Jonathan Klein, Co-President

Jonathan and his wife Amy Schottenfels joined TBZ about 5 years ago and quickly became Saturday morning regulars.  Jonathan was co-facilitator of his Me’ah class, and has been a Board Member for the past two years.  Most recently, he chaired the Board’s Growth Committee, which recently presented a comprehensive set of recommendations for TBZ’s future. In his day job, Jonathan is a founding principal of Klein Hornig LLP, a small law firm with offices in Boston and Washington, DC which specializes in affordable housing and community development law.

Fran Adams, Co-President

Fran Adams has been engaged in a lifetime of active Jewish involvement, including four years studying in Israel. A member of TBZ for ten years, her contributions include serving as chair of Inreach, of the Membership Committee & of the TBZ@10 event; as a member of the Adult Education Committee & the subcommittee creating the TBZ mission statement.

As an arts therapist Fran trained to connect to people beyond the verbal level. In her former work as a theatrical stage manager & Producing Director she enjoyed pulling a team together. A strong Labour-Zionist youth group background contributes to Fran’s committment to broad participation, deep social engagement, and shared meaningful experience as community builders. She brings to her role at TBZ “ruach” best expressed through song and dance. Fran is the mother of three grown daughters.

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1st Vice President, Marga Biller

After many years of trying to find a the right synagogue for their family, Marga, her husband Jeffrey Rosenberg and daughter Mia decided to join TBZ . The welcoming, joyful spirit of TBZ that encouraged a diverse group of people to recognize what they share in common and appreciate their differences and in so doing, become a carrying community moved them to become members four years ago. Through TBZ, they have met families who are searching for a meaningful way to live their judaism. This reminded Marga of the jewish community in El Salvador where she grew up. As a member of the community Marga has been involved in different activities including Co-Chair of the Yeladim committee, a member of the Bnei Mitzvah group, participant in the Adult Bnei Mitzvah class and a member of the TBZ Board of Directors. Marga is the founding partner of LINC Associates a management consulting company that focuses on helping organizations manage change and develop the leadership skills of their employees.

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Larry Kraus, Chairperson, Board of Directors

Larry Kraus and his family have been members of TBZ since 2002. Larry has been a member of the Board for since 2003, and was chosen to serve as Chairman of the Board for the 2005-2007 term. Larry is an an attorney practicing with the firm Foley & Lardner, LLP. He lives in West Roxbury with his wife Sara Smolover, and his kids - Aaron (age 10), Micah (age 7), and Adina (age 3).

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Reggie Silberberg, Vice-Chairperson, Board of Directors

Reggie writes: "I have been a member of TBZ since Yom Kippur of 1999. Prior to joining TBZ, I belonged to the Harvard University Community Minyan led by Rabbi Gold, and attended the minyan occasionally on Shabbat but always for High Holiday services. Basically I was a three-day-a-year Jew, celebrating Shabbat in the home on Friday nights with other families, and sending my son to Harvard Hillel Children's School which has since evolved into Eitz Chayyim in Cambridge. After Rabbi Gold retired I began a search for a shul with ruach and yiddishkeit and attended a Shilchot service where Reb Moshe was one of the participating Rabbis leading the service. Not only did I find ruach and yiddishkeit, I found humor and TBZ, Reb Moshe's synagogue, which became my spiritual home. After that fateful Yom Kippur, having been deeply touched by services, I joined TBZ and returned to Judaism with quiet enthusiasm and an overflowing opened heart. About six months later, I became active in the TBZ community and attended shul regularly on both Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. And I still do!"

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Bob Perlman, Executive Director

Bob has been Executive Director at TBZ for the past 3 years. Prior to that, Bob practiced law in Boston for over 30 years. He also served as a lay leader at two Newton synagogues as well the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston. Bob hails originally from Brookline, where his family attended the then-newly-organized Temple Beth Zion in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s before moving to Newton. He and his wife Lesley have two grown children.

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Jeralyn Elowitz, Administrative Assistant

Jeralyn came to TBZ in the summer of 2004. Outside of TBZ, she continues to provide her professional organizing and interior decoration services to her clients. Jeralyn and her husband David live in Newton and have three sons, two of which are in college and one at the Gann Academy High School.

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Edward S. Kleiman, Bookkeeper

Ed is the principal of ESP Small Business Support. His background includes ownership of a manufacturing company, synagogue administration, and tax preparation. In addition to his business and accounting experience Ed holds a BA in Philosophy from Tufts University and two Masters in Education. Ed and his wife Nancy raised two sons in Newton. They now reside in a restored mill in Dedham.

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