Leadership Coordinating Council

The Leadership Coordinating Council (LCC) was created in 2020 under revised Temple Bylaws. It is composed of representatives of Brotherhood, Beth El Women, and all committees and task forces from across the Temple community. Below is a list of current representatives. LCC meets 3-4 times each year, joined by a clergy representative, the executive director, and one or more Board officers. The Council forms an important conduit for dialogue, information, and exchange of best practices to ensure that our policies, investments, and activities best align with our needs. For additional information, reach out to Marla Becker, Chair of the Council.

Mission Statement:

To advance the shared Jewish values and goals of the Peninsula Temple Beth El community through coordinated activity and transparent communication among the Affinity Groups, committees, task forces, lay leadership, clergy, and staff.

Vision:

The members of the Leadership Coordinating Council will build on the existing strengths of the PTBE community by engaging in open, constructive interaction.

• We will create opportunities for Participants to educate, inform and support each other regarding activities and matters of common interest.

• We will respect the distinctive functions of the LCC members, and while the LCC is neither a policy making body nor does it have oversight responsibility over the any of the respective Participants, we will make a constructive contribution to the policy making process in our congregation.

• We will promote and encourage meaningful collaboration among the LCC members.

• We will engage in thoughtful and respectful communications and messaging among each other and with the congregation.

Our work will result in a more active and engaged community.

Current Membership:

Marla and her husband, Daniel, and their children, Lucas (24) and Ellis (20), joined PTBE in 2009. Marla is a co-founder of Rodfei Tzedek and continues to serve on the leadership team, and began BE Mitzvah tutoring at PTBE in 2017. Marla and her family participated in the Gesher Family Education program, and her kids subsequently participated in a variety of PTBE’s educational programs, including Rishonim, BE Mitzvah, Confirmation, and the Tikkun Fellowship. Marla joined the PTBE Board of Trustees in 2023.

Marla has worked in the field of Public Health for over 30 years. She is the founder of the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, and works as an Independent Nonprofit Consultant. Marla also serves on the board of Health Connected, a local sexual health education nonprofit, and volunteers with Second Harvest. She earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from UCLA, and a Bachelor’s Degree in English and General Literature from Binghamton University in New York.

Michael relocated to San Francisco from New York in the late 70’s. Engaged in the construction industry as a commercial general contractor all his working life he retired in February 2023. Michael served on the PTBE Board of Trustees from 2002-2007 (three years as treasurer, as well as stints as chair of the security and buildings and grounds committees). More recently, Michael co-chaired the Temples Design & Construction Committee, which shepherded the $9M renovation, was a member of the Senior Rabbi Search Committee, and co-chaired the Associate Rabbi Search Committee. He presently co-chairs the Development Committee.

Michael’s past and present Jewish Community Agency roles (and secular non-profits too) include Board, Board Officer, Committee, and advisory positions with The Jewish Home of SF, Jewish Senior Living Group, TKCJL, Moldow Family Residences, Kehillah Jewish High School, SFJCF, Camp Newman, NPJCC, NP Chabad, Ronald C. Wornick School, Coastal Repertory Theatre, and Crystal Springs Uplands School.

Since 2000, Michael and his wife Martha have lived in Half Moon Bay. Their two children, Sarah and Hannah, presently live on the east coast, in New York City and Washington D.C., respectively.

Eliot has lived in California all his life. Eliot and his wife joined PTBE after moving to the Peninsula in 1994. They raised two children. Both children became a Bar/Bat Mitzvah at PTBE and attended classes through Confirmation. In Eliot’s free time he enjoys traveling, spending time with his kids, family, and friends, and making and teaching others how to braid challah.

Eliot received his undergraduate degree in Economics from UCLA, an MBA from San Francisco State University, and has a Certified Treasury Professional certification. Eliot has worked at Stanford University for over 23 years and is currently the Assistant Treasurer for Debt Management. Prior to working at Stanford, he worked in accounting and finance for a major retailer, a large real estate developer, and URJ Camp Swig.

Michael joined PTBE in 2019. A Bay Area native, Michael grew up in Marin and has family and friend connections at many local synagogues. Professionally, Michael has worked in technology sales and marketing for much of the past four decades.

Jewishly, MIchael has served as an educator and music specialist at several local synagogues, including the Wednesday Night Program at PTBE. Michael joined the PTBE Brotherhood when he joined PTBE. Michael now serves as president of the Brotherhood. Michael looks forward to engaging the men of PTBE in meaningful ways.

In addition to his PTBE responsibilities, Michael serves on the Jewish life committee of the Peninsula JCC.

Hillary joined PTBE in 2015 with her husband (Pete) and two children (Shayna and Noah). Hillary became involved with Sunday Sandwich Hevre (SSH) during Covid. She enjoyed making meals at home with her family and loved how SSH offered a meaningful way to stay connected and give back. Hillary started co-leading SSH with Deena Bertolina in January 2023 and is passionate about making meals with our awesome PTBE community and feeding our neighbors in need.

Hillary is a Southern California native and has called the Bay Area home since 2000. She studied at UC Santa Cruz and after graduating spent a year teaching and providing community service in Israel on Project Otzma. Hillary leaned into her Jewish identity in Israel and worked for Hillel at UC Santa Cruz upon her return. Hillary's professional focus has been environmental education. Hillary was the Director of Volunteers for Environmental Volunteers, a nonprofit based in Palo Alto providing natural science education and field trips to schools in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. In 2008, Hillary founded Wonderbug Adventures and began offering hands-on natural science exploration to toddlers and their families in San Francisco and Burlingame. During Covid, Hillary stopped teaching and now spends her time volunteering, hiking with her dog, learning with her Rosh Chodesh group and playing pickleball.

Nancy's family joined PTBE in the early 1950's. Growing up in San Mateo, some of her earliest memories are from when PTBE was located where Carey School is now.

She joined PTBE as an adult in 1983 and her two daughters were confirmed here. She subsequently became an Adult BE Mitzvah in 88. Nancy served 5 terms on the Board of Directors, a number of years as Treasurer of the congregation and chaired the then Religious Practices Committee.

Nancy's professional life included 9 years with Gymboree Corporation before starting her own Medical Billing and Bookkeeping Business which she ran for 21 years until her retirement in 2013. Nancy lives with her husband, Howard. Their 2 daughters have provided them with 4 grandchildren. Besides spending time with her family, Nancy loves hiking and spending time at their family cabin in the Sierras.

Nancy is currently on the Rodfei Tzedek Leadership team along with Marla Becker, Max Oestreich, Jessica Rosenberg, Nancy Schneider, Rebecca Schwartz and Rabbi Rebecca. This is not just a committee, this is a PTBE-wide movement. Come join us! Website: https://www.ptbe.org/rodfei-tzedek

Sherry grew up in New Jersey. After graduating from SUNY Stony Brook with a BA in Economics, she worked for ten years as a bond broker on Wall Street. Then she happily relocated to the Bay Area after meeting her husband Brian on a Jewish singles ski trip in Big Sky, Montana. Sherry currently works as a Clinical Research Coordinator, conducting Clinical Trials for Allergy and Asthma drugs.

Sherry’s sons, Josh, Adam, and Jonah, all became bar mitzvah at PTBE. Sherry has been a parent and supporter of the Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School, as well as a previous board member at PTBE. Sherry is also a proud co-chair on the planning committee of the North Peninsula Yom HaShoah annual commemoration. Passionate about building and nurturing community, Sherry is honored and excited to co-chair the Engagement Committee with Jessica Rosenberg.

David grew up in Dallas, Texas, and moved from Texas to the Bay Area in 1976. He initially attended the University of Texas in Austin, but earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in political science from San Francisco State University in 1978 and 1980, respectively. He made his career as a software engineer, retiring in 2021.

David and wife Theresa met in San Francisco and were married in 1985. They moved from San Francisco to San Mateo in 1992 following the birth of their son Wesley, and joined PTBE in 1994, enrolling him in the pre-K Sunday school. Wesley became a Bar Mitzvah in 2004. David served a 3-year term on the Religious School Board with Rabbi Lezak in the early 2000’s. He joined the Interfaith Friendship Committee in 2022. With IFC, David has helped organize various events with our partner congregations, including inviting guests for our holiday celebrations at PTBE, for special interfaith Movie & Midrash events, and events in our currently ongoing “12 Months By The Bay” program.

David still lives in San Mateo, and loves hiking, reading, and movies.

Steve grew up in Montville, New Jersey and became bar mitzvah at the Pine Brook Jewish Center. He attended a Jewish summer camp in Pennsylvania and participated in a seven-week Jewish teen leadership program in Israel. The trip included three weeks of living and working on Kibbutz Or HaNer, travelling throughout the country for three more weeks, and finally one week of educational training in Tel Aviv. Steve attended the University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate degree, worked in lingerie manufacturing in Hong Kong, and then graduated from Harvard Business School before moving to the Bay Area. Steve is an owner of San Francisco Soup Company and Ladle & Leaf restaurants. Currently, he is also on the board of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association and the California Restaurant Association. You can find his matzoh ball soup at Mollie Stone’s and Piazza’s.

Steve is married to Erica Park, who is a clinical scientist at Genentech, and has four children — Sam, 21, who became bar mitzvah at PTBE in 2016 and attends Rice University; Zachary and Jacob, 19, who became b’nai mitzvah in 2018 and attend Rice University and Brandeis respectively; and Eliana, 17, who became bat mitzvah in 2020 and attends Design Tech High School. Steve enjoys skiing with the kids in the winter, playing tennis with them in the summer and, of course, cooking with/for them all year.

Originally from San Carlos, Alissa grew up and became bat mitzvah at PTBE, and she and her husband Michael Feeney became members in 2017. They live in San Mateo with their three daughters, Ambrocia, Michaela, and Cordelia, who participate in PTBE’s education programs. Alissa enjoys meeting and connecting with PTBE families, and she joined the Education Committee in 2024 to work with others on increasing engagement and strengthening community.

Since 2003, Alissa has taught English and reading intervention at Sequoia High School, where she has also held various leadership positions. Additionally, she has been a part-time lecturer in Notre Dame de Namur’s teacher credential program since 2018. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from UCLA and a master’s degree in education from Stanford University.

Judy joined PTBE with her husband Brian soon after their infant son began attending Ganon. Their children, Jeremy and Jessica, grew up at PTBE in the education program, later becoming B’nai Mitzvot and then Madrichim during their High School years. Judy served on the Education Committee and has held various BEW leadership positions including President. She believes that her involvement in various volunteer roles has enriched her experiences and connections within the PTBE community.

Judy is currently co-chair of the North Peninsula Yom HaShoah Commemoration Planning Committee. Professionally, she worked in the Jewish Community for over 18 years. She is currently in a finance role at Peninsula School in Menlo Park.

Judy looks forward to working alongside the newly emerging BEW Leadership Team to engage PTBE women in a variety of programs and to foster meaningful connections with one other.
Website: https://www.ptbe.org/community-beth-el-women