Brandeis Magazine

This summer, cantor Matt Axelrod became executive director of the Cantors Assembly, the world’s largest organization of professional cantors. Previously, he spent 33 years serving as cantor at Congregation Beth Israel, a Conservative synagogue in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Jorge Chacin has completed a seven-song EP. After 11 years at United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Aimee Close is working at Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools, fostering greater collaboration among Boston-area Jewish day schools. Beth Gates is associate director of U.S. medical affairs operations at pharmaceutical company Eisai, in its Nutley, New Jersey, office. Sandi Lieb has retired after 28 years at Accenture, a company specializing in IT services and consulting. She is looking forward to spending time with her newborn granddaughter, volunteering in the community, and singing with various choruses. Alan Packer, P’26, is a senior scientist at the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, which funds autism research. Daughter Aparna ’26 is a student at Brandeis. Richard Rosenzweig is senior vice president, corporate development; general counsel; and secretary at Dentsply Sirona, a dental equipment manufacturer. Rhona Silverbush is celebrating the publication of three more picture books — “School!” “Haircut!” and “Grocery Store!” — in the “Terrific Toddlers” series, which she co-authors with Carol Zeavin. The new books join six previously published “Terrific Toddlers” books. Hildy Silverman is senior digital marketing manager at Oticon Medical. Fans of her work as a fiction writer can keep up with the latest news at hildysilverman.com. Todd Soloway was named a 2022 Crain’s New York Business Notable Leader in Real Estate, his second year in a row on the list. Todd is a partner at law firm Pryor Cashman, where he co-chairs the litigation group, and heads the hotel/hospitality and real estate litigation practices. Rabbi Wendy Ungar was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity by the Jewish Theological Seminary.

A SUNNY ALOHA: In February, a group of alumni met in Honolulu to talk about their shared Brandeis experiences at an event organized by Mimi Lind ’88; Inna Kraner ’10; and Alumni Association board member Helen Stewart, GSAS PhD’80. Guests came from across the island of Oahu; one even journeyed from Kauai. More meetups on other Hawaiian islands are being planned.