Chani Levertov

Chani Levertov is the Co-Director of Smile On Seniors of Arizona, which she leads together with her husband, Rabbi Levi Levertov.

Smile On Seniors is the foremost organization providing social, educational and pastoral services to the Jewish senior population in Arizona, fostering community, connection and meaningful engagement for older adults throughout the Greater Phoenix area.

Through Smile On Seniors, Chani works closely with seniors, families, volunteers and community partners, helping to develop programs and opportunities that create meaningful relationships and a strong sense of belonging for older adults.

Together with Levi, she has helped grow Smile On Seniors into a broad network of programs and relationships reaching hundreds of older adults and dozens of retirement communities throughout the Phoenix area.

Chani is also the founder and director of Fruitful, an organization she established to provide peer support and community for individuals navigating infertility. What began as a resource for friends and community members has grown, together with a dedicated team, to support more than 170 individuals through their infertility journeys.

Born and raised in Binghamton, New York, Chani studied in Pennsylvania, New York and Israel. Her community work and internships have also taken her to Canada, Germany and communities throughout the United States.

Chani and Levi live in Phoenix with their three children.

Rabbi Levi Levertov

Rabbi Levi Levertov is the Co-Director of Smile On Seniors of Arizona, which he leads together with his wife, Chani.

Smile On Seniors is the foremost organization providing social, educational and pastoral services to the Jewish senior population in Arizona, fostering community, connection and meaningful engagement for older adults throughout the Greater Phoenix area.

Through Smile On Seniors, Rabbi Levi works closely with seniors, families, volunteers and senior living communities across the Valley. What began as an effort to connect with and support local seniors has grown into a broad network of programs and relationships reaching hundreds of older adults and dozens of retirement communities throughout the Phoenix area.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Rabbi Levi studied in New York, Argentina and Toronto, where he received his rabbinical ordination. His rabbinic training and community work have also taken him to Colombia, Russia, Canada and communities throughout the United States.

In addition to his work with Smile On Seniors, Rabbi Levi serves as a Rabbi with Chabad of Arizona and as a Chaplain with the Phoenix Police Department. He is a member of the Phoenix Police Chief’s Jewish Advisory Board and Governor Katie Hobbs’ Advisory Council on Jewish American Affairs, and also serves as Clergy on Call with Hospice of the Valley.

Rabbi Levi and Chani live in Phoenix with their three children.

Dr. Moshe Engel

Dr. Engel grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana, as the son of former Hillel director Rabbi Gedalyah Engel. His career path began in engineering at Purdue University, where a co-op with Bechtel led to a position with the company.

After several years, he decided to pursue medicine, gaining hands-on experience as an emergency medical technician, orthopedic technician, ski patrol member, and search-and-rescue volunteer at Yosemite National Park.

Dr. Engel returned to Indiana for medical school, completing his first two years at the IU School of Medicine’s West Lafayette campus. He later moved to Arizona, where he works as an emergency room physician at Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital in Nogales, serving the U.S.-Mexico border community.

He and his wife, Halya, have three adult children.

Rabbi Zalman Levertov

Rabbi Zalman Levertov and his wife, Tzipi, arrived in Arizona in 1977 as the first Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries in the state. Beginning as a two-person team, they dedicated themselves to strengthening Jewish life and connecting Jews of all backgrounds with their heritage and community.

Under Rabbi Levertov’s leadership, Chabad of Arizona grew from a single center into a statewide network of more than 25 locations. Over the decades, the Levertovs helped establish programs serving people at every stage of life and inspired the next generation of their family to continue that work.

Rabbi Zalman and Tzipi have seven children, many of whom serve Arizona communities through Chabad centers and social-service programs, including Smile On Seniors, Friendship Circle, Jewish Care Network, and others.

Leslie Levy

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Leslie Levy holds a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from NYU. Throughout her vibrant 30-year career, she has dedicated herself to assisting seniors in their homes and educating future occupational therapists in academia.

It was during a travel occupational therapy assignment in Phoenix in 1999 that Leslie met her husband, Brad. They married the following year and made Arizona their home.

Leslie’s passion for serving others led her to become involved with Smile On Seniors, an organization dedicated to helping Jewish seniors live their best lives.

In addition to her work with SOS, Leslie actively rescues dogs and supports nature conservation efforts.

Leslie and her husband also established Brad’s Kitchen and Mobile Pizza, a catering service specializing in serving Arizona’s kosher communities. As members of Chabad of Phoenix, Leslie and Brad are grateful for the strong friendships they have cultivated.

Pinki and Issy Lifshitz

Pinki and Issy Lifshitz emigrated from South Africa in 1980 with their three sons, Wayne, Jonathan, and Bryan. They settled in Irvine, California, where they lived for 33 years. From their very first day, Chabad of Irvine welcomed them with open arms, and they quickly became active participants in the community.

In 2013, Pinki and Issy moved to Phoenix to be closer to two of their sons, their wives, and five of their eight grandchildren. There, they discovered Chabad of Arizona and met the Levertov family. They soon became involved in a variety of programs and found a particular passion for Smile On Seniors.

They wholeheartedly embraced SOS, becoming active participants and helping the organization grow. Their enthusiasm and commitment have only deepened as they have watched Smile On Seniors develop into the community it is today.

For Pinki and Issy, SOS has become an extended family. They have formed wonderful friendships with others who share their commitment to the organization and its community.

In 2009, Issy became involved with The Piggyback Rider, a child carrier developed and designed by their sons, and retired from the business in 2020. Pinki retired from hospice work and now dedicates her time to various Smile On Seniors programs.

Dale Sachs

Dale Sachs has been a proud member of the Arizona community since 1987, when she relocated from Westport, Connecticut. Alongside her late husband, Nate, she devoted more than 35 years to enriching the Jewish community through board service and advocacy.

In her professional life, Dale co-founded a life insurance business that is now owned by her son, Ian.

Her greatest joy is her family, including four sons, three daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren.

A passionate supporter of Smile On Seniors, Dale has served on the Executive Committee since its founding, supporting a cause she deeply believes in.

Benita Sonabend

Benita Sonabend, originally from Philadelphia, moved to Phoenix in August 1994 from Los Angeles with her husband, Isy, and their two children, Jessica and Adam.

Benita was inspired to volunteer with Smile On Seniors because of the wonderful support volunteers brought to her mother, Sylvia, who lived at the Galilee Pavilion in Levittown, Pennsylvania.

Her involvement with SOS has included visiting seniors, filling in at Tea and Talk, assisting Chani in the Chabad kitchen, and hosting cooking demonstrations in her own home. Through these experiences, Benita has found meaningful ways to serve and connect with others.

Serving on the SOS Executive Committee has been one of the most rewarding parts of her involvement with the organization.

Benita and Isy are active members of both Chabad of Phoenix and Congregation Beth Tefillah.

Donna Troisi

Donna Troisi began her career with Merrill Lynch, where she earned her Series 7 and Series 63 licenses, before realizing that her true interests lay elsewhere. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, she and her husband, Rudy, moved to Scottsdale, where Donna earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Arizona State University.

Donna began working in the Scottsdale Public Schools before discovering her calling in Jewish education. Her career included serving as Director of Education at Har Zion Congregation (now Congregation Or Tzion), Interim Head of School at King David, founding and serving as Head of School of the East Valley JCC Day School, and later serving as Principal at King David.

In 2003, Donna joined her family’s business, Reliable Background Screening. Throughout the years, she has remained deeply involved in the Greater Phoenix Jewish community. Her volunteer leadership has included service with the Women’s Philanthropy Board of the Jewish Federation, the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School Board, Congregation Or Chadash (now Congregation Or Tzion), and the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival Board.

Donna met Rabbi Levi and Chani Levertov in 2013 and has been an active Smile On Seniors volunteer ever since. She also dedicates many hours to tutoring B’nai Mitzvah students and helping young people remain connected to Judaism.

For Donna, her work with young people and seniors shares an important purpose: creating connections to Jewish faith, history and community. She is passionate about the way Smile On Seniors brings Judaism, friendship and a sense of belonging into the lives of seniors throughout the community.

Susan Levy

Bio coming soon.

Lori Nissan

Lori Nissan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and serves as Family & Community Services Director at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Banner Sun Health Research Institute. She has more than 20 years of experience in leadership and clinical roles, serving patients and families coping with emotional, cognitive and behavioral challenges.

Lori is a distinguished speaker who provides training and education to professionals, patients and caregivers on topics related to memory changes, movement disorders and behavioral health.

She also serves as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation and is involved with the Arizona Dementia Caregiver Alliance and the End of Life Care Partnership.

In 2018, Lori was awarded a Practice Change Leaders in Aging and Health Fellowship.

Elana Storch

Elana Storch has been an active part of the Phoenix Jewish community since moving to Arizona with her husband, Daniel, and their family in 1991. With a lifelong love of Jewish hospitality, cooking, and bringing people together around the Shabbat table, Elana has helped foster Jewish community and connection throughout the Valley.

Elana brings that same warmth and culinary experience to Smile On Seniors, where she volunteers alongside Chani Levertov, helping prepare Shabbat dinners and other special programs.

Known for her welcoming spirit and practical approach to Jewish cooking, Elana believes that preparing food for others is an extension of how she lives her life—helping people feel at home, connected, and cared for.

Dr. Roy Yaari

Dr. Roy Yaari is Associate Vice President, Medical, Neurodegeneration – Alzheimer’s at Eli Lilly and Company, where he helps advance Alzheimer’s disease research and clinical studies.

Prior to joining Lilly, Dr. Yaari served as a neurologist and director of the outpatient Memory Clinic at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix, where he diagnosed and treated individuals with dementia and participated in numerous clinical trials.

Dr. Yaari earned his degree in neuropsychology from UCLA and completed his neurology residency and fellowship in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia at UC San Diego.

Michelle Lifshitz

Bio coming soon.

Carrie Lifshitz

Bio coming soon.