About Democrats for Israel - Los Angeles

Founded in 1990 to serve as a bridge between the Democratic Party and the Jewish/Pro-Israel community. Democrats for Israel Los Angeles has two missions -- fighting antisemitism in our party and in society at-large and supporting Israel in any way that we can. DFI-Los Angeles puts on a variety of educational and cultural events each year, some aimed at teaching a new generation of activists about the evils of antisemitism, and other events about current developments in Israel. Above all, Democrats for Israel Los Angeles spreads the word about the rich, multi-ethnic history of the world’s only Jewish country.

We engage in local and state politics, supporting elected officials and candidates who have demonstrated support for Israel, and who speak out consistently against Antisemitism and hate of all types. Democrats for Israel Los Angeles has cultivated relationships of solidarity with many of the organizations who represent different parts of the diverse communities found here in Los Angeles.

Additionally, there are many volunteer opportunities for those who want to stand up for Israel, and who want to join in the fight against hate and Anti-Semitism.

Democrats for Israel Los Angeles uses dues money to:

• Promote pro-Israel candidates with a record of fighting antisemitism
• Building coalitions with likeminded organizations
• Paying for DFI-LA's minimal operating expenses
• Organize our annual Garden Party and our nearly annual Hanukkah party

Democrats for Israel - Los Angeles Executive Board Members 2024-2025

Gregg Solkovits - President

  Gregg is a 35+ year LAUSD high school Social Studies, Journalism and English teacher, and a former Secondary Vice President for United Teachers Los Angeles. He is an activist within the California Federation of Teachers and the California Teachers Association, having worked on many committees for both of the statewide teachers unions. With a deep rooted passion for environmentalism, Solkovits is also the past editor of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club’s Southern Sierran newspaper, which he headed for 10+ years. Currently is serving his third term as a California Democratic Party delegate from the 45th Assembly District. He also serves as a member of the Executive Board of Valley Grassroots Democrats, and is a member of the North Valley Democratic Club.

Michelle Elmer – Vice President for Politics and Candidate Outreach

  Michelle has been the Vice President of Democrats for Israel L.A. since 2017. She has been involved in the Democratic party for over the past decade, starting in college and in Young Democrats organizations - including a stint as the chair of the Young Democrats of America Jewish Caucus. Currently, she is also an elected assembly district representative to the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and a state delegate to the California Democratic Party. In addition, she serves as the L.A./Ventura County regional Vice President for Democrats for Israel California.

Jay Greenstein - Administrative Vice President

  Jay returned to the DFI-LA board in 2023 after a hiatus of over twenty years. He was among the group of activists that helped spin off DFI-LA as a grassroots pro-Israel Democratic Club back in 1991. He served as a club Vice President for six years before serving as DFI-LA President from 1997-1999. For 24 years, he served on the staff for three elected officials in four different public offices. Previous to that, he served on the staff of the American Jewish Committee and for twelve candidate and statewide initiative political campaigns. In the 90s, Greenstein served on the executive board of the California Democratic Party and as a long-time member of the County Democratic Central Committee where he co-chaired two of their standing committees. He looks forward to helping reinvigorate the club for future generations.

Leeor Alpern – Past President

   Leeor has over twenty years of public affairs, government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, community relations and strategic communications experience experience. He serves as Director of Local Government Relations for UCLA. Prior to that he served as Senior Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs for World Energy and led engagement with local, state and federal legislative and regulatory agencies and policymakers. Leeor previously handled government and community relations shaping air quality, transportation and clean energy policies at regional government agencies and worked at an international clean transportation non-profit as well as policy consulting firms. Leeor is a recognized leader and supporter of various community and non-profit organizations.

Mihran Kalaydjian - Chair of Education and Civic Engagement

  Mihran is the vice president of Strategy for Aerospace Global Services, providing strategic planning and support to Government and Commercial Services businesses focused around supply chain, digital aviation & analytics, training & professional services; and engineering, modification & maintenance capabilities across McKinsey & Boeing Global Services. Mihran is responsible for the development and implementation of the function’s strategy and planning activities including alignment to Boeing enterprise strategy, benchmarking, and positioning Boeing Global Services for growth. Mihran is a prolific writer with articles frequently appearing on citywatchla.com and publishedreporter.com.

Debbie Paperman - Social Media

   Public Affairs and government relations consultant. Works with nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. Debbie has a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Miami.

Colleen Schwab - Community Outreach

  Social Studies and Spanish teacher for over 35 years with a history of active leadership within UTLA. Colleen worked on the airlifts out of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, which led her to becoming an educator. Schwab is President of her synagogue and a student of Hebrew.

Janet Lucar - Education and Political Outreach

  A career teacher ranging from elementary school to adult school, Janet is a life member of UTLA and sits on the UTLA Steering Committee. Previously served as a delegate at multiple NEA conventions, and currently is on the board of CalRTA.

David Alpern - Digital Content

  David has a black belt in digital advertising and has contributed to interactive strategies at both entrepreneurial and big brands like Mazda, Skechers, Yokohama Tires, Fox, Experian, Public Storage and more. He has an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business and a BA from the University of California, San Diego.

Paul Kujawsky - Past President; Current Board Parliamentarian

  Paul is a former president of DFI-LA, who rejoined our executive board in 2024 having first joined the organization in 1992.

Jason Levine

  Jason works in real estate property management, with a focus on financial analysis, sustainability and capital project management and implementation, energy and water efficiency, and budgeting. MS focused in sustainable systems from University of Michigan. Jason is also a long-time activist with the Jewish National Fund (JNF).

Sherwin Shamoeil

  Sherwin works as a political field representative in the office of Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur focused on political field operations, activism, grassroots organizing, public speaking, and management. Earned his Bachelor of Science with a focus in Applied Economics, Business & Society from University of Oregon.

Dan Witzling

  Dan serves as vice president at Elevate Public Affairs where he delivers high impact outcomes for partners by leveraging strategic planning, targeted communications tactics, diversity and equity initiatives, and inclusive engagement practices. Dan has more than twenty years of experience in public affairs and community service leadership roles including Los Angeles area executive director for American Cancer Society. Prior leadership roles involved communications and fundraising for BREATHE Southern California, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cerrell Associates Inc., and The Jewish Federation. Additional community and public health leadership roles include American Legion Hollywood Post 43, San Gabriel Valley Health Consortium, and Edison International’s CAP Program.

Nitzan Harel (former Board Member)

 Creative director at Beyond the Box, from where she also continues to serve as the creative force for DFI-LA.

Ex Officio Members

Howard Welinsky

  Howard was an active participant when AIPAC first created DFI and then played a leadership role when we broke off from AIPAC and became an independent chartered Democratic Club in 1991, becoming the organization's first President. His achievements within the Democratic Party and within the Jewish and pro-Israel community are endless.

Andrew Lachman

  Andrew is a Past President of DFI-LA and Current President (and Founder) of Democrats for Israel – California. He has been a Democratic party leader in Los Angeles for over 13 years and an activist for over 20 years for improved education, stronger communities, civil rights, investment in the arts and a strong tech/entertainment community. He is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US and CIPP/G) and is licensed to practice law in California and the District of Columbia serving as a technology licensing attorney for companies such as Move.com and Paramount Pictures. He has also worked in government, serving on the Advisory Board of the Congressional Internet Caucus and as the Committee staff-person to the Joint Committee on the Arts for the California Legislature for State Senator Curren Price.

Sunny Zia

  Sunny is serving her third term on the Long Beach Community College District board, having been elected Trustee for Area 3 in April of 2014. Upon securing this post, she became the first Jewish-Iranian American woman to assume elected public office in California. As a first-generation Iranian American, the importance of hard work and education in achieving the American Dream have been paramount in her life. Zia was the only female and the first to graduate from her class of Civil Engineering with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tehran. She later graduated with honors and received a Master of Science from University of California, Irvine in Civil Engineering. She has over two decades of experience in Construction, Environmental, Water and Infrastructure projects.