CLERGY
Rabbi Paul Steinberg
A nationally recognized transformational spiritual leader and educator, a lively teacher and storyteller, Rabbi Paul Steinberg is dedicated to building Jewish community by nurturing personal relationships, cultivating Jewish values through life-long learning, and engaging congregants in life-affirming, joyful expression.
Prior to arriving at Kol Shofar, Rabbi Steinberg served as the Rabbi and Director of Jewish Studies at Levine Academy: A Solomon Schechter School in Dallas, Texas; Senior Educator and Associate Rabbi at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California; and Community Rabbi of Beit T’Shuvah in Los Angeles. While in these positions, he served on local and national boards and taught Jewish philosophy in the Graduate School of Education at American Jewish University.
Cantor Naomi Weiss
Born in the Bay Area, Cantor Naomi Weiss joined the Kol Shofar community most recently from Chicago, where she served as the Ritual Director of Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago and Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook. She worked previously as a freelance cantor and b’nei mitzvah tutor around the Chicagoland area at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, Anshe Emet, Chicago Sinai, and Temple Sholom. She was given the title of “Hazzan” in November 2022 after completing the Cantors Assembly Internship Program under the loving mentorship of Hazzanim Alberto Mizrahi and Sarah Alexander.
Cantor Naomi is passionate about making the B’nei Mitzvah experience positive, challenging, and rewarding for our children, and creating community in all areas of synagogue life. She easily connects with multiple demographics and generations. A bat mitzvah parent dubbed her "The Tween Whisperer," and she has been described by a minyan regular as having a "wonderful mixture of piety and levity."
Email: nweiss@kolshofar.org
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The STAFF
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GORDON GLadSTONE
Executive Director
ggladstone@kolshofar.org
GORDON GLADSTONE
Executive Director
Gordon is a New York born, Wisconsin raised Jewish professional with nearly 30 years of working in Hillels, synagogues and other agencies. Gordon has been an executive director at three synagogues and serves on national board of the National Association for Temple Administration. He is a former Israeli tour guide and lived for 5 years on kibbutz. He holds an MA in History, has a passion for bicycles and makes pretty decent challah.
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DENICE ASAZAWA
Accounts + Bookkeeper
dasazawa@kolshofar.org
DENICE ASAZAWA
Accounts Manager/Bookkeeper
Denice is a lifelong resident of San Francisco and brings over 40 years in bookkeeping experience to Kol Shofar. She joined Kol Shofar in June 2016. Her expertise in synagogue accounting comes from providing bookkeeping services to synagogues for over 35 years. Prior to her synagogue focus, Denice worked in accounting services for both the healthcare and restaurant industries. She holds an AA in English Studies from City College of San Francisco.
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KATHERINE BARBONI
The Grove Preschool Director
kbarboni@kolshofar.org
KATHERINE BARBONI
The Grove Preschool Director
Katherine leads The Grove Preschool as the Director of Early Childhood Education. She brings leadership skills and experience from her previous position as Director of Early Childhood Education at San Francisco's Congregation Beth Sholom. She has also held positions as Director of the Moldovan Academy in San Francisco and Interim Director of the Rosenberg Early Childhood Center at the San Francisco JCC. She holds an MA in Education from Mills College and a Bachelor of Science from Wheelock College in Boston.
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Rachel Berman
Director of Family Engagement
rberman@kolshofar.org
Rachel Berman
Director of Family Engagement
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Jonathan Emanuel
Education Director
jemanuel@kolshofar.org
Jonathan Emanuel
Education Director
Jonathan Emanuel has been an educator and program provider for over 25 years, working in both formal and informal settings, Jewish and secular. He has served as a Camp Director, Program Director, and has created several leadership programs for teens and young Jewish leaders. Jonathan grew up in the East Bay and has a BA in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz. He spent time studying text and mysticism at Yeshivat Shalom Rav in Tsfat, Israel, and holds a master’s degree in Jewish Education from Gratz College in Philadelphia, PA. He has served as the Director of Teen Services for the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay, supervising programming and educational resources for a program serving over 1000 Jewish teens. Jonathan served as Director of Education at Sherith Israel in San Francisco and has been a Jewish Studies teacher to the Middle School at Brandeis Marin Day School in San Rafael, CA. Jonathan also served as the Director of Youth Education and Family Engagement at Kol Shofar From 2011 to 2017 and is thrilled to be returing. Jonathan lives in San Anselmo with his wife, Cara, his son, Judah, and his puppy, Bazzy.
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KIRK KIM
Facilities + Maintenance
kkim@kolshofar.org
KIRK KIM
Facilities + Maintenance Manager
Kirk is a licensed contractor who has been with Kol Shofar since the congregation acquired its current building in 1984. He graduated with a BA from the School of Business at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. While attending college, he worked as a Park Ranger for the County of Marin. Kirk went on to establish a career in construction, working on private homes throughout the county. He also worked for Cahill Construction during the 2010 remodel of the synagogue.
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JACK KLASSEN
Maintenance Staff
kkim@kolshofar.org
JACK KLASSEN
Maintenance Staff
Jack joined the Kol Shofar team in 2000. His background is in property maintenance & landscaping. He moved to Mill Valley from Victoria, British Columbia.
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ROBIN KOFFMAN
Membership Manager
membership@kolshofar.org
ROBIN KOFFMAN
Membership Manager
Robin has been with Kol Shofar since July of 2021. She and her family have been members of Kol Shofar since 2014. She was a program coordinator at the Marin JCC, in the Center for Jewish Peoplehood, creating dynamic program offerings in Jewish arts, culture & learning. Robin has worked in several schools and hospitals in New York City, Los Angeles & Marin for over 20 years. She holds a master’s degree in Art Therapy from Pratt Institute, a BA in Psychology from Syracuse University, and a BS in Advertising from the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse.
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PAM LOUIE
Controller
plouie@kolshofar.org
PAM LOUIE
Controller
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Pam re-joined Kol Shofar in June of 2016, having also served as controller from May 2011 – July 2014. With over 30 years in the accounting sector, she brings over 18 years in non-profit accounting experience having served many Bay Area non-profits. Pam’s corporate sector experience includes working for companies in the Research & Development/start-up to growth stages, as well as mergers and acquisitions. She holds an MBA from Golden Gate University and a BS/BA from the University of San Francisco. She has also earned certificates from Stanford University and the University of California in their Executive Management and Project Management programs respectively.
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LYLA WEINSTEIN
Communications Manager
communications@kolshofar.org
LYLA WEINSTEIN
Communications + Ritual Manager
This needs a bio.
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The Board
DANIEL AMIR (he/him): PRESIDENT
ANTHONY VIDERGAUZ (he/him): VICE-PRESIDENT
BERNARD FRIED (he/him): TREASURER
AMY GELFAND (she/her): SECRETARY
LYSSA FRIEDMAN (she/her): IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
MARION BANK (she/her)
KERRY BARLAS (she/her)
GREG BERGUIG (he/him)
DARYOUSH DAVIDI (he/him)
NANCY DIAMOND (she/her)
ARI GREEN (he/him)
STEVEN GREEN (he/him)
JEFFREY HALBRECHT (he/him)
DANA HYMAN (she/her)
GREG NEICHIN (he/him)
JORDAN SALBERG (he/him)
BETH SCHECTER (she/her)
JENNIFER SMORGON (she/her)