Board of Directors

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.  

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.

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.

Steven E. Eisenberg is a member at the law firm of Eisenberg Lehman, PLLC, where he focuses 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 the Florida Bar. He served as outside general counsel, on a pro bono basis, and as Chair of The Board of Directors to New Theatre.. He is a frequent lecturer on intellectual property and entertainment law issues.  Mr. Eisenberg received his Juris Doctorate and his B.A. in English from the University of Miami.

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.

Joseph Roisman was the Executive Vice President for Perry Ellis International. Originally known as Supreme International, Joe has held various positions at the company in his 49 years of service and played an integral role in its growth and expansion, including the acquisition of the Perry Ellis name in 1999. He is currently semi-retired. Since that time, Perry Ellis has grown to be one of the leading designers, distributors and licensors of apparel and accessories in the world with well over $1 billion in retail sales. The company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, owns or licenses a portfolio of brands including 29 of the leading names in fashion such as Savane, Original Penguin, Callaway, Nike, Swim, Cubavera. As Executive Vice President, Roisman has overseen numerous aspects of the company, including sales, sourcing and operations. Joe has been an active member of the Beacon Council since 1998. He serves on the board of directors. He also is past board chair of the Cancer Support Community of Miami. He is on the board of directors at Actors Playhouse in Coral Gables, The Education Fund and Friendship Circle of Miami. He served on the executive board of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, The Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center, South Dade Executive Council of AIPAC, United Way cabinet and is a past president of Temple Samu-El Or Olom. He was honored by the Cancer Support Community of Miami, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Doral Business Council, Born in Havana, Joe came to the United States from Cuba via Israel and his story is a true inspiration. He served in the Israeli Defense Forces and is a veteran of the Six Day War in 1967. Married to Wife Aida for 50 years, Joe has 4 sons, 3 daughters in law and 4 grandchildren.

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.