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Meet the Rabbi Search Committee:

Andrew Branz

A member of the congregation for more than 20 years. Andy has served several terms on the congregations Board of Directors, including one as Vice President. Outside of the temple, Andy has previously volunteered in many capacities for the town of Hopkinton, including multiple terms as a member and Chairman of the towns School Committee. Andy practices business law and estate planning in his own law firm. He and his wife, Nancy have two grown children Jeff, 22, and Sarah, 20.

Morton L. Brond

Mort, who joined the congregation in May 2010, previously was affiliated with Congregations Beth El and Bnai Torah in Sudbury, where he lived for 40 years. One of the original members of Congregation Beth El, he was active when the temple first met in a church until it built its own synagogue. During this time, he was a member of the congregations first Rabbi Search Committee. His professional career includes six years with General Electric Company and 39 with Raytheon Company, where he retired in 1999 as Vice-President and Controller for Raytheon Service Company. Mort lives in Southborough, and has twin grandsons who will become Bar Mitzvah on March 9, 2013.

Brenda Coutinho

Brenda is chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Milford Regional Medical Center, and practices general Ob/Gyn in Milford and in Hopkinton. She and her husband, John, have two daughters, Mia, who will become a Bat Mitzvah in May 2011, and Isabelle, in 2014. Brenda and her family have been members of the congregation since 2004. Although Brendas husband is not a Jew, he has been warmly welcomed into the community: John is a member of the Brotherhood, and he serves on the Building Committee. Interfaith marriage and spiritual guidance for families struggling with religious differences are important issues for Brenda. She also strongly values Jewish education for young people as a means of strengthening their Jewish identity and pride. Brenda and her family, along with their beautiful Doberman, Aziza, make their home in Hopkinton.

Amy Drotch

Amy and her husband, Paul, joined the temple in 2002 after moving to Westborough from Pittsburgh. Prior to having a family, Amy earned a Masters degree in Social Work from Boston University and subsequently worked in the field of marketing. She and Paul have three children, ages 12, 10 and 7, who are enrolled in religious school. They look forward to celebrating their oldest daughters Bat Mitzvah in May, 2011.

Margi Eckhouse

Margi, who has been a member since 1997, has served on the board of directors for six years. During this time, she has chaired the Adult Ed and Social Committees, and Yad BYad of which she is one of the originating members. She co-led the Kesher group for new members. In 2000, she was part of a group celebrating adult Bnot Mitzvah. Since then, she chants Torah for the Sisterhood Shabbat service, and sometimes on other occasions. She has been a member of the choir, the Sisterhood, the Empty Nesters, and has been a consistent member of the Saturday morning Torah study group. Married to Charlie Mannila, they live in Grafton.

Michael Federman

A founding member and past-president of the congregation, Mike, who has served on a number of committees, currently is a member of the Empty Nesters group. Active in several Central Mass. professional organizations, he has served as president of the Worcester County Editors Council, Worcester Ad Club, and Central Mass. Public Relations Society. Mike, who lives with in Westborough, was a member of Towns Bicentennial Commission. Now retired, he was a reporter and editor for several trade publications and later public relations director for a national footwear chain. In the mid-1980s, he opened a public relations consulting business. Among his clients were a health care newspaper, several nursing homes, and an international steel machinery manufacturer. Mike and his wife, Toby, have three grown sons, including the oldest, Josef, who lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Carmit, and their three children. His other two sons live in Somerville, MA, and Washington, DC. He is a member of the Jewish War Veterans.

Ron Gilfix

Ron, his wife Susie, and their three children (ages 10, 13, 15) live in Southborough. Active members of the congregation for more than 12 years. Ron is a former member of the board of directors of the Westboro Area JCC (now known as the Boroughs Area JCC), where he also served as treasurer during the move from Main Street to its current location. Formerly involved in Jewish Federation of Central Mass., Ron brings more than two decades of strategic business development and general entrepreneurial experience to the Rabbi Search Committee. From his business background, he is very familiar with the general hiring and search process of finding and vetting qualified candidates; additionally, he has been involved in all aspects of human resources, from hiring, employee training and individual development. Ron volunteers in Boston Universitys Kindle Program where he mentors and consults with professors, students, and alumni in their effort to bring their concepts from the lab toward commercialization.

Jonas Goldenberg, ex-officio

Jonas is an ex-officio member of the Rabbi Search Committee.

He and his wife, Karen Weiner, live in Northborough and have been members of the congregation for 20 years. Jonas, who has been on the Board of Directors for about 15 years, has held many positions on the Board and Executive Committees, including as director of various committees, as Treasurer and Secretary. He currently serves as Immediate Past President. Professionally, Jonas has experience as an Executive Director of a medium-sized non-profit organization, and as an entrepreneur and consulting business owner. He also has a background in executive coaching, business development, management, human resources, and counseling. Jonas and his wife live in Northborough.

Sharon Brown Goldstein

Sharon lives in Hopkinton, and has been a member of Congregation Bnai Shalom since 2004. She is a cantorial soloist and bnai mitzvah tutor at Congregation Bnai Shalom, and the cantorial soloist at Temple Emanuel in Worcester. Sharon began her involvement with this congregation long before becoming a member, teaching music in the lower grades and tutoring Bnai Mitzvah. A cantorial soloist for more than two decades, she has worked closely with multiple rabbis. Her husband, Steven, is active as temple board member and I.T. guy. Her son Evan became a Bar Mitzvah this past fall (2010), and looks forward to continuing his Jewish studies in the CHAI School program next year. Daughter Kaila is excited to have received her 2013 Bat Mitzvah date. Sharon and her family are proud to call this synagogue home.

Jeffrey A. Govendo, co-chair

Jeff, along with Heidi Swanick, is serving as co-chair of the Rabbi Search Committee.

He and his wife, Barbara, have been members of the congregation since the mid-70s when the temple was on Charles Street. Their son Gabe attended Religious School and became Bar Mitzvah in 1991 with Rabbi Hachen. Jeff chaired the Social Action Committee from 2006-2009 when the congregation was involved with a number of key initiatives, including education programs and fundraising campaigns related to Sudan, the Gulf Coast following Katrina, local food drives and re-cycling efforts at the synagogue. He coordinates the semi-annual Red Cross Blood Drive at CBS. In addition, he has been involved with several major strategic planning efforts at CBS, including Projects Joseph and Solomon, which sought to identify temple programs and initiatives of special significance to congregants.

Beth Graubart

Beth, her husband, Glen, and their two children, Rachel and Adam, have been members since 2002. After growing up and attending college in New York, she lived in New Jersey where she developed six patented products for Lehn and Fink. She later stayed at home to take care of her children. Currently, she lives in Hopkinton, where she works as the Pharmacy Manager/Vitamin Specialist at Hopkinton Drug. Beth, who enjoys fitness, running, theater, and the arts, was a key part in the founding and leadership of the Hopkinton Runners Festival this past year. The success of the committee caused the creation of an annual event associated with the Hopkinton and Boston Athletic Associations.

Michael Hyde

Michael and his wife, Joyce Rapaport, joined the temple in 2000 when their oldest son began kindergarten. Their two sons Andrew, 15, and Josh, 13, are Bnai Mitzvah and are actively continuing their religious education with the Confirmation program. Michael, who has attended many adult education classes, has been a regular Saturday morning Torah Study participant for the past year. According to Michael, the value that Judaism places on life-long study and learning was one of the strong influences in my choosing to convert to Judaism in 2008. A former member of the Adult Education Committee, he is a presently a member of the Communications Committee, and has recently joined the Brotherhood. He has been in the software engineering field for more than 30 years, and enjoys helping people with their technology needs and interests. Michael and his family make their home in Westborough.

Ari Lazarine

This committees youngest member, Ari and his family have been members of the temple since 2005 when they moved to Westborough. A student of the temples religious school program, Ari is currently preparing for his Confirmation in June of 2011. As a sophomore at Westborough High School, Ari is extremely involved in the band program, as well as the athletic program.

Bruce Lopatin

Bruce and his wife, Rickey, have been active and involved members of the congregation since 1974, joining right after they moved to Westborough. The Lopatins, both of whom who have served as president of the congregation, have two daughters and three grandsons. Bruce served on the board of directors for more than 20 years, both as an elected officer and as a committee chair. He has chaired the Ritual, Planning and Development, Nominating and Bylaws, and the Community Affairs committees. A past member of the Education, Fundraising and Membership Committees, he served as the Bulletin editor for many years and has been a member of the Ritual Committee since joining the congregation. Very involved with its High Holy Day services, he led Shabbat and High Holy Day services before the congregation had a rabbi or cantor. Outside of the temple, Bruce has been a director of the Westborough Food Pantry since its inception in 1987, and has also served as a Library Trustee for 13 years. He also has been singing in a barbershop chorus for more than 20 years.

Gordon Manning, ex-officio

Gordon is an ex-officio member of the Rabbi Search Committee.

A primary care physician, Gordon lives and works in Westborough, where he and his wife, Karen, have been temple members for 28 years. They have two adult sons, Jeremy (married to Talia), and Josh. A Past President, he served as co-chair of the previous Rabbi Search Committee and chair of Ritual Committee. Currently serving as chair of the Interim Year Committee, he is also active on the Ritual, Finance and Membership Committees. Gordon served on the Northeast Council of the URJ prior to its recent reorganization. He enjoys reading, singing in choir, walking and biking.

Linda Rappaport

Linda and her husband, Stewart, joined Congregation Bnai Shalom in 2003. She has spent more than 20 years in the Human Capital space as a thought leader, COO, and as a consultant to many national healthcare organizations striving for operational excellence, including technology implementation. Linda has spoken at many small business associations, and has led workshops for ASHHRA and Connecticut Healthcare Associations. She continues motivational speaking for the chronically ill, and has a strong background and commitment in the area of Diversity. Linda and Stewart reside in Hudson, and Naples, Florida.

Daniel Schwartz

Daniel has been a member of the congregation since 2008 when he and his family moved to Shrewsbury from Chicago. Daniel, whose parents were founding members of the congregation, was a member as a youngster in the mid-1970s through 1989 when he went away to college. His wife, Kimberly, has been a member of the Early Childhood and School Committees. They have two young children currently attending the school. Daniel is currently a radiologist at the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

Christopher Senie

While Chris, his wife, Kathy, and their three children have been members of Congregation Bnai Shalom for 14 years, Chris recently completed his conversion to Judaism. He has been an active member of the congregations Social Action Committee for many years, and his wife served on the previous Rabbi Search Committee. He and his family live in Westborough where he works as a real estate and zoning attorney with a small practice. He also has served on a number of Westborough town committees including the Housing Partnership, Government Study Committee, Master Plan Advisory Committee, as well as board of directors of the local cable access television station.

Debbi Seri

Debbi lives in Milford with her husband, Ran, and their two young children, Avi, 6, and Talya, 3. She has been teaching in the primary grades in Needham for 17 years. While growing up, temple life was a very important part of her family. Her father was a congregational rabbi, and she was involved with a number of Jewish organizations including her temple, the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY), and Camp Eisner, where she attended for ten years. Having recently joined the temple with her family in the fall of 2010, Debbi is looking forward to having the temple be their new spiritual home for many years to come."

Paul Silverman, ex-officio

Paul is an ex-officio member of the Rabbi Search Committee.

Residents of Shrewsbury, Paul, his wife, Lori, and their family have been members of the congregation since 1996. Since joining, he has served on the board of directors as well as a variety of other committees. His wife is past member of the Board, and former chair of the School Committee. Paul, who has been president of the congregation since July 2009, will be completing his term in May 2012. They have two beautiful daughters: Sarah, who is in her first year of graduate school at Simmons College in Boston, and Julie, who is a junior at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Paul is a high school teacher of mathematics, after a long career in the software development business.

Wendy Starr

Wendy and her family have been members of the temple for 15 years. She has served on the Board of Directors of Congregation Bnai Shalom and as chair of the Personnel Committee. Currently, she is a member of the Personnel Committee. Currently the Director of Human Resources at Mintz Levin, a Boston law firm, she has worked in Human Resources for 24 years. She and her husband, Jeffrey Kessler, live in Westborough, and they have two daughters, ages 19 and 22.

Alisa Stone

Alisa and husband, Jay, live in Westborough with their daughters, Nicole, a college freshman, and Kelsey, a Westborough High School sophomore. They have been members of the congregation since 1998. Nicole, Kelsey and Alisa, as an adult, are Bnot Mitzvah of the congregation, and continue their Judaic studies in Confirmation, post-Confirmation, and Adult learning programs. Alisa, who regularly volunteers with the Sisterhood, Music Committee, and Choir, works at FMG Financial Services, Inc. as Human Resources Account Manager where she provides clients with HR training and coaching. She holds a Bachelors degree of Business Administration from UMass, is a member of the Employers Association of New England, and serves as Secretary of the Metrowest Human Resource Management Association. Alisa enjoys cooking, walking, reading, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.

Heidi R. Swanick, co-chair

Heidi, along with Jeff Govendo, is serving as co-chair of the Rabbi Search Committee.

A member of the temple for almost 15 years, she has been an active volunteer over the past 6 years, having co-chaired the Early Childhood Committee and serving on the board of directors. As co-chair of the Rabbi Search Committee, her role is to direct the traffic; keep track of all of the tasks and details, assist with the communication plan, and help manage expectations and timelines. Her day job as a project manager has provided a lot of experience with similar challenges. Heidi and her husband, Patrick, live in North Grafton with their daughters Emma (9), Sarah (9) and Hannah (11).