Board of Trustees
| Officer | Name | Email Address |
| President | Jeff Golden | president@templebethdavid.org |
| VP of Operations | Steve Kahn | operations@templebethdavid.org |
| VP of Ways & Means | Debbie Lelchuk | waysandmeans@templebethdavid.org |
| VP of Ways & Means | Gayle Chait | waysandmeans@templebethdavid.org |
| VP of Finance | Richard Ruby | finance@templebethdavid.org |
| VP of Membership | Joseph Truscello | membership@templebethdavid.org |
| VP of Education | Andrew Cohen | education@templebethdavid.org |
| VP of Planning & Development | Aaron Kern | planninganddevelopment@templebethdavid.org |
| VP of Religious Practices | Rick Blumenthal | religiouspractices@templebethdavid.org |
| Treasurer | Marc Serlin | treasurer@templebethdavid.org |
| Secretary | Diane Prince | secretary@templebethdavid.org |
| Past President | Charlie Niederman | pastpresident@templebethdavid.org |
| Trustee | Name | Email Address |
| Adult Education | Garry Plotkin | adulteducation@templebethdavid.org |
| Building & Grounds | Max Sudakow | buildingandgrounds@templebethdavid.org |
| Program Trustee | Eric Schiffer | program@templebethdavid.org |
| Publicity | Jackie Caplan Wiggins | publicity@templebethdavid.org |
| Social Action | Matt Paretsky | socialaction@templebethdavid.org |
| Youth Activities | Terry Krieger | youthactivities@templebethdavid.org |
| Organization | Name | Email Address |
| Brotherhood President | Jeff LeBoff | brotherhood@templebethdavid.org |
| Choir President | Florence Sudakow | choir@templebethdavid.org |
| Sisterhood President | Ruth Kramer | sisterhood@templebethdavid.org |
Board Member Bio's
Jeff Golden
I have been a Temple Member for about 15 years. I am married and have two children, Becky and Brian.
Debbie Lelchuk
When asked how long I’ve been a member of Temple Beth David, I find it difficult to give a straight answer. My parents (and I along with them) joined in 1965, so I grew up here. However, my husband and I, and our two daughters, rejoined as a family in 1998. We have celebrated our many life cycle events here—from namings to funerals; B’not mitzvah to Confirmation. Temple Beth David is our home, our community. As Co-VP Ways & Means, I hope to help TBD raise the funds it needs to continue to serve our members and the community.
Gayle Chait
My husband, Ian, and our two daughters, Rachael and Daniella, have been members of TBD since 1999 when Rachael started preschool at TBD. I am the Co-VP of Ways and Means with Debbie Lelchuk. Our plans for TBD are to raise money to financially assist the temple and its congregants.
Joseph Truscello
My goal is to work with other members of my committee to build the Membership of Temple Beth David. We have so many great events and wonderful people and we would like to encourage others to be part of the Temple Family.
Andrew Cohen
My family (wife Diana and son Sasha) and I have been Temple Beth David members for the past 4 years. My son Sasha just graduated from the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC); he will be continuing his Jewish studies at the Religious School this fall. My goal for the next two years is to see both the religious school and the ECLE grow in attendance, to see the religious school to continue to nurture our Jewish Youth and for the ECLC it to continue to provide an valuable education to a diverse student population. This is all with the hopes of attracting additional young Jewish families into our Synagogue. Shalom!
Aaron Kern
We have been members of Temple Beth David since 1992, my wife and I joined the Temple to provide our children with a Jewish education and value system. Our two daughters, now in college, became B’nai Mitvot at Temple Beth David. As VP of Planning and Development, my principal accomplishment in 2009 – 10 was the completion of the congregational survey. My priority for 2010 - 11 will be to see that those areas identified by the congregation in need of improvement will be addressed. The identified areas include:
- Improved Spirituality
- Improved Membership Recruitment
- Improved Youth Programming/Involvement
Rick Blumenthal
My family and I have been members at TBD for 9 years. I really love the spirituality and music our temple provides for our services and celebrations. We've made so many good friends here, and really feel like we are part of one big family. Feel free to contact me with ideas or comments about religious life here at Temple Beth David.
Diane Prince
My husband Gary, our four sons (Jason, Scott, Cory and Matthew) and I have been members of Temple Beth David for over 20 years. My goals during to term are to record and keep accurate records of the Temple Board meetings as well as volunteer and support the activities and continued progress of our Temple.
Charlie Niederman
My wife, Cathy, and I have been members this time since 1982 and we were also members from 1967 to 1969. We have four daughters, 2 named at Temple Beth David in the 60’s. They and our youngest were confirmed at TBD in the 80’s. Our third daughter, Debbie was married at TBD in the 90’s. We have three grandchildren. During the next year I would like to make progress in three areas:
- Help other Board members learn more about what our Union for Reform Judaism has to offer them.
- Get the Board and TBD more interested and involved in what is happening in Israel. I plan to provide more information on with the growing Reform movement (Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, IMPJ); how it is growing and working to make Israel more democratic and pluralistic.
- Add planned giving to the donor opportunities for the perpetuation of Temple Beth David
Garry Plotkin
I am a native Houstonian and moved part of my life to Orange County when I married Karen Caplan, a long time member of Temple Beth David. Her parents, Al and Frieda Caplan were founding members of the synagogue and Al was the first President of Temple Beth David. Both of Karen’s children were Bat Mitzvah and continued through Confirmation at Temple Beth David. My son lives in Houston; Jewish and was Bar Mitzvah….not married yet! I was born and raised in Houston, Texas and have been a member of the same synagogue (Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Houston) since I was born…even my parents were married there. I was Bar Mitzvah there. I have donated a good portion of my life to generating much needed dollars for non-profit organizations, chairing more than fifty (50) events. During my first two (2) years as a Temple Beth David Board Member (VP-Ways and Means), I chaired 10 events. I will be chairing or co-chairing three (3) events during the 2010/2011 year. I am now Adult Education Trustee and TBD has the best Adult Education program in Orange County. Contact the synagogue office or me for more information on the many Adult Education sessions. You do not need to be a member to attend. Everyone is welcome.
Eric Schiffer
I was raised at Temple Beth David, having become a Bar Mitzvah with Rabbi Front and Cantor Newman. I am married to my lovely wife Peggy and have two children, Zachary and Leah, both of whom attended Temple Beth David’s pre-school, and both of whom are currently enrolled in the Temple’s fantastic religious school program. As Program Trustee, I look forward to working with the Rabbi and my fellow board members towards fostering innovative, educational, and entertaining events here at the Temple.
Matt Paretsky
I have been a member of Temple Beth David for two years. I have been a member of the choir since joining the temple. I am the
father of two boys who are both having a wonderful time attending
Hebrew school at TBD. As Social Action Trustee I hope to bring my
experience as a recent participant in the Jewish Federation of Long Beach's New Leaders Forum to work with the temple members and the community to advance tikun olam both locally and on a broader scale.
Jackie Caplan Wiggins
Because my parents were one of the founding families of Temple Beth David, I have been a member since the early 1960’s and celebrated both becoming a Bat Mitzvah and a Confirmand at the Temple. My husband Doug and I became members in 1998. Our children, Frankie (18) and Rachel (16), have celebrated several life-cycle events here (Naming, Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation). As Publicity Trustee, my committee and I will to publish all Temple events open to the community and work with other Temple groups to spread the word about our wonderful Temple.
Terry Krieger
My wife Linda and I have been members at TBD for 9 years. We joined TBD to give our kids a Jewish education and to provide them with good Jewish values. Our daughter, Hayley, became a Bat Mitzvah in 2010, and our daughter, Justine, will become a Bat Mitzvah in 2013. When I was growing up, I was very active in Temple and the Temple youth group. As the Youth Group Trustee, I hope to use my experience to keep the youth at our temple engaged and enthusiastic about continuing participation in our synagogue, while having fun.
Jeff LeBoff
My wife Susan and I have been members of Temple Beth David since 1972. We have two adult sons and two beautiful granddaughters. As President of the Jack Broscow Brotherhood of Temple Beth David, my primary goals are for our Brotherhood to increase and improve our service to the Temple and our children and to serve the spiritual and social needs of the men of Temple Beth David. I hope that all the men of Temple Beth David join our Brotherhood and help achieve our goals.
Florence Sudakow
I am beginning my third term as Choir President, and have been an alto/tenor in the Choir for about 30 years now . . . almost as long as my family and I have been members of Temple Beth David. Both of my children, Sarah and James have become Bat/Bar mitzvahs, and my husband Max and I have become B'nai Mitzvahs as adults. I am a past president of Temple Beth David Sisterhood. As Choir President, I not only represent the Choir on the Temple Board, but have helped the Choir rewrite the by-laws, make necessary purchases, such as sound system equipment, music stands, and contribute a significant amount of money towards the purchase of the new piano and to the support of the Temple. Keeping Choir needs up to date enriches the Temple!