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Professional Staff

Professional Staff

Edie Mino, Office Manager

edie@templebethdavid.org

Edie’s family joined the Beth David family in 1969.  She has celebrated many life cycles here with her family and continues to be involved in so many areas of our daily culture.  She started as the Temple Secretary in 2012 and was promoted to Office Manager in 2015.  She has brought a new culture to the Beth David office.

Edie has been instrumental in creating and re-branding Beth David, our website, redesign of our beautiful foyer, and automating our office to function at a new level.  She has a positive outlook and is always looking above and beyond to help strengthen our office, our congregation and is always there when needed.

Brooke Birdsall, Preschool Director

brooke@templebethdavid.org

Brooke knew from an early age that working with toddlers and preschoolers was her passion. Since 2004 she has been working with young children- either teaching gymnastics or in a classroom setting. She earned her BA in Child Development from California State University Long Beach and immediately began working for Temple Beth David Early Childhood Learning Center.

She began her career working in the Pre-K class, where she learned the importance of being prepared socially, emotionally, and academically for Kindergarten.  Brooke was honored to be promoted to Director in 2017 and move into the 3 year old classroom.

Brooke believes that parents and teachers should work as allies to make sure your child reaches their full potential. She embraces the imperative need to create an environment that is filled with age appropriate materials and hands on activities. She encourages children to explore, build social skills, and develop motor skills through a curriculum that is fun and positive.

Elliot Semmelman, Jewish School Director

tbdrschool@templebethdavid.org

Elliot Semmelman was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and recieved a Yeshiva educaton for his primary educatoin before going to UCLA and receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.  He worked over 40 years in the IT industry as a software programmer before taking the position of Director of Education at Beth David.  He is credited, along with others, as creating what is now called “Speed Dating” as part of an Aish Hatorah task force that was asked to find innovative ways for Jewish singles to meet each other.

His hobbies include running, hiking (especially in Yosemite), reading, going to movies and concerts, and the beach.

He resides in Huntington Beach with his wife, Keri Gee, daughter, Aubree, and their dog, Bentley Reese. 

Larry Matalon, B'nei Mitzvah Educator

larrymatalon@netscape.net

Larry’s family joined Beth David in 1995. In 1996, he was asked to start a Saturday morning minyan which continues to this day. In 2000, he was asked to be the B’nei Mitzvah Educator and has prepared hundreds of our members for their ceremonies, including his own three children. Larry works with students for six months, teaching them the Saturday morning prayers, blessings, Torah portion, and Haftarah portion. It brings him great satisfaction to see and hear them lead the morning service after six months of hard work. Larry feels that he is a big part in connecting students to Judaism in their young life.

Jenny Lopez, Temple Secretary

Sheila Romo, Kitchen Supervisor

Eddie Payan, Maintenance Supervisor

Office Hours

MondayClosed
Tuesday – Thursday 9am – 5pm
Friday9am – 4pm
SaturdayClosed
Sunday9am – 12pm (closed during the Summer)