PTBE Past Presidents Photo wall
Jack Orenstein
1951-1952
Harold Shanzer
1954-1955
Philip S. Friedenthal
1957-1959
Robert M. Blatteis
1960-1962
Myron Wacholder
1964-1966.
Theodore B. Kramer
1968-1970
Zara C. Jaffee
1972-1974
Zara served as the first woman president of PTBE and the second female temple president nationally. Zara also served as PTBE Sisterhood president, as president of the Western Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, and Senior Friendship Club. Her focus as president was to develop a sense of community and have our membership become a temple family in every sense of the word.
Tom Lowenstein
1976-1978
Joyce Share
1980-1982
The second female president of PTBE. Joyce expertly and graciously led the congregation to a transformational economic base that was supportive of vibrant and motivational leadership. It set the stage for PTBE to become the thriving congregation that it is today.
Ira Berk
1984-1985
Ira developed a comprehensive standard operating procedure manual that became a working reference for all board meetings and governance in the future of PTBE. He also expanded the temple gift shop by relocating it from an external building to a central location within the temple, which increased visibility and accessibility.
Arthur Inerfield
1987-1989
Neal R. Winchell
1990-1992
Neal’s leadership focused on communication and ritual life. He acted as a champion of long-range planning. Neal ;ed a search that enabled the community to engage Rabbi Allen Berg. Under his leadership, renovations to the temple building began.
David Finkelstein
1994-1996
A skilled negotiator who helped acquire property, integrate cemetery funds into the budget, and build the youth lounge.
Beth Labson Freeman
1998-2000
Beth’s leadership oversaw the renovation of the Sanctuary from the Promise of the Rainbow campaign. Beth also participated in the search committee that helped to bring Rabbi Dennis Eisner to the community as the 4th Senior Rabbi.
Michael Prozan
2002-2004
A second generation family member to serve on the PTBE Board of Trustees, Mike created the educator position that matured into a third rabbi model. Engaged Rabbi Karen Citrin. Kept the temple financially stable during the tumultuous “dot com” period of the Bay Area.
Norm Weil
2006-2008
Conducted a rabbinical search and hired Rabbi Eisner. Began upgrades to PTBE’s building. We sold property back in order to purchase a number of cemetery plots for the temple endowment. We also established the groundwork for what became the capital campaign, Bonim B’Yachad.
Lorna Siepser
2010-2012
Raised at PTBE, Lorna has been a leader at all levels of service. Lorna is proud of the inclusive board she built that represented the diversity of the PTBE community. She inspired change around the culture of philanthropy as she led the Capital Campaign Bonim b’Yachad, which updated Fellowship Hall, the foyer, gift shop, Fireside Room, Education Wing and parking lot. Her daughter Larissa was married to her husband on the same PTBE Bimah on which her parents were married.
Jill Goldring
2014-2016
Known for her warmth and diplomacy, Jill co-chaired many Bonim B’Yachad fundraising events and excelled at nurturing major donor relationships.
Jeff Hyman
2018-2020
Worked on a complete governance redesign which reshaped the size, composition and function of the board, including the adoption of new bylaws. Jeff hired Kate Lauzar as the Executive Director of PTBE. Jeff also led the initial reaction to the Covid-19 epidemic, including the closing of Temple in early March 2020, forming the covid Reopening Task Force and making the decision to permanently cease operation of the Ganon preschool and using the space for a rental agreement.
Roxanne Cohen
2022-2024
Modeled “sacred partnership” leadership among Rabbi Lisa Kingston, Kate Lazar and lay leadership. Fostered a culture of belonging as a way to return to campus in the period after the Covid-19 Pandemic. Hired PTBE’s first membership engagement and development director, Monica Boardman, who launched the signature PTBE Circles initiative. Visioned a relational approach to philanthropy as she reimagined the Chai Giving annual campaign. Also highlighted the importance of Donor Recognition through the prominently placed Tree of Life installation and Bonim B’Yachad recognition plaques.
Harry Geballe
1952-1954.
Willard Feldscher
1955-1957
Dr. James D. Jacoby
1959-1960.
Joshua Jaffe
1962-1964
Charles C. Gensler
1966-1968.
Milton Bronstein
1970-1972
Edward Austin
1974-1976.
Richard S. Lenat
1978-1980
The youngest president elected for PTBE. He continued the work of his predecessor, Zara Jaffe on establishing a Chavurah program. He also tended to our divided community through a challenging question of when and how to update our worship music through a potential cantorial transition.
Diane Marcus
1982-1984
Diane’s strategic vision advanced fundraising and clergy transitions. In 1985, Diane solidified a relationship with Skylawn Memorial Park to create PTBE’s Gan HaZikaron burial area. This project both provided a way for members to remember their loved ones and created an additional revenue source from plot sales. Diane maintained strong relationships with the URJ and other partner organizations.
Susan Folkman
1985-1987
Credits the success of her Board of Trustees to true collaboration. Susan’s work included a dues restructure known as the “Fair Share Dues Model.” Materials developed for this program were adopted by the UAHC as their North American congregational dues plan called MUM. During Susan's presidency, PTBE became vibrant, stable and an important leader in the larger Jewish community.
Larry J. Strauss
1989-1990
William L. Schwartz
1992-1994
Robert G. Serbin
1996-1998
Bob has shared that being president of PTBE was one of the most meaningful things he had done in his lifetime. During his tenure he and the Board established the policy that the proceeds of sales of Gan Hazikaron plots would go directly into the Endowment Fund. Also the Promise of the Rainbow Capital Campaign was established to remodel the sanctuary and Fellowship Hall.
Jay B. Strauss
2000-2002
Jay energized PTBE community engagement. He created fundraising events to secure financial stability. Adapting to modern times, Jay launched the electronic version of The Kolenu, our temple newsletter.
Laurie May
2004-2006
Engaged in a Cantorial Search that brought Elana Jagoda to PTBE. Laurie additionally formed a new membership committee. She strengthened ties to the PJCC by developing an introductory program that proved successful in increasing visibility and membership for PTBE.
Bill Freeman
2008-2010
Bill’s leadership focused on the revisioning of bylaws. A lawyer by trade, he negotiated multiple clergy agreements and managed a complex rabbinic transition.
Phil Strause
2012-2014
Phil strengthened the congregation through careful planning and finance. He hired a new team of three assistant rabbis including Rabbi Lisa Kingston. Phil helped to shape the 2012 Strategic Plan, and created new endowment policies.
Lawrence Siegel
2016-2018
Led with strategy and insight, guiding Bonim fundraising and long-term planning with analytical precision.
Roger Feigelson
2020-2022
Guided the congregation through COVID, strengthened community ties, secured new tenants for our Education Wing, and led key clergy transitions from Rabbi Eisner to engaging an Interim Rabbi with vision and care.
Scott Hartley
2024-2026