Board

The Temple Beth Sholom Board of Trustees Listed in order of office, then in alpha order.

Mike Weinberg
President

Michael is the current president of Temple Beth Sholom. He is a past chair of Philanthropy, the Panim El Panim project, and the Congregational Engagement Committee. He and his wife Chris co-chaired the annual SholomFest fundraiser for two years. Both Mike and Chris grew up in Miami Beach and now live in Bay Harbor Islands with their son Max and their daughters Shay and Zoe. Mike also co-chaired the Congregational Engagement Task Force for Strategic Planning. As a Managing Director with NewEdge Wealth, his area of focus includes investment management, tax-efficient strategies, charitable and philanthropic giving, and wealth strategy.

Julie Basner
Vice President

Julie is co-chair of the Education and Youth Engagement Committee. She has served on the board since 2014. She and her husband, Elliot, live in Miami Beach, and have 3 children, Gavin, Owen and Emme, who all participated in youth programming and education at TBS until they aged out. Julie is the PTSA President at Miami Beach Senior High and is an educator with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. She recently chaired the City of Miami Beach’s Committee for Quality Education (QEC) and served on the Ad Hoc Advisory Charter Review and Revision Board. She also received Temple Beth Sholom’s Kol Hakavod Award for her service since 2008.

Larry Hurwitz
Vice President

Larry is currently co-chair of the Security Committee and previous co-chair of the Gun Violence Prevention task force. Larry and his wife Kathy are regular attendees of Torah study and Saturday minyan. Larry and Kathy have two children and six grandchildren. Larry received his BS degree from the University of Rochester and his MD degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Larry practiced cardiology for 40 years in Pittsburgh. After retiring from clinical practice, Larry became the medical director of National markets for Highmark Blue Cross/ Blue Shield. Larry and Kathy live in Bay Harbor Islands.

Etan Mark
Vice President

Etan is the current Temple Beth Sholom Philanthropy Chair. He is a past chair of the Budget Committee and many of the budget and finance subcommittees. Etan has also served on the Personnel, and Rabbinic Search Committees. He joined the Temple at the urging of his father-in-law Alan Weisberg and his wife Brielle. His children have spent their formative years at the Temple Foundation School. “I am grateful to TBS for continuing to be the bedrock of our Miami Beach Jewish community.”

Suzanne Meltzer
Vice President

Suzanne serves on the Social Justice Network committee and chairs the Ronald MacDonald House and Lotus House service projects. She and her husband Brad have three boys. Suzanne is a past Mitzvah Day co-chair, past Fundraising co-chair, past Education co-chair and has served on various other Temple committees. She regularly volunteers for Voices for Children and the Florida Foster Care Review. She previously worked in human resources in New York City. “Temple Beth Sholom is a special part of our family’s lives and truly our second home.”

Michael Pardo
Vice President

Michael chairs the Building and Grounds Committee and serves on the Budget Committee. He and his wife Caryn live in Miami Beach with their son Jordan. Michael is a real estate attorney with Pardo Gainesburg PL. He is an alumnus of the Foundation School and Shabbat School and became a Bar Mitzvah and confirmand at TBS. He has been to Israel on the Magical Mitzvah Tour and the confirmation trip. “I am proud that I have called Temple Beth Sholom ‘home’ my entire life.”

Jonathan Sepsenwol
Vice President

Jonathan is a member of the Congregational Engagement Committee and the Post B’nei Mitzvah Transition Subcommittee. An active Brotherhood member, he previously served on the SLJ Board of Education. Jonathan, his wife Karen, and their two daughters –Molly and Zoe—have been TBS members since moving to Miami Beach over 13 years ago. Both girls went through Tot Shabbat, Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, and confirmation. Jonathan serves as Executive Vice President of Sales and Operations of Incomm Agent solutions, a financial services organization specializing in payment processing.

Marte Singerman
Vice President

Marte is the Leader of the Kavanah Council. She previously served on the TBS Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2005 as a Vice President and the Secretary. She is the Secretary, chair of the Governance Committee and a Director of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Marte is a certified yoga instructor and a Jewish Mindfulness Meditation teacher. In her prior career, she practiced law in Miami for 15 years.

Andrea Wagner
VIce President

Andrea serves as a co-chair to the Social Justice Network and will be co-chairing SholomFest 2024. She and her husband, Seth Alhadeff, have a daughter at the preschool level and are members of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Andrea earned her bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and her law degree from the University of Miami. She is licensed to practice law in both New York and Florida and practices as an assistant public defender with The Law Offices of Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez.

Glenn Dryfoos
Vice President

Glenn and his wife Adriana live in Miami Beach with their children Louis (20 and an undergraduate at UCLA) and Sabrina (17, a Miami Beach Senior High student and incoming BESHTY Co-President). He was the co-chair of TBS’s 2018 and 2019 Golf Open events and is currently co-chair of the Youth Committee and serving on a special fundraising committee. Glenn is self-employed as a lawyer and consultant, assisting clients with various matters in the entertainment and sports industries as well as general commercial matters.

Tamas Doffek
Treasurer

Tamas is the chair of the Budget Committee where he has been serving since 2018 as well as on the Board of TBS since 2020. In 2015, he and his wife Barbara chose Miami Beach to raise their two kids Aron (BM ‘18) and Zelma (BM ‘20) when they moved here from their native Hungary. He is a venture investor and serial entrepreneur starting and building various tech-enabled businesses both in Central Europe and South Florida while also has been actively launching and supporting several Jewish nonprofits in his native Budapest Jewish community, like the Haver Foundation which he co-founded over 20 years ago. Both Barbara and Tamas value the open and welcoming community of TBS, which already gave them and their kids a lot of new friends and a place of belonging.

Bobbi Ann Ossip
Secretary

Bobbi is chair of the BAKIM and the High Holy Days Honors Committees. She regularly chants Haftarah at the Saturday morning minyan and serves the Friday night Oneg and Saturday morning Kiddush. A member of the choir and several other committees, Bobbi was Sisterhood treasurer for many years and currently is a reading pal to elementary school children. She is a professor emerita at Miami Dade College.

Vanessa Ressler
Immediate Past President

Vanessa Ressler, Immediate Past President, is ready to take on this next phase of leadership and is endlessly grateful for the opportunity she has had to work with such talented staff, clergy, and lay leaders. She is the newly appointed Board Chair of Jewish Community Services and will chair the TBS Nominating Committee for the next two years. She recently directed, choreographed, and participated alongside her hubby and 2 of her 3 daughters in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - our first community production in over 20 years! Past chair/co-chairing roles include SholomFest 2022, Membership & Engagement, Leadership Development, two Executive Director Search Committees, and the Senior Rabbinic Search, and she is the founding director of the Sholom Rockers Choir. She is a proud Jew-by-Choice, Wexner Heritage Alum, and a marketer-turned-Music-Together-teacher. “My heart is in building a strong foundation for my daughters in this beautiful community.”

Board of Trustees

Jerri Bassuk

Jerri was bat mitzvahed, confirmed and married at Temple Beth Sholom, which has always been a special place for her family. She and her husband, Larry, are the proud parents of George and Jordan. Their boys went to TBSIS nursery school, and they love coming back each week for Jlab. Jerri and Larry Co-Chaired the Circle of Giving Sustainers Sukkah Event, served on the Generations Host Committee, and Chaired Sholomfest 2020. Jerri has been a member of the Florida Bar since 2007. After serving as a Miami-Dade Prosecutor, she went on to practice Real Estate Law. Jerri currently serves on the Mayor’s 41st Street Blue Ribbon Committee, the Temple Beth Sholom Gift Acceptance Committee, and she recently accepted a position on the Executive Board at North Beach Elementary School, in addition to other volunteer positions.

Michael Berman

Michael and his wife, Melinda, live in Miami Beach from October to May.  Michael regularly attends Shabbat morning Torah study, and minyan services as well as Friday night services (on-line during COVID). During the summer, they live in Newton, MA, near their two adult children and 3 granddaughters. Michael served as a founding leader of the TBS Council to Enhance Spirituality, a co-chair of a Rabbi Search Committee and served on a Nominating Committee.   Michael had been active for 25 years in his congregation in Sudbury, MA, serving for a decade on the board and as president and co-chair of the Rabbinic Search Committee. After practicing law, he founded a national finance business specializing in affordable and workforce housing. He is active in national housing policy and serves as CEO of M&T Realty Capital.

Eric Broad

Eric Broad is a lifelong member of TBS, since “mommy & me” classes in 1983. He is a member of the Brotherhood Committee, a past Brotherhood president, sits on the building committee and is a co-chair of the Security Committee. Eric considers the Temple a second home. He and his wife Jaqui were married at the Temple in 2017. Eric is a third-generation temple member. His grandmother Helen Kotler was the Temple’s first female president. “It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of my grandmother Helen, my aunt Sharlane (Packar) and my father Howard (Broad) by being on the Board of Trustees and giving back to TBS.

Lauren Cantor

Lauren is the co-chair of the TBS Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and is an active member of the Social Justice Network. She also sits on the Board of the North Beach Elementary School PTA and is a member of the City of Miami Beach’s Quality Education Committee. Lauren lives in Miami Beach with her husband, Lorne, and her two children, Noah and Chloe. The TBS clergy officiated at Noah’s bris and Chloe’s baby naming and both kids spent their formative years enrolled in the TBS parent-child program and are graduates of the Foundation School and are both currently enrolled in jLAB. Lauren is a private practice attorney who focuses on corporate work. She graduated from the University of Florida and The NYU School of Law. Lauren is honored to be a part of the TBS Board.

José Benrey

Jose has been married for 42 years to his wife Oleva, and they have 2 children; Andrew and Jennifer, both 33 years old. Andrew lives in Albuquerque, NM, with his wife Jean and their children Natalia, 3 years old, and Jonas, 4 weeks old. Jennifer is an Ordained Cantor, and she and her wife, Maira, are moving to Tucson, AZ, where Jennifer will be the new Senior Cantor at Temple Kol Ami effective 7/1/24. Jose is Co-Chairman of the Security Committee and a member of the Budget Committee and the Building Committee. He was a past vice president for several years and now serves as an at-large Board of Trustees member. He retired from the Miami-Dade Police Department in 2015 after 28 years of service.

Glenn Dryfoos

Glenn and his wife Adriana live in Miami Beach with their children Louis (17 and a senior at Miami Beach Senior High) and Sabrina (14 and a freshman at MBSH). He was the co-chair of TBS’s 2018 and 2019 Golf Open events and is currently co-chair of the Youth Committee and chair of a subcommittee evaluating the Temple’s dues structure and other revenue issues. Glenn is the EVP-Business Affairs for Univision Communications. 

Judith Greene

Judith co-chairs the Inclusion Committee and serves on the Gary Glickstein Foundation. She has served on the Rabbinical Search Committee, Congregational Engagement Committee, and Social Justice Network. She and her wife, Lisa, have teenage twins who have been involved with the temple since preschool. Judith is an attorney with a practice focusing on business transactions and litigation. She is also an arbitrator and serves on the commercial panel, the consumer panel, and the large, complex commercial disputes panel of the American Arbitration Association.

Amy Handlin

Amy moved to Florida from New Jersey, where she chaired her region’s Jewish Community Relations Council, served on the board of the Jewish Federation, and was active at various points in NCJW Hadassah and AIPAC. She was a professor of marketing for 27 years; and simultaneously, served as a deputy mayor, county commissioner, and state legislator. One of her most memorable experiences was a legislative mission to Israel, which enabled her to benefit from in-depth dialogue with political leaders and members of the Knesset. At TBS, she has served on the Membership and Engagement Committee; belonged to two Panim groups, has studied with all the rabbis in multiple classes, regularly attends Torah study, and was a member of the “Tuesday Morning Buchers.” Amy also co-chairs a new committee called “Purple,” which aims to help bring us together across political and/or ideological divides.

Debbie Hirschl

Debbie has been an active member of TBS for over thirty years. With Andy, they raised their children, Heidi and Aaron, who equally appreciate being a part of this community. Debbie has chaired numerous fundraising events (WESTWARD CHAI, CHAI SEA ROLLERS and Honorary dinners for special members), Mitzvah Day projects, become an Adult B’nai Mitzvah, traveled to Israel on a TBS bus for a Federation Mission, chaired Cantor Segal’s installation as well as a yearlong multi-event farewell celebration honoring Rabbi and Joanie Glickstein (SHALOM RAV.) This year, along with Andy, Aaron and his wife Alissa, the Hirschls are chairing a GENERATIONS SHABBAT to show appreciation for long time TBS members. Continuity and dedication to the future of her beloved Temple Beth Sholom inspired Debbie to become a member of the TBS Board.

Diane Katzen

Diane serves on the Personnel Committee, is has served on numerous temple committees. Diane is a proud adult bat mitzvah through Rabbi Pomerantz’ s class. She and her husband, Bruce, have two grown daughters, Brynn, who works for Facebook in San Francisco, and Alli, a litigation lawyer, who will be practicing in Miami. The family has joyfully celebrated their daughters’ various life cycles at the Temple as part of the temple family. A former classical pianist, Diane has practiced law for over 35 years and currently practices employment and complex business litigation with Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen, and Levine, PL. “Now more than ever, I am proud to be a dedicated and committed part of the TBS community.”

Shelby Kempler

Shelby and her husband, Ari have three children, Chloe, Asher, and Jordyn. Shelby founded the Blue Card Fund Mitzvah Day project. She is the Mitzvah Day co-chair for 2025. She has been a Jlab committee partner and a part of the Sholomfest committee for several years. She is a member of the Israel Pillar Committee (IPC) and is the liaison for the Innovative School and Jlab. With a background in education, she has helped the TBS pre-school in many different capacities. Outside of the temple, her involvement includes becoming a Docent for the Holocaust Memorial, bringing teens of all faith to volunteer at the Memorial, working to bring holocaust and antisemitism education to the public schools, AIPAC, The Blue Card Fund, and the PTA at the Miami Beach public schools. All three children and her husband are also very active in the temple and community.

Michael Levinson

Michael is co-chair of the Personnel Committee and a member of the Budget and Living Wage Committees. He and his wife, Jessica, have two children. Michael has used his skills as an attorney, physician, and tactician as a past chair of the School Board. “I believe Reform synagogues should be progressive, inclusive, compassionate, and engaging. That is why my family joined Temple Beth Sholom.”

Helena Kristol

Bio coming soon

Amy Ostroff

Amy is a life-long South Florida resident. She and her husband, Eric have three children, Daniella, Tyler, and Kylie. Amy and Eric recently co-chaired the TBS annual fundraiser, Sholomfest 2020. Amy is also co-chairing Mitzvah Day 2021. Amy has been President of the TBS PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) for the past two years and will continue in that role for the upcoming school year. She chairs the TBS Infant/Foundation-Level sub-committee for the board’s education committee. Amy also plays an active role in the PTA at North Beach Elementary where her daughter attends. She worked in MDCPS for 14 years as a Speech Pathologist, and has since opened her own speech therapy practice. TBS has a wonderful sense of community and she is very happy to be a part of it. 

Richard Russ

Richard has been a member of Temple Beth Sholom for over 75 years and is following his father, Norman, and his brother, Denis, as a Board Member.  Richard lives on Miami Beach and is married to Gina for almost 49 years.  Gina’s grandparents were founding members of TBS, and their daughter, Brooke, son-in-law, Chad, and their grandchildren, Ethan and Merritt, are also part of the TBS family.  Richard was consecrated, Bar Mitzvah, confirmed, married by TBS clergy, and on Yom Kippur in 1980, announced the birth of Brooke from the bimah. Ethan and Merritt are 5th-generation TBS members.  Richard is now retired, but during his career, was an entrepreneur and business owner.  He has been actively involved on various TBS committees and non-profit organizations to help at-risk children.

Michael Pardo

Michael chairs the Building and Grounds Committee and serves on the Budget Committee. He and his wife Caryn live in Miami Beach with their son Jordan. Michael is a real estate attorney with Pardo Gainesburg PL. He is an alumnus of the Foundation School and Shabbat School and became a Bar Mitzvah and confirmand at TBS. He has been to Israel on the Magical Mitzvah Tour and the confirmation trip. “I am proud to call Temple Beth Sholom ‘home’ for my entire life.”

Rachel Samek

Rachel is a co-chair of the jLAB committee. She is a co-founder of the ongoing Blessings in a Backpack direct service project of the Social Justice Network and is a prior co-chair of Mitzvah Day, where she continues to lead Mitzvah Day projects. Rachel and her husband Josh have a son Jeremy, who is an active participant in jLAB.  Rachel is a collaborative family lawyer and family mediator. Rachel is honored to be a part of the TBS board and family, and values the open and welcoming community of TBS.

Sarah Schor
Vice President

Originally from Arizona, Sarah moved to Miami from Chicago, where she had met her husband, Lee. Together they began engagement with the temple through enrollment in Shalom Baby. During this experience she immediately felt connected to the community at Temple Beth Sholom. Her daughter, Sasha, was enrolled in its Infant program and continues today as a Foundation level student. Sarah stays involved with the temple through participation in Sisterhood, Panim el Panim, and has served as co-President of the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) at the Innovative School for the past two years. In her time at Arizona State University, Sarah was involved in AIPAC, Birthright, Hillel, and post-graduation served on the Board of Hillel for the ASU chapter, inspired by her grandfather's national work with the AJC as well as Hillel. She works as the VP of Sales for an e-Learning company where she has been leading teams for over 11 years. The TBS community has been a loving, supporting and welcoming "home away from home" for Sarah and that continues to drive her ongoing passion to give back.

 

Ashley Weissman

Ashley is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan, where she majored in Psychology. She also obtained Masters’ Degrees in Social Work and Child Development from Loyola University and The Erikson Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Ashley says, "Temple Beth Sholom has been like a second home to our family since my husband, Stu, and I moved to Miami in 2008." All three of their children attended school at TBS and Ashley worked as a preschool teacher at TBS for ten years. She was also the inaugural director of the infant center. I have served in numerous capacities, including Mitzvah Day Co-Chair and jLAB Co-Chair. In addition to my work with Temple Beth Sholom, she am active with the North Beach Elementary School PTA. Ashley is looking forward to continuing to give back to TBS in this newly elected role as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Phyllis Winston

Phyllis has been Co-President of the Sisterhood with her daughter Kim Haber, for the past three years. She has been involved with Temple Beth Sholom for a number of years as a member of the Congregational Engagement Committee, Co-chairman of the New Member Welcoming Committee, and Co-chairman of the project "New To You" clothing drive as part of the Mitzvah Day for over 10 years. She also celebrated her Bat Mitzvah with Rabbi Davis' teachings before watching her grandchildren, Melanie and Matthew, have their B'Mitzvahs at the temple. She and Marty(z"l) have been members for over 15 years, enjoying Friday night Shabbat Services and Saturday Morning Torah Study. “Temple Beth Sholom has become our second home.”

Sisterhood

Kim Haber | Co-President

Kim was introduced to Temple Beth Sholom through her husband, Dan, who grew up and had his Bar Mitzvah with Rabbi Kronish. They have been members for over 25 years and raised both their children, Melanie and Matthew, at the Temple. Along with her mother, Phyllis Winston, Kim has been selected as Co-President of the Sisterhood. She has also been Co-chairman of the “New To You” clothing drive as part of Mitzvah Day for a number of years. “I am always comforted and inspired when I walk through the front doors of the Temple. There is always something interesting to see or learn.”

Mihaela Gutman | Co-President

Mihaela is grateful for the opportunity to serve as co-president for the Sisterhood alongside Kim Haber. Mihaela is a dedicated and constant presence at the Friday services, as well as the Saturday Torah study and minyan. Along with her husband Jorge, Mihaela co-chaired the recent golf event, demonstrating her commitment to community activities. Notably, she was part of the last Bnei Mitzvah class led by Cantor Lisa Segal, marking and incredible spiritual milestone in her journey. She calls TBSMB her spiritual home, a place where she finds comfort, stability, community and joy.

Josh Laurence | Co-President

A Miami Beach native, Josh has been a member of Temple Beth Sholom since 1984, when his parents Claudia and Peter joined the community. His Jewish journey has seen him through consecration, becoming a Bar Mitzvah, and confirmation, leading him to become a full-time Jewish professional and lay leader. Currently, Josh serves as the Co-President of the Brotherhood is a member of the Leadership Development Committee, and is a regular at Tot Shabbat. His wife, Selma, teaches kindergarten at the Innovative School, where their daughters, Zoe and Maya, have also begun their Jewish journeys as learners. When he’s not chasing after Zoe and Maya, Josh is the Chief Growth Officer of Accessible Home Health Care, a concierge home healthcare agency providing medical and non-medical in-home care across South Florida.

Joseph Pardo | Co-President

Brotherhood

BESHTY

Sabrina Dryfoos | Co- President
Charlie Reiss | Co- President

Past Presidents

Ron Albert Jr.

Prior to serving as TBS president, Ron served as chair of the Budget Committee for many years. He is also a past president of the Rabbi Gary Glickstein Foundation. Ron and his wife, Cyndy, have two children – Erin and Jason – who grew up at TBS. His grandparents were among the founding members of TBS, and his grandfather also served as TBS president. A graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Michigan Law School, Ron is a corporate attorney with a practice focused on business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions. Ron currently serves the community as a member of the Orange Bowl Committee.

Marjorie Baron

Marjorie, a former TBS President, has served in a broad-spectrum including budget, endowment, legal counsel, building campaigns, school, education, child care, and strategic planning. She is a member of the North American Board of URJ, and serves as chair of the URJ Committee on Endowments and Trusts. Her two sons, Daniel and David Garcia-Pedrosa, grew up participating in the Temple’s religious, education, and social programs. The family’s commitment to Israel was born through travel with the clergy. Her husband, Michael Spritzer, complements her work through his involvement on a national level with URJ and HUC. “Sharing each life cycle event is made more memorable here.”

Charles Citrin

Charles chaired the Temple’s Burn the Mortgage campaign. He and his wife, Deborah, have three adult children—Michelle Beth, Ethan Abraham, and Hannah Kathleen—all of whom, including Deborah as an adult, became b’nei mitzvah at TBS. Charles currently serves on the Miami Beach Committee of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and AIPAC. He founded and served as treasurer of NACPAC, a pro-Israel action committee. Charles graduated with honors from the University of Miami and was a Root Tilden Scholar for his NYU law degree. He is president of Citrin Financial and Insurance and a partner in Citrin & Walker law firm.

Michael Dribin

Michael served as president of the Rabbi Leon Kronish Foundation after his tenure as Temple president. He and his wife Lori have two adult sons—Sam and Aaron—who grew up at the Temple. Michael is an estate and trust attorney with Harper Meyer Hagen O’Connor Albert & Dribin LLP.

Jeff Graff

Jeff served as Temple President from 2018-2020, and has held other board positions, including Treasurer and chairman of the Budget Committee, as well as serving on numerous other committees and task forces. Prior to joining the temple as Executive Director, Jeff worked as a real estate developer, an auditor, and a commercial lender. Jeff and his family joined the temple more than 15 years ago. He and his wife Leslie have two adult daughters, Erica and Brittany, who grew up at the temple and became b’nei mitzvah and confirmands. A native Floridian, Jeff is a graduate of Miami Beach Senior High, received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and earned a Master’s degree in accounting from Florida International University.

Shelley Nicely Groff

Shelley has led many committees at TBS in addition to serving as president. She is deeply involved in the Reform Movement, currently the Chair of the North American Board of the Union for Reform Judaism. Prior to serving as Chair, she was Lay Leader for Youth and on several committees and Task Forces, including chair of the Ethics Accountability Task Force. She is on the Board of Women of Reform Judaism, and the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Locally, Shelley is active in the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and on the Jewish Community Relations Council. She is a past chair of Jewish Community Services of South Florida. She and her husband, Jon, have two adult children and two grandchildren.

Robert Hertzberg

Robert is chair of the Rabbinic Emeritus Committee. He and his wife, Jill, have three adult children—Jerri (Larry), Danny (Amanda), and Hillary—and two grandchildren—George and Jordan. He is an AV rated attorney. Robert is president of Sunset Islands 1 & 2 Homeowner’s Association and serves on the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Board of Directors.

Andrew Hirschl

Andy co-chaired the Rabbinic Search Committee. He and his wife Debbie have two adult children—Aaron (Alissa) and Heidi (Ryan Orley). “Temple Beth Sholom has always been a Jewish home that was inviting and inclusive to us and our family.”

Jack Karson

Jack is the current President of the Gary Glickstein Foundation at Temple Beth Sholom. He and his wife Arden have three children—Jared, Micah, and Lily. Jack is president and owner of South Beach Veterinary Solutions and Vet Vacation CE. He manages businesses and real estate properties. He is past president and mentor of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Miami. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama.

Nancy Ratzan

Nancy co-chaired the installation of Rabbi Gayle Pomerantz as Senior Rabbi. She and her husband, Kenny, share a “big tent” family of six children and six grandchildren. She is a past National president of the National Council of Jewish Women and currently serves as the vice- chair of the national governing board of Common Cause. Within URJ, she is on the leadership team of RAC-FL. “My Jewish soul inspires me to pursue Tikkun Olam through advocacy and social action.”

Karen Rivo

Karen, President from 2016 – 2018, has been a member of TBS since 1995. She and Marc raised their two daughters, Jessica and Julie, to embrace their Jewish traditions and to love and support Israel. Karen is a member of the North American Board (NAB) of the Union for Reform Judaism where she serves as chair of the URJ Israel Leadership Network. She is also a board member of the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies based in Jerusalem. Closer to home, she chairs the G.O. Bond Oversight Committee for the City of Miami Beach. In 2018, after over 20 trips to Israel, Karen and Marc experienced the unique joy of making Aliyah. As Israeli American citizens, they feel grateful to live in, love, support and strengthen these two vital countries.

Peter Russin

Peter has served as president, vice president, chair of the Personnel Committee, and a member of the Budget Committee in his 20+ years on the Board. He and Andi have three adult boys—Jacob, Noah, and Asher—who were TBS b’nei mitzvah. Peter, a TBS bar mitzvah and Andi, an adult bat mitzvah, were married by now Rabbi Emeritus Gary Glickstein. A graduate of Tulane University and George Washington University Law School, Peter was co-founder and shareholder of Meland, Russin & Budwick. Peter is now a United States Bankruptcy Judge having been appointed on August 14, 2020.

Stevan Pardo

Stevan was Temple Beth Sholom’s 34th president. His parents, Joe and Doris, were married by Rabbi Leon Kronish, the first TBS Senior Rabbi. He and Adrienne have three children—Daniel, Carly and Josh—who, as well as Stevan and his three siblings, Michele, Alissa and Jeff, all celebrated their b’nei mitzvah and confirmations at Temple Beth Sholom. Stevan chaired the Sanctuary/Social Hall Construction Project and with Adrienne, co-chaired the Temple’s 70th anniversary celebration. Stevan chaired the Philanthropy Committee, Legacy Campaign and Personnel Committee for several years,served as a TBS Vice President, and was a member of the Senior Rabbi Search Committee and Strategic Planning Committee.

He and his family have been on the Magical Mitzvah tour twice. Stevan is honored to be TBS President and says, “Temple Beth Sholom is our family’s spiritual home.”