THE MITZVAH LEARNING FUND IS A NON-PROFIT COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PURSUING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONALIZED JEWISH EDUCATION.
About Us
Our Board of Governers
Lizzie Scheck Calne
Chair
Lizzie lives in Los Angeles with her husband and her 2 children. Lizzie has her own namesake jewelry business which she has had for over 20 years. Lizzie’s son is currently a junior at University of Wisconsin, Madison and her daughter will be a freshman at University of Michigan this fall. Lizzie went to Jewish day school graduate from New York City and sent her children to Jewish day school in Los Angeles. Lizzie has never been more grateful for her Jewish education and knowing that her children can walk around their college campuses as proud Jews who express their opinions, help educate those who are not well informed, makes her incredibly proud. Helping others find ways to be educated on Judaism, its history and its future, is what led Lizzie to be a part of Mitzvah Learning Fund.
Todd Shotz
Founder
Todd is the Founder/Executive Director of the personalized Jewish educational company Hebrew Helpers. After many years as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah mentor in both New York and Los Angeles, Todd started Hebrew Helpers in 2005 with the mission to create authentic and meaningful Jewish learning experiences and life cycle events without boundaries or restrictions while at the same time, paying tribute to tradition. He is also an award-winning film producer through his company T42 Entertainment.
Karen Macarah
Secretary-Treasurer
Karen started her Jewish education way back in the 1980’s as a student at Temple Emanuel Community Day School in Beverly Hills. Later, as the parent of two children and three stepchildren, she made it a priority that all of them attend either Day School, Religious School and/or Jewish summer camp, and is proud that all her (now high school and college age) children celebrated their B’nai Mitzvot and remain deeply connected to their Jewish heritage. She served for a number of years on the board of the Valley Village congregation, Adat Ari El, where she continues to be a member, sometimes Torah-reader, and leader of Shacharit on Rosh Hashanah, and she’s proud to be a part of the Mitzvah Learning Fund and to support its mission of helping to provide personalized Jewish learning opportunities.
Rabbi Sherre Hirsch
Board Member
Rabbi Sherre Hirsch is currently the Chief Innovation Officer for American Jewish University. She was the first female rabbi at Sinai Temple, the largest Conservative congregation on the west coast. Prior to AJU, she served as Senior Rabbinic Scholar at Hillel International. Sherre is a celebrated author and thought leader on spirituality and religion.
Deborah Engel
Grant Administrator
Deb Engel is the Regional Program Associate at Hadar. With decades of experience as a Jewish educator and community builder, she has worked in diverse settings both in Los Angeles and Israel. Deb holds an MBA and an MA in Jewish Education from American Jewish University.
Linda Fife
Past Board Chair
Linda has spent most of her adult life working both as a professional educator and as a volunteer in the Jewish community. She is a founder of LimmudLA, worked as an outreach coordinator to converts and intermarried couples, holds a Master’s in Jewish Education, taught children with special needs and created a Jewish Lamaze program among other accomplishments. Linda developed a wide range of programming for congregations for both adults and children and has served as an officer and director for a number of Jewish nonprofits.