1715 21st Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 / (310) 829-0566
1715 21st Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 / (310) 829-0566
Executive Director
kateflanagan@km-synagogue.org
Kate Flanagan joined our staff in August 2019. Prior to her time at KM, she served as Executive Director at Congregation Ner Tamid of South Bay in Rancho Palos Verdes. With her, she brings over fifteen years of experience in the Jewish community, after having spent time in leadership roles at both Conservative and Reform congregations in Newton, MA and Durham, NC. Working within the walls of a synagogue is more of a calling for Kate, so much so that she proudly reminds everyone that throughout her career she has had the luxury of being cared for by hundreds and hundreds of Jewish mothers! Since moving to the Los Angeles area, she has been fortunate enough to form close bonds with her other Executive Directors, serving as Executive Vice President and then President of the SoCal chapter of Professional Association of Temple Administrators.
A graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and with a Master of Public Policy and Administration from California State University at Long Beach, Kate has a passion for lifelong learning. When she is not at KM, she can be found taking in the sights and sounds on and around Venice Beach with her husband, Christopher, and their dog, Ellie the Shih Tzu. Amongst her other fun distractions: trivia, Southern foods, Red Sox baseball, thrift store shopping, and finding creative ways of squeezing every inch of storage space out of her bungalow’s tiny bathroom.
Business Manager
joanneklein@km-synagogue.org
Since the day she got married, Joanne has been immersed in synagogue life. Initially as a volunteer, she began her involvement at Temple Beth Am. After a couple of years as a Board Member there, she served successively as the Vice President of Finance and Vice President of Ways & Means. Joanne has worked professionally, benefitting from her prior practice as a CPA, at Stephen S Wise Temple (for 9 years), Adat Ari El (for 7 years), and now calls Kehillat Ma’arav her home. Joanne is married to Paul Klein. (He asked her out for the first time while in the synagogue parking lot after a late Board Meeting.) Together, they have four kids (five counting their son-in-law) and two grandkids that they truly adore.
Director of Education and Youth Programming
eddirector@km-synagogue.org
Ms. Sharone Weizman has received her M.A. in Education, B. Lit in Hebrew Letters, and BA in Jewish Studies, from the University of Judaism (AJU) in Los Angeles, CA., where she was on the Dean’s List of Scholastic Excellence and graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Ms. Weizman has 20+ years experience as a Jewish educator in both formal and informal settings, including: director of education, education director, school administrator, March of the Living director, teacher, curriculum developer, youth group director and advisor, family and adult educator, summer camp/retreat leader and counselor. She has lived in Israel and speaks Hebrew fluently.
Ms. Weizman brings to KM strong leadership skills, administratively and pedagogically, creative ideas, and a firm grasp of the abilities and challenges of children and teens at each grade level. Ms. Weizman strives to impart to each child a passion for lifelong learning and a fundamental appreciation of what it means to be Jewish in today’s world. She places a strong emphasis on active learning techniques and experiential education for the school’s curriculum and programming because she believes it is through interactive experiences that positive Jewish memories are formed.
Ms. Weizman is happily married to David Meyers and they have a son, Ethan. They enjoy traveling, hosting dinner parties, and experiencing new outdoor adventures.
Head of Early Childhood and Arts Programs
jayde@km-synagogue.org
With 25+ years of experience as a Jewish educator and Religious School principal, Masha Savitz has a Masters in Rabbinic studies from the University of Judaism (AJU) and a BFA in Art from Boston University; she combines creativity and Torah learning. Masha has published Kabbalah curriculum with Torah Aura and is currently involved in media projects which she is eager to involve KM school and community.
Ms. Savitz is a published author and filmmaker.
Events Coordinator
events@km-synagogue.org
Cindy Roth has been a part of our staff for almost 8 years. Cindy grew up in the Conservative movement in Plainview Long Island where she was an active member of Junior Congregation and USY. She has been an event coordinator for many years in NY as well as in Los Angeles, and is happy to serve the KM community. In her spare time she practices as a Cantorial Soloist and trains children for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s. Here at KM, she serves the entire community in hosting multi-generational activities and holiday celebrations throughout the year.
