liberty League Champions (Boys) 1995-1996: Basketball: Liberty League Champions (Boys) 1996-1997: Basketball: Liberty League Champions (Boys) 1997-1998: Basketball: Sarachek Champions (Boys) Cross Country: Liberty League Champions (Boys) Basketball: Liberty League Champions (Boys) 1998-1999: Basketball: Liberty League Champions (Boys) 1999-2000: Basketball: Sarachek Champions (Boys) 2000-2001: Basketball: Sarachek Champions (Boys) 2001-2002: Basketball: Liberty League Champions (Boys) 2002-2003: Basketball: Sarachek Champions (Boys) Basketball: Liberty League Champions (Boys) 2004-2005: Basketball: Sarachek Champions (Boys) 2005-2006: Basketball: Hebrew Academy Basketball Shabbaton (Girls) 2006-2007: Basketball: Sarachek Champions (Boys) 2011-2012: Basketball: Sarachek Champions (Boys) Basketball: Cooper Champions (Boys) Basketball: Milken Champions (Boys) 2013: Basketball: Sarachek Champions (Boys) Basketball: Cooper Tournament Champions (Boys) 2014-2015: Soccer: Independent League Champions (Boys) 2018-2019: Volleyball: Independence League All-Academic Award (Girls) 2019-2020: Basketball: De Toledo Tournament Champions (Boys) 2021-2022: Basketball: Independence League Champions (Girls) Tennis: Independence League Champions (Girls) Soccer: Independence League Champions (Girls) 2022-2023: Basketball: De Toledo Tournament (Boys) Baseball: CBI Tournament Champions (Boys) Volleyball: YULA Volleyball Tournament Champions (Girls) Track: Liberty League All-Academic Award (Girls)

Please join us for our upcoming Alumni Event, in which we will be dedicating the above banners to commemorate our student athletes’ past successes.

Please let us know if you would like to be involved!

YULA.ORG

GIRLS DIVISION GINDI FAMILY CAMPUS 1619 S. ROBERTSON BLVD. LOS ANGELES, CA 90035 (310) 203-0755 in partnership with

BOYS DIVISION NAGEL FAMILY CAMPUS 9760 W. PICO BLVD. LOS ANGELES, CA 90035 (310) 203-3180