STAFF

Rabbi Sharon Brous
*see rabbi bio

Melissa Balaban Chief Operating Officer
*see founder bio

Lisa Alpern Director of Education and Family Programming
Lisa Alpern has been the Director of Education at IKAR since the summer of 2006. Prior to joining IKAR, Lisa worked in development at the Jewish United Fund (Chicago Jewish Federation) and at Combined Jewish Philanthropies (Boston Jewish Federation). Lisa received her BA in Jewish Studies from the University of Michigan and her Master of Jewish Education from Hebrew College. She and her husband David (and their dog Moses) are thrilled to be part of the IKAR community.

Maya Barron Membership & Programming Coordinator
Maya grew up in the Los Angeles area, at a combination of Reform and Conservative synagogues (and summer camps). She self-identifies as Jewish and half-Japanese American, and has traveled to both Israel and Japan. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 2006 with a BA in South Asian Languages and Civilizations. During college, she worked as a Human Rights Intern in India. Most recently, she was the Economic Justice Intern at the Progressive Jewish Alliance, a wonderful experience that introduced her to local activist networks as well as to IKAR. Maya’s long-term goals include going to graduate school, getting a dog, and effecting social change.

Hillel Tigay Musical Director & Shaliach Tzibur
Hillel was selected to be a University Scholar the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in musicology. He specialized in composition, classical guitar (which he studied in Spain), the renaissance lute (which he performed in a troupe) and pop music (which he has performed with a band since his teen years). After graduation he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a recording career and was offered a recording contract from A&M Records. The record was shelved, but Hillel likes to think that it received good shelf space. He moved on to co-found the Jewish rap band MOT and release a record on Warner Brothers records in 1999. Though it didn't take the world by storm, it took his family by storm. The son of a rabbinical scholar Hillel has spent his life in expressing his love of yiddishkite in many ways including cantoring during High Holy Days since his high school years (where he became known as Cantor Tifay due to a typo in the local Jewish Exponent). He has spent years living in Israel and has been the bar mitzvah tutor at Beth Am in Los Angeles since 1991. He now acts as musical director/cantor for IKAR and spends his time writing his own Jewish music and leading IKAR services.

Jenna Pinkham Administrative Assistant to the Rabbi
Jenna Pinkham graduated from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television with a BA in Theater. Throughout college, she was involved as a member of Hillel’s Kesher Board (Reform Students on campus), was a Resident Assistant, and organized a number of events within the community. Following her undergraduate studies, Jenna briefly explored reality television as a Key Office Production Assistant, but soon missed her active involvement with the Jewish community. She is classically trained in voice, and performs a One Woman Cabaret with pop standards of the 1930s and 40s throughout LA and Orange County at small venues and parties. She brings her show on a volunteer basis to the senior communities of Leisure World Laguna Woods and Seal Beach. When not at IKAR, Jenna spends her time writing songs (both Jewish and secular), and visiting her extended family, most who live within a 40 mile radius of Los Angeles.