Rena was born in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Los Angeles with her family in 1972. When YULA opened its doors in 1979, Rena was in the first 10th grade class. She has very fond memories of both Dr. Bruce Powell and Rabbi Herbert Hexter from those years. After graduating from CSUN, Rena worked in Marketing and in Senior Management support at a bank. She eventually wanted to be on the same schedule as her children at Hillel Hebrew Academy and managed its Early Childhood Office. Today, Rena works in their family real estate business with Jamie and their sons, Etan and Jack.

Jamie is a born and bred Angelino. After attending Hillel, Yavneh, Rambam, Skokie Yeshiva, and Bnei Akiva Hachshara Kibbutz Saad, Jamie graduated from CSUN.  Over his career he has worked in different roles in his family’s businesses. Today he spends his time in the real estate business, but the highlight of his week is teaching the YULA Boy’s Israel Scholars Seminar. For the past 17 years Jamie has spread the ideals of עם ישראל, בארץ ישראל אל פי תורת ישראל to our future leadership. Jamie also teaches a community adult class in Israel History. 

Rena and Jamie met at Camp Moshava Big Bear as teenagers. They have actively been involved in Bnei Akiva for over 40 years. They have served in many different leadership roles over the years and continue to support Bnei Akiva in its Israel Education for our youth. Being involved in Bnei Akiva as teenagers gave them the leadership tools they have used during their adult years serving on the Hillel Board, PTA, Head of School Search Committee, and currently on the Bnei Akiva Parent Board and Executive Board. They have chaired banquets for Hillel Hebrew Academy and have been on dinner and special event committees for Young Israel of Century City and of course, YULA.