Staff

Melissa Balaban

Executive Director, Founding President

In 2004, Melissa and her husband Adam were searching for a Jewish community that would enrich the lives of their entire family and draw on Jewish tradition to engage the world in a meaningful way.  When they could not find an existing community that met all of these needs, they joined with an immensely talented and inspiring group of people, led by Rabbi Sharon Brous, to create something beautiful.

Melissa focuses on the strategic direction of the community.  She works closely with the board and acts as Rabbi Brous’s partner in guiding the overall vision of IKAR and ensuring that it is reflected in all IKAR events and initiatives.

Prior to joining IKAR professionally, Melissa was Assistant Dean at the University of Southern California Law School.  Previously, she was Directing Attorney of Public Counsel’s Child Care Law Project, a senior consultant for a national human resources consulting firm, and an adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount's MBA program. Melissa is a graduate of UC Berkeley and the University of Southern California Law School. Melissa is married to Adam Wergeles, a lawyer, and has two daughters with whom she took a family “sabbatical” in 2007 that included six and a half months of travel and volunteering in Africa, Southeast Asia and Israel.

She now has the rare pleasure of blending her life’s passion with her profession, even though she’s still shocked to think of herself as a professional Jew.

Samantha Bempong

Administrative Assistant to Rabbi Brous and Melissa Balaban

Sam moved to Los Angeles with her husband Gerald after living in Ghana, West Africa, helping Gerald conduct research and volunteering in a local orphanage.  She has worked for both The Broad Foundation and The Broad Center.  She is passionate about social justice and effecting positive change in the world.

Abby Meryl Feder

Director of Operations

Until recently, Abbe, who has a background in behavioral science, law and drama, was the event coordinator for a nationally known musician, and the program leader for the Young Storytellers Foundation, which promotes literacy and self esteem among underserved elementary school students.  Abbe’s involvement with Jewish programs started many moons ago, when she served as the National President of Young Judea.                                                          

Rebecca Halpin

Community and Program Coordinator

Rebecca's commitment to the Jewish community started early in life, with a leadership role in BBYO and NFTY in Houston, TX.  She then worked for the Union for Reform Judaism and JESNA (Jewish Education Service of North America) in New York, and she recently completed a one-year fellowship with Birthright Israel NEXT Los Angeles.

Beth Weisman

Director of Early Childhood Education

Beth grew up in Las Vegas.  She has a wealth of experience in the field of Jewish early childhood education as a teacher, an administrator, an assistant principal, and nursery school director.  She began her career as an English teacher at Harvard-Westlake, and then joined the staff of the nursery schools at Temple Israel of Hollywood and Wilshire Boulevard Temple.  She is excited to be building IKAR's early childhood program, which embraces Jewish values and tradition, global awareness and involvement, and respect for children and their families.