Board Leadership

My wife, Cindy, and I joined the Santa Monica Synagogue in 2010. Our oldest son was ready for religious school and we decided to try it out along with a group of his friends from elementary school. Well, that trial turned out pretty well and we have been members ever since. We have four boys, two who have completed their Bar Mitzvah with two to go.

Not content to just bring my wife and kids here, I recruited my parents and one of my two brothers to join. Alas my other brother lives in Portland and is a harder sell.

I grew up in Woodland Hills at a small synagogue, Temple Emet, which is now Kol Tikvah. I have always liked the feeling of a small congregation, where you can get to know most of the congregants. It is the same feeling that I found here, at the SMS. There is a real feeling of community with a vibrant, active, welcoming congregation.

Our attitude is summed up in the motto of our Synagogue's Softball team, the Hebrew Nationals - “Support your teammates, Have Fun, and Don’t Get Hurt!” There are a lot of activities available for you at the SMS, and I invite you to look around our site -- better yet, to come in and meet us.

You can reach me directly at president@thesms.org. I look forward to meeting you.

Adam Telanoff, President

Executive Committee

Adam Telanoff — President
Marie Pedersen — Vice-President
Rona Rodrig — Vice-President
Alan Watenmaker — Vice President
Michael Lee Cohen— Secretary
James Stang — Treasurer
Amy Spiegel— Past President
Julie Fenyes — Advisor
Cheryl Stecher — Advisor

Board of Trustees

Mark Cohen
Leesl Herman
Steve Richman
Luba Rosenblum
Don Schultz

Jeff Swimmer

Andy Telanoff