Board Biographies

Dina earned her Master's in psychology from Columbia University and a B.A. from the State University of New York, Purchase College. Her psychology background has helped her prepare for her 23-year career as a financial advisor. As a Senior Vice President at UBS, Dina carefully advises her clients on how to invest. Dina was recently nominated by UBS to appear in Barron's and the San Francisco Business Times as one of the top women financial advisors in her industry.

Adam and his wife, Laura, have two sons, Benjamin, 8, and Joshua, 5. They are thrilled to be back in the San Francisco Bay Area after nearly 9 years on the East Coast in the Philadelphia suburbs. Active members at their synagogue in Penn Valley, Adam served on the synagogue's Buildings and Grounds Committee.

Raised in the East Bay at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, Adam graduated with a BS in Psychology from UC San Diego and Master of Health Adminstration and Master of Science in Gerontology from USC. Shortly after graduation, Adam and laura moved to Philadelphia for Laura to pursue her PhD in Experimental Psychology but they always wished to return to the Bay Area. Several opportunities for Adam finally made this possible and Adam is now the Director of Concierge Services at UCSF Medical Center.

Adam and Laura are committed to the Jewish Community. Both sons attend the Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School and Laura is co-chair of PTBE's Education Committee. Adam looks forward to the opportunity to become more involved with the strategic direction of the PTBE community and meeting the challenges of an aging building.

Nancy Bott
Nancy is a native of the Bay Area and a life-long (aside from one year in Mendocino County) resident of San Mateo. Her parents, who are still active temple members, joined the congregation in its early years. She graduated from Aragon High School and San Francisco State University. She has 2 daughters with her husband, Howard, and 2 grandchildren. Howard's 4 children have provided 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

Nancy's involvement with PTBE has included: chairperson of the religious practices committee, board member 5 terms, treasurer for 2 terms, assorted other committees and projects. Nancy serviced on the National Commission for Religious Living for 8 years, 2 Rabbinic Search Committees and the House Committee for Renovating the Sanctuary.

Lisa Braun lives in Hillsborough with her husband, Detlef, and sons, Josh, 17, and David, 14, and their two dogs, Chase and Misty. She attended Pitzer College and received a BA in mathematics. She currently works part time at Pacific Retirement Plans, the family business founded by her father. She also is presently serving as Co-President of the Parent Association at Mid-Peninsula High School in Menlo Park.

Her family joined PTBE in the early 70s where Lisa became confirmed. Both her boys became a bar mitzvah at PTBE and David had the honor of being Rabbi Eisner’s first bar mitzvah here in July of 2007. She was lucky enough to have participated in Rabbi Eisner’s 2008 trip to Israel and has benefitted both from the friendships she made and from the impact of the experience which has stayed with her. She has been a member of the temple’s fundraising committee for the past few years and looks forward to the opportunity to become more involved with our temple community.

Jill and her husband, Mark, have been members of PTBE since 2006, joining shortly after their marriage in the fall of 2005. Jill grew up in the Bay Area where she was an active member at Temple Sherith Israel in San Francisco . Her involvement began at an early age; participating in choir, youth groups, becoming a Bat Mitzvah and confirmand, going to Israel , and even purchasing merchandise and working in the temple’s Gift Shop. Jill has fond and everlasting memories of numerous summers spent at Camp Swig where her love for Judaism, music and friends grew each year.

Most recently, Jill found enjoyment in helping organize the raffle for the Check into Campaign, participating in BEW events, as well as having served as an active parent representative at Ganon. Jill and Mark found much love and support from PTBE and the Ganon family after the sudden death of their son, Brandon. Since his passing they established the Brandon Brier Play Space Fund.

After college graduation Jill began a career in planning and distribution at Gap Inc. Headquarters. After many years, Jill left and started a new career in Biotechnology and now works at Amgen in So. San Francisco . Mark is a Marketing Executive at a social networking company. In their free time they can be found at Home Depot doing home improvements as they just purchased a new home in Redwood Shores .

Cathy was born and raised in Chicago. After graduation from Washington University in St. Louis, she earned a M.Ed in Child Development and Early Childhood Education from Case Western Reserve Universithy. She married fellow Chicagoan, Tom Brown, and moved to San Francisco, beginning her professional life as a teacher at the Brotherhood Way JCC Preschool.

The family has been members of PTBE for almost fifty years. Bernice was active in Sisterhood and served as president for one year. At present, Bernice helps with the Caring Committee and tutors with the Jewish Coalition program at parkside School. Torah class with Rabbi Eisner and his enthusiastic participants, has been a very meaningful weekly experience for her.

Bill graduated from Harvard Law School in 1978, where he had the good fortune to meet his wife Beth. They were married in the temple's sanctuary in 1979 and moved to California in 1981. Their daughter Laura works in New York and their son Scott recently graduated from USC.

Since moving to California in 1981, Bill has practiced law with Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, first in San Francisco and more recently in Palo Alto. He is the head of the firm's Securities Litigation Practice Group and represents public companies, venture capital investors, and officers and directors in shareholder litigation and SEC enforcement proceedings.

Jill Goldring
Jill was born and raised in Sherman Oaks. She spent many of her youth hours at Temple Adat Ari El in North Hollywood where she became Bat Mitzvah and confirmed. She moved to the Bay Area in 1988 to work for Hewlett-Packard and to be near her fiance, Marc Haugen, who was stationed at Treasure Island with the US Navy. They have three children, Anna, 17, Benjamin, 15, and Elsa, 10. The family has been at PTBE since 1999 and has enjoyed being active members of the community. Jill served on the Religious School Committee for three years and co-chaired the temple fundraiser for two years. She is currently co-chairing the newly formed Green Team.

Jill received her BS from USC and MS from Stanford, both in Industrial Engineering. She worked in engineering project and program management at HP for 10 years and then as an independent consultant for another five years. She currently is focusing on volunteer positions including serving on the Hillsborough Schools Foundation Board, and various committee chairs at Lick-Wilmerding High School and Crystal Springs Uplands School.

Dolores Gould
Originally from upstate New York , Dolores is a Jew by choice. She came to the Bay Area in 1992 and has been a member of PTBE since 1998. With an extensive background in public service she is currently a consultant for the non-profit community. She has served as Director of Programs and Operations for Career Closet, a non-profit organization providing business attire to women in need. She is Chair of the Interfaith Hospitality Network for Peninsula Temple Beth El and an active fundraiser on behalf of PTBE. She is a member at large with the Jewish Community Relations Council and a member of the metro area JCRC Committee, Confronting Poverty. Her volunteer activities include: workshop presenter for Shelter Network and working with HEART (Housing Endowment and Regional Trust) San Mateo . San Mateo County Human Services, Peninsula Works and the San Francisco Airport Youth Employment Program have recognized her work for outstanding service and partnership.

A resident of Foster City , she is married to David Greenseid and has two daughters, Sarah and Alana who are both students at U.C. Davis.

Dick Heiman
A member since 2003, Dick has served as President of the Brotherhood and a member of the Civic Interreligious Committee. He is also member of the Peninsula Jewish Community Relations Council and its Interreligious Committee. Previously, he was a founder and first President of the Columbus Hebrew Congregation in Columbus, Indiana, and Vice President of the Valley Temple in Cincinnati.

His wife, Siva, is active in BEW and temple life. They are fortunate to have their children living in California. Dick's daughter, Laura, lives in San Francisco with her husband. She works in Oakland as a Project Manager with a public policy company.

Dick graduated as a mechanical engineer from Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, and worked as the Chief Engineer of an appliance company in Columbus, Indiana for 12 years. For the 27 years before retiring to San Mateo in 2003, he worked for Campbell Hausfeld, an equipment company in Cincinnati that is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. For the last 16 years there he was President.

Brian Kirshner

Brian and his wife, Judy Thalheimer, became members of PTBE when their son Jeremy enrolled at the Ganon Infant Toddler Center in 1995. Brian was born and grew up on the north side of Chicago as a loyal Cubs fan. He graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Chemical Engineering and obtained an MS in Engineering Management and Operations Research from Stanford University . Brian has held senior level engineering and management positions at several Bay Area companies. He currently holds a senior engineering position at Codexis, Inc.

Their son, Jeremy, 14, is currently in the teen program in Religious School , is a madrich on Sunday mornings and enjoys participating in SMRTY events. Their daughter, Jessica, is a sixth grader at PTBE and we look forward to her becoming a Bat Mitzvah next summer. Judy served on both the Beth El Women and Religious School Boards.

Brian enjoys playing a number of sports. Recently he caught the endurance race bug. He completed several sprint distance triathlons and is training for an Olympic distance event in the fall. He looks forward to serving the temple community at PTBE.

Andrew was born and educated in Canada , including medical school and residency training in Internal Medicine. He moved to the Bay Area in 1978 and became an ER physician at Sequoia Hospital and then did dermatology training. He opened his own medical practice in Mountain View in 1984. He and his wife, Barbara, have two children. William, 23, lives in Manhattan and Chloe, 20, attends University of Oregon.

Peggy and her late husband, Ted, joined PTBE about 50 years ago. There four children went to religious school and were confirmed here. Her daughter, Melanie, is a member and Peggy’s grandson, Nathaniel, became a Bar Mitzvah last June.

Peggy has been involved with social action and community welfare programs for the past twenty-five years. Ted, who was a physician, developed medical programs for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Together they made numerous trips to different parts of the world, including Ethiopia ,

Cuba

, and many countries of the Former Soviet Union. She helped set up and run various programs. Peggy’s main focus was documenting the work photographically and showing the lives of the Jewish people in the many communities in which they live. Her photographic exhibits on Ethiopia and

Russia

traveled around the Us and were shown in Jewish museums, JCCs and synagogues, including PTBE.

Locally, Peggy has been active with Samaritan House for over 20 years. She initiated and has run the Bread Basket program since its inception. She has served on the Board of Samaritan House for many years and on the Board of the Judah Magnes Museum.

Bruce Pasternack
Bruce grew up in Brooklyn, NY and has always been committed to Jewish organizations. He served on the Board of Peninsula Temple Sholom and was President of the Board of the Peninsula Jewish Community Center when it constructed and moved into the Foster City campus. Bruce and his wife, Lynne, were married at PTBE and have just become grandparents to a wonderful little girl who was born last September. As he has more discretionary time these days, Bruce is looking forward to becoming more involved in our Temple and in helping Rabbi Eisner and the rest of the Temple's leadership team in fulfilling their vision.

Bruce grew up in Brooklyn, NY and has always been committed to Jewish organizations. He served on the Board of Peninsula Temple Sholom and was President of the Board of the Peninsula Jewish Community Center when it constructed and moved into the Foster City campus. Bruce and his wife, Lynne, were married at PTBE and have just become grandparents to a wonderful little girl who was born last September. As he has more discretionary time these days, Bruce is looking forward to becoming more involved in our Temple and in helping Rabbi Eisner and the rest of the Temple's leadership team in fulfilling their vision.

Richard A. (Rick) Raybin
Richard A. (Rick) Raybin has been a member of PTBE for over 20 years. Rick has a son, Jason, and 3 daughters. Aleen, Shelby and Haley became B'at Mitzvah at the Temple. During the last several years, Rick has become more involved in Temple life. He has participated in spiritual retreats and has become an active member of the Brotherhood where he has served as Treasurer for the last two years.

Outside of Temple life, Rick is a principal in Lifetime Capital Group, a private wealth management firm. As a former CPA and Chief Financial Officer of a national investment management firm, Rick has a broad range of financial expertise. In years past, he has been involved in other community organizations, such as the Friends of the SF Public Library and the Hillsborough Schools Foundation. When he's not busy at work or helping at the Temple, you can find Rick living in Redwood Shores or playing tennis - have racquet will travel.

Lorna Jan Siepser
Lorna was born in San Francisco and has been a member of Temple Beth El For 50 years. She was active in both Jr. and Sr. NFTY Youth Groups from 7th grade through college. She was on the Board of both PTBE's junior and senior NFTY youth groups, and taught 7th and 8th grades for 9 years. Lorna graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Political Science and Santa Clara University Law School. She had a career in electronic banking law for twenty years.

Lorna was married to Steven Klebe at Temple Beth El in 1983. They have two children, Larisa, 19 and Seth, 16. Lorna developed the Volunteer Music Program for Baywood Elementary School. She has served on the Religious School Board, the Rabbi Search Committee that resulted in hiring Rabbi Lezak, and a three year term on the Board of Trustees. Lorna has been the co-chair of our last two fundraisers, Cirque de Beth El and Dancing with the Starz. She has also been actively involved with Aragon High School, the Peninsula Girls Chorus, and the San Mateo/Foster City Education Foundation Board.

David O. Silber
David, who resides in Foster City with his wife Maryanne, has been a member of PTBE since 1979. His two adult daughters went through Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation at PTBE. He sang in the High Holy Days choir from 1979 through 1998. He has served two previous terms on the PTBE board including chairing the Future Planning, Bylaws, Budget and Finance and Dues committees, and serving on the Executive Committee during both terms. This past year he has coordinated the Brotherhood-sponsored Speaker program. He and Maryanne have been members of PTBE's Maccabbees Havurah for many years. His family belongs to PJCC for whom he served as a pro bono consultant on its launch in the Foster City location.

David grew up in London, England as the son of refugees from Nazi Europe. He holds Law degrees from Oxford University and an MBA from Harvard. Living in the USA since 1966, his business career started in marketing and went on to general management in a broad variety of industries. He has been President/CEO of three different organizations. For the last six years he has been self-employed as an executive coach to the CEOs of small to medium-sized Bay Area companies. David's hobbies include bridge, choral singing, theatre, opera, travel and genealogy.

Faye and her husband, Ron, have been members of PTBE for 13 years. They have a son, Elliott, who is a junior at Stanford University and who became Bar Mitzvah and confirmed at PTBE. Their daughter, Rachel, now a junior in Menlo School, was confirmed last May and joiner her confirmation class on a trip to Israel last summer. Faye previously served as a member of our Religious School Committee.

Faye grew up in Southern California and attended Stanford University (BA Economics) and Harvard Business School (MBA). After several years in management within the banking industry. Faye worked as a strategic marketing consultant to a variety of companies in Northern California. She left the professional business world ten years ago to spend more time with her family and pursue her interests in the not-for-profit arena. Eight years ago Faye created the Common Ground Speaker Series, an organization dedicated to providing high quality professional development and parent education to Peninsula school communities. The organization now serves the faculty and parents of 24 independent schools from Hillsborough to Los Gatos, including three Jewish day schools on the Peninsula.

Phil Strause has 40 years of management consulting experience focused on strategy and business planning, corporate governance, financial management and operations. He was with Deloitte Consulting and its predecessor firms for 39 years, retiring in 2006. He held several senior management positions with the firm including Managing Director of the San Francisco Consulting Practice, global leader of the firm’s Financial Management service line and Practice Director of Deloitte Consulting’s Asia Pacific Africa Financial Institutions Practice based in Hong Kong where he lived from mid 1997-mid 2003. He also led the start up of Deloitte Consulting’s Strategy and Operations Advisory Center in Hyderabad , India .

Phil and his wife, Cindy, have been members of PTBE since moving to San Mateo in 1978. Their 3 children, their spouses and 8 grandchildren live in San Mateo and Foster City.

Phil is active with Federation, serving as Chairman of the Educating and Engaging Commission, a member of the Finance and Administration Committee and a member of the Executive Committee. He is also a member of Federation’s North Peninsula Regional Council. He is on the Boards of the Traveling Jewish Theatre and Saint Francis Medical Center.

Todd Young
Todd has been a PTBE member since 2006 when he and his wife, Catherine, moved to the Bay Area from Northwest Washington State. Todd grew up in North Salem, NY and Manhattan. He graduated from Dartmouth College with a BA in Ecology and obtained his medical degree from New York Medical College. After medical school, Todd explored various medical-related paths including medical device equity research and investor relations for a biotech company and is currently a Senior Scientist in clinical regulatory affairs at Genentech. Todd and Catherine have a 22-month-old son named Sam. Sam attends Ganon, and Catherine is an active parent representative. In her spare time, Catherine is a general pediatrician for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and works in Sunnyvale. Todd loves playing sports and is often at his happiest on a playing field, tennis court, or golf course. He can't wait to take Sam fishing and hiking.

Todd has always been interested in the flexibility of Jewish thinking and the progressive nature of the faith. He enjoys one's ability to continually ask tough questions about existence, God's meanings, and what lies ahead. Todd enjoys the smart, caring, and supportive group of clergy and temple members at PTBE and sees importance in building on PTBE's exceptional programs and infrastructure to further it as a spiritual and cultural center.