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 2 children. Lizzie has her own namesake jewelry business which she has had for almost 20 years. Lizzie’s daughter is currently enrolled in Jewish Day School where her son graduated from last year.
Todd Shotz
Vice Chair, Founder
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
has been actively engaged in Jewish education since she attended Temple Emmanuel Community Day School in Beverly Hills in the 1980’s! She is currently a parent of five children, all engaged in some form of Jewish education, and resides in the San Fernando Valley, where she also serves on the Executive Board of the Valley Village congregation, Adat Ari El. She is proud to be a part of the Mitzvah Learning Fund and supporting its mission of helping to provide personalized Jewish learning opportunities.
Rabbi Sherre Hirsch
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
Board Member
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.