Our Board of Directors
Marc E. Agronin, MD, a summa cum laude graduate of Harvard University and the Yale School of Medicine, is a board-certified adult and geriatric psychiatrist and the author of the acclaimed book How We Age. Since 1999 he has served as the director of mental health services, clinical research, and the outpatient memory center at Miami Jewish Health (MJH), Florida’s largest not-for-profit long-term care provider. He has published essays in the New York Times and Scientific American Mind, and writes regularly on aging and retirement issues for the Wall Street Journal as part of their Experts panel.
Rena Berkowicz Borow has retired as Librarian for Public Services at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. She has translated works by Isaac Bashevis Singer and archival material at Yivo Instutute for Jewish Research, and happily collaborated with Miriam and Avi Hoffman in founding the Joseph Papp Yiddish Theater. With Miriam, she has co-authored Songs of Paradise, Noble Laureate and Dybbuk Latino and looks forward to writing, editing & translation projects under the auspices of The Yiddishkayt Initiative.
Steven E. Eisenberg is General Counsel at eCombustible Energy. He previously was in private practice and focused his practice on entertainment and intellectual property law and complex commercial litigation, He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America, as a Top Lawyer by the South Florida Legal Guide, and in Florida Super Lawyer. He is also AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He is the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Carlos J. Arboleya Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Leadership Miami Award. Mr. Eisenberg is active in the South Florida community and currently serves on the Board of the Broward Miami Chapter of the American Jewish Committee and as the Vice Chair of the Coral Gables Art Cinema. Mr. Eisenberg received his Juris Doctorate and his B.A. in English from the University of Miami.
My Jewish connection started at a young age thanks to my Zayde, Joseph, who was originally a baker in Bialystok, Poland, as well as my mother, Beatrice. My first Jewish memories were celebrating the Jewish holidays with them. It was through my Zayde and my mother I developed a passion for Jewish music and Yiddishkeit. I grew up on the music of the Yiddish theater, Israeli culture and Broadway. As I was raised in a family of proud Zionists, I have always had a strong love for Israel. When I was 17, I spent a summer in Israel, which can only described as transformative, as it deepened my bond felt to the Jewish homeland. I am a firm believer in the importance of Tzedakah, family and Jewish tradition. While there are so many charitable organizations to support, it seems that Jews are primarily the only ones who will support other Jews. That is why I have been so supportive of many Jewish causes. I’ve been very involved in LGBT, arts and political issues through organizations like Keshet, Miami Jewish Film Festival and the South Florida Jewish Chorus, of which I am the Founder. Being both gay and Jewish has given me a unique perspective and sensitivity to what it feels like to be a minority. Although I don’t have children of my own, I feel a great responsibility for taking care of the next generation of Jews –L’dor V’dor. I’m also very involved with the University of Miami Hillel, March of the Living and Holocaust Memorial on Miami Beach as a Board Member.
Deborah Levine is an award-winning author of 18 books, founder/editor of the American Diversity Report and a Forbes Magazine Diversity and Inclusion Trailblazer. Born in Brooklyn, she was brought up in Bermuda before moving back to New York. Her grandfather was one of the island’s Founding 400 and they are the only Jewish family to have lived in Bermuda for four generations. With advanced degrees from Harvard, New York U. And Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, Deborah has served as Inter religious Affairs Director for the American Jewish Committee/Chicago and as executive with Jewish Federations in Rockford, IL., Tulsa, OK., and Chattanooga, TN. where she is currently headquartered.
Deborah is also the creator of the documentary: Untold, Stories of a World War II Liberator, which is based on her father’s wartime letters. He was a US military intelligence officer (Ritchie Boy) assigned to interrogate Nazi POWs. In retirement, he as the CFO of the American Jewish Archives and the aspiration for much of Deborah’s work.
Richard Lippman is a Doctor of Optometry having studied at the University of Vermont and the New England College of Optometry (NECO). Currently he consults for the Medical Device industry. Dr. Lippman served for ten years at the US Food and Drug Administration as Director of the Division of Ophthalmic Devices. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and currently serves on the Board of the Alumni Association of NECO. Dr. Lippman was appointed by the Surgeon General as Chief Optometrist of the US Public Health Service during his career to that agency. Dr. Lippman enjoys playing classical percussion in local community orchestras and was honored by invitation to play with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on a few occasions. For additional recreation, he enjoys classical concerts, the Great American Songbook, skiing, tennis, duffing on the golf course, and Sondheim! Dr. Lippman spent an extended period of time in Israel working on kibbutz and learning. After many years of absence he was invited back to the country several times in a professional capacity by developing Israeli companies, and was asked to deliver lectures at an international ophthalmology conference given at the Dead Sea. Dr. Lippman has been happily married to Susan Papp of New York. He is most proud of his son Jonathan and daughter-in-law Andrea. When not residing in Florida, Susan and Richard live in Silver Spring, MD and Delray Beach.
Susan Papp Lippman is Brooklyn born and currently resides in Silver Spring, MD and Delray Beach, FL. A Brooklyn College graduate with a major in English and minor in Speech and Theatre, Susan pursued a Master’s Degree in Library Science from Pratt Institute and an MA from NYU in Theatre History and Criticism. Retired from the NYC School System after 15 years, she worked as a Library Media Specialist innovating and implementing programs at the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Communication Arts High School in Brooklyn Ms. Lippman was also an Adjunct Professor at The Brooklyn College Library serving as a Reference Librarian. Passionate about Musical Theatre, She appeared in many community theatre productions as well as Summer Stock. During her many years in Maryland, Susan produced several shows at the Musical Theatre Center of Greater Washington including “A Chorus Line”, fulfilling in part, a family legacy. In Maryland, Susan was invited to participate in the Library of Congress Great American Composer Series performed locally in the Maryland suburbs. Susan reinvented herself as a Judaic Studies Teacher at Washington Hebrew Congregation in DC. She taught there for 11 years instructing students in the Jewish Life Cycle through stories, song, and dance. In Florida, Susan has performed with an Israeli Dance Troupe “Veselo” in the Palm Beach County area. Hobbies include Israeli and International folk dancing, line dancing, Musical Theatre, the Great American Songbook, reading, and enjoying the benefits of the warm sunshine of Florida. The fortunate introduction to Avi and Miriam Hoffman several years ago has brought a new opportunity to delve into a Yiddish component of her Jewish life that she was previously aware of but never fully explored. Susan is most proud of her loving and supportive husband Richard, her talented son Jonathan, and amazing daughter-in-love, Andrea.
Sheri Smith is a retired New York City school teacher. She taught English as a second language in the inner city. This gave her a great respect for the power of words. When Sheri left the school system, she moved to Boynton Beach FL and began volunteering in various organizations. She has been a volunteer pastor in the Bethesda hospital system. She has also always taken a great interest in the politics and for years has worked in Palm Beach County elections. In the past election cycle, she was a trainer for the Supervisor of Elections in Palm Beach County. In 2008, Sheri began volunteering for the Soref JCC in Broward County. At this time Sheri is now the board chair of that organization. Sheri, begin working at YI love Jewish this past year and has accepted the position of Executive Director. Her favorite hobbies are reading, preferably urban fantasy. The ultimate joy in her life are her grandchildren and she is happy to be known as Bubbe Uber.
Dr. Stephen Umans is a retired electrical engineer. Following his graduation from MIT, he stayed on as a member of the research and teaching staff in the Department of Electrical Engineering. He is a Life Fellow of the IEEE and a member of the US National Academy of Engineering. His hobbies include classical clarinet, amateur radio, and electronics. Steve, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and his wife Denise, originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, reside in Belmont, Massachusetts. Over the past few years they have been studying Yiddish and are making slow progress!
Bruce Warshal has graduate degrees in both economics and law and rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College (Reform). He practiced law and taught college economics; has been a pulpit rabbi at congregations in Ann Arbor, Michigan and New Orleans, Louisiana; the founding executive director of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County; and the Publisher and equity owner of the Jewish Journal (now owned by the Sun Sentinel). He has a history of being involved in “Good Trouble,” in the civil rights movement and Jewish activist organizations. Bruce currently writes a bi-weekly column for the Jewish Journal.
Lea Sigiel Wolinetz was born to Holocaust Survivors from Poland. She started her professional career as a Public School teacher and administrator in the New York City Public School system. Coming from her education background, she’d go on to help create Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation. To honor the millions of children lost during World War 2, in 1994 she created The Golden Bridge of Friendship. The non-profit was designed to match orphans from Eastern Europe with adoptive parents. The model she developed is now used across the globe. Mrs. Wolinetz has served as Coordinator for the Jews of Czestochowa Exhibit and Outreach Manager for the Polin Museum in Warsaw. She currently acts as the Executive Director of the Worldwide Czestochowa Jews and their Descendants, and the Secretary of Czenstochowa Relief Society.
Bruce M. Zafran M.D. is the founder and CEO of Royal Palm Ob/Gyn, P.A. In Coral Springs, Florida. Royal Palm is a single-specialty woman’s health care group with physicians, midwives, and nurse practitioners proudly serving South Florida for 35 years. Dr. Zafran has served as chief of Ob/Gyn at Coral Springs Medical Center and Chairman of the board of trustees at Northwest Medical Center in Margate, Florida. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. His passion for the Yiddish language and culture has led to his involvement with the YILove Jewish organization. Bruce is married to Lesley Zafran, a consultant in Jewish Education and past chair of the board at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, Florida. As a sidelight, Dr. Zafran performs stand-up comedy at venues throughout South Florida. Because who doesn’t need to laugh.
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