Staff
Karen Goldenstein was born in Mexico City where she lived until 1995. She received a BA in Business Administration from Universidad Anahuac and an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA in 1997. For most of her life in Los Angeles, Karen had been a full-time mom to four kids until she joined the Melton staff in 2016. She was an active participant and serious volunteer at her kids’ schools (Milken Community Middle School and High School, WISE School and VBS elementary school). In addition, she volunteered in a leadership position at Children’s Hospital L.A. for the Holidays from the Heart program. The Goldensteins have been active Wise Temple members for nearly 23 years. Karen graduated from the West Valley Melton School 10 years ago and is honored to be working for our Wise Melton School.
Faculty
| Rabbi Shana Chandler Leon has been a part of the Melton faculty since 2016. She earned her B.A. in English literature (Summa Cum Laude) from UCLA in 1992 and her master’s degree in education from American Jewish University (California) in 2005, where she went on to teach liturgy and educational techniques for the Fingerhut School of Education.
She served as a cantorial soloist in Los Angeles from 1995-2016, and in 2015, was ordained at the AJRCA. Since 2016, she has been senior rabbi of Congregation Ner Tamid of San Francisco, her beloved hometown. Shana is a regular columnist for the J Weekly of Northern California and a certified Mussar facilitator. Her greatest loves include books, sports, music, chanting Torah, dear friends, and most especially, her husband Andrew, four children, and one very special mutt named Rafi. |
Ben Zion (Benzy) Kogen
is a Consultant for Leadership and Education. He has devoted his career to senior leadership positions within the Jewish community—in Jewish education and nonprofits.
Benzy serves as a faculty member of the Melton School for Adult Jewish Studies.
His course offerings include both undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of Jewish history, Jews and Islam, Jewish ethics, Jewish memories, Genesis, Exodus, and a variety of biblical texts.
Benzy has served as a member of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee at Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills, Calif., and is currently Chair of the Pacific Southwest Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. He also serves as a member of the Board of Overseers for the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles.
Benzy holds undergraduate degrees from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, as well as two master’s degrees in educational administration from Teachers College of Columbia University.
A master educator who has devoted himself to the building of communities and the enhancement of Jewish life, Benzy has led seminars for educators and taught in congregations across the U.S. and Canada, bringing the joy of classical Jewish text and tradition to learners of all ages.
Benzy lives in Reseda, CA with his wife Gail. Together they are the proud parents of three adult children, and grandparents of seven.
Rabbi Adam Schaffer
| Rabbi Schaffer is a rabbi at Temple Aliyah and the Director of the Jewish Learning Collaborative (JLC), a joint religious school of Shomrei Torah Synagogue and Temple Aliyah. Prior to serving in these roles, he was the School Rabbi at Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School in Northridge for seven years, where he taught Judaic Studies, Cantillation, Tefillah, and Jewish Ethics. He prides himself on being an eclectic rabbi who defies denominational labels, having served in a variety of roles including as a congregational rabbi in Bremerton, Wash., as an assistant education director in Santa Ana, and as a chaplain at UCLA Hospital. He holds a master’s degree in Jewish education from the Hebrew Union College here in Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Pennsylvania. His proudest role, however, is being the abba to his two children, Ezra and River, and his greatest honor is to be married to the wonderful Melissa Sandler. |
| Neal Schnall has been a dedicated Jewish educator in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years, teaching in many synagogue schools across the city, including Sinai Temple, Adat Ariel, and Ramat Tzion. He spent most of his career working at Valley Beth Shalom as principal of the Hebrew school, where he initiated both the Sha’are Tikveh and Moreshet programs for special needs children. Neal has taught many adult courses, including—but not limited to—Jewish History, Hebrew, General Judaica, and adult b’nai mitzvah. In 2000, Neal was recognized as the Educator of the Year by the Los Angeles Bureau of Jewish Education.
A Philadelphia native, Neal graduated from UCLA with a degree in psychology. After taking Jewish Studies courses both at Gratz College in Philadelphia and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, he became fluent in Hebrew, and served as a volunteer in Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. There, he met his future wife, Yael. Together, Neal and Yael have two grown daughters, Noa and Adi. Neal is pleased to be part of the Melton faculty at Stephen Wise Temple, where he taught an adult Hebrew course several years ago. He enjoys teaching and receives a great deal of satisfaction in seeing adults find greater appreciation in the Jewish tradition. |