Board of Directors

Hyman Jebb & Donna Levy
Hyman Jebb Levy was born in 1926 to loving parents Louis and Bella Levy of Rochester, New York. He was one of four children with one brother and two sisters. Thefamily emigrated from a city called Monastir in Macedonia in the former Yugoslavia Republic. They were Sephardic Jews whose ancestors had been expelled from Spain; therefore the language used in the home was Ladino. During his childhood, his friends picked for him the nickname “Jebb” and it has stuck ever since. As a young man during World War Two, Jebb Levy served for three years in the Navy on the USS Haynsworth. He survived Japanese suicide plane attacks that had slammed into the ship; others of the crew were not so lucky. After the war, Jebb, like many G.I.’s moved to California to start a new life and career. Soon after, upon the insistence of his parents, he joined Sephardic Temple Tiferet Israel. which at that time was still on Santa Barbara Avenue. Little did they know, that one day their son would be honored in 1988 by receiving the prestigious Sephardic Heritage Award from Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel.

With his brother Matt, Jebb would find his niche producing high quality ladies apparel. His company Loubella Extendables was named after his parents Louis and Bella. The clothing line was a success and an established part of the fashion of the day. The company would stay in operation for forty-five years. Jebb has a family and enjoyed time spent with his children Cathy, Lori, and Jack.

Jebb’s parents by their own actions taught him the importance of giving Tzedakah and communal service. For this reason Jebb created the Hyman Jebb Levy Foundation in 1974 for the primary purpose of promoting Jewish education and to help the needy. The Foundation was immediately put to use to build the Talmud Torah and Levy Library at Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel. The foundation supports the Sephardic Educational Center in Jerusalem by giving over one hundred scholarships for their summer program. LASHA, Maimonidies Academy, Gimmel, and a variety of programs in Los Angeles and abroad are also supported by the foundation. In 1997, the foundation made an investment in the Sephardic children of Los Angeles by establishing a Jewish youth group called Sephardic Tradition And Recreation. Due to this support, S.T.A.R. has become the premiere Sephardic youth organization in Los Angeles providing educational and social opportunities for children and teenagers.

Today, Hyman Jebb Levy and his beautiful wife Donna are active supporters of Jewish education. Together, they make their presence felt in the community and are dedicated members of Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel. Jebb’s parents worked hard to instill within their children the sacred traditions of the Jewish people, the love of their Sephardic heritage, and the moral and ethic values of Tzedakah, righteous charitable giving. Jebb’s own actions stand as testimony to the wisdom and grace of his parent’s teachings that gives a person a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. It is a lesson to us all on the value of motivating our children to do acts of kindness.

Mr. Larry Clumeck

Larry Clumeck is a founding member of Clumeck Stern Schenkelberg  & Getzoff and has been engaged in public accounting since 1975.

Larry ‘s 25 plus years of experience include specialization in the  areas of estate planning, estate and gift taxation, individual and  business tax planning. His expertise includes accounting, auditing,  consulting services and business management for a widely diversified  group of commercial, service, nonprofit and individual clients.  Larry is also experienced in litigation support services, including  expert witness testimony, court accounting, business valuations,  cash availability analysis and tax analysis regarding structuring  of property settlements. Larry is fluent in French.

Larry received his Bachelor of Science degree from California State  University, Los Angeles in 1979. He received his Masters of Science  degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University in 1989.

Currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public  Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants,  he is a former member of the Taxation Committee and the Financial  Planning Committee of the Los Angeles Chapter of the California  Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Taxation Committee  of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Larry has been a frequent speaker and lecturer on such topics as  estate planning, federal estate and gift taxation, and business  planning before a variety of professional groups and professional  continuing education courses.

He is very active in the community and enjoys working with various  charitable and religious institutions. He is currently the president  of the Los Angeles Sephardic Home for the Aged and former president  of the Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel.

Mr. Max Candiotty

Mr. Julian Aroesty Z’L O.B.M
S.T.A.R. is the answer for every parent that is concernd about their children`s future. S.T.A.R. provides the opportunity for every child to make lasting friendships with others from throughout the Sephardic community. S.T.A.R. is an organization that combines fun and Jewish values that will prove invaluable as each child matures into adulthood.Kosher is not only a word but a way of life. S.T.A.R. is the only organization that has developed programs for children from ages 7 to 18 that teaches them Sephardic traditions,pride and love of Israel.

These a but a few of the many reasons for me wanting to be a part of S.T.A.R. from its beginning. The Board of Directors is composed of some of the true leaders of our community who have pledged their time ,money and effort to make this the finest progam available in our country.

Rabbi Chaim Hisiger
My involvement with STAR is a direct outgrowth of my appreciation of the Sephardic Minhag and culture. As a rabbi and educator I feel we must provide our youth with informal Jewish learning experiences to supplement their Talmud Torah training. STAR also serves as a wonderful vehicle to outreach to those children who are currently not receiving any formal Jewish education. I am so pleased and invigorated by the excitement our activities generate and the positive comments we receive from our participants. I heartily endorse these programs and pray that your children take advantage of these wonderful activities. They will make lifelong friendships which will enhance their Jewish identity and ensure the future of the Jewish People.

David & Raquel Bensimon

Dr. Leon Hasson
My name is Leon Hasson. A little bit about me: I am a pharmacist and own the medical Center Pharmacy in Northridge. I have been a Board Member of Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel for the past 15 years and the President of the Temple during 1999-2001. I have two children, both of whom are schoolteachers. I am privileged to be a new Board Member of S.T.A.R..

I have found S.T.A.R. to be dedicated to the youth in our Jewish community and to embrace all Jewish children regardless of their degree of observance or ethnic background. In this I, too, believe very strongly. With your help and participation, we can bring together tomorrow’s nucleus of leadership for a citywide Sephardic Jewish community.

Mr. Robert Melamed
Mr. Melamed has over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate,  retail business development and ownership. Mr. Melamed began his career overseeing the construction of shopping centers and condominiums throughout Los Angeles and remains extremely proficient in supervising all aspects of construction, including the drawing of plans, site selection, securing financing, negotiating contracts, and leasing.

Mr. Melamed has joined KW Commercial-Brentwood as a director to focus on brokerage of Commercial properties in southern California. Mr. Melamed has also been very involved in Jewish causes . His children were among the very first group of kids who attended the STAR events when it was formed .  He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel in Los Angeles and Sephardic Tradition and Recreation (STAR).

Mr. Eric Wannon

Mr. Kamran Nickfardjam
My name is Kamran Nickfardjam, I was born in Iran and moved to the US in 1979. I own a construction company here in Los Angeles. I have three children, two of which attend college.

I believe that teaching our children the Jewish heritage could help them pass it on to their children. With our community’s help and STAR we can achieve these goals.

Mr. Nisim Levy, Z”L (of blessed memory)