Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara Welcomes New Board President

Upon completing his term as the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara’s Board President, Alan J. Wyner has passed the gavel to Joan Rothenberg.

Ms. Rothenberg was introduced at the annual meeting by Rabbi Evan Goodman of Santa Barbara Hillel. “When I met Joan I knew immediately that she was a person with a deep sense of integrity. As I got to know her better, I recognized further how she was so genuine, so personally unassuming, while also being a person of tremendous accomplishment. She cares deeply about a variety of community causes, and the Jewish community is always right up there in her priorities.”

Ms. Rothenberg is a Certified Financial Planner™ with over twenty years of experience, and owner of JPR Financial Services. In addition, Ms. Rothenberg has given to the community in many ways:

UCSB Extension Advisory Council; Financial Planning Instructor at UCSB Extension; President, Women’s Economic Ventures Board of Directors; President, Century City Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Business Council; Heart Association Planned Giving Committee; Congregation B’nai B’rith Board of Trustees; President, Santa Barbara Hillel Support Foundation; twice President of the Santa Barbara Hillel Community Board; and at the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, Board Member, Endowment Committee Chair, Executive Search Committee Chair, Treasurer, Vice-President, and Acting President.

Ms. Rothenberg is married to Bob, and the proud mother of Ashley and Brad.

The current Jewish Federation Executive Committee includes: Joan Rothenberg, President; Lauren Katz, Immediate Past President and Major Gifts Chair; Laini Millar Melnick, Vice President and Women’s Division Chair; Don Wolfe, Treasurer; Ron Zonen, Secretary; Alan J. Wyner and Michael O’Kelley, Members At-Large.

Continuing on the 2014 Board, in addition to the Executive Committee members, are: Ralph Baxter, David Landecker, Alan Levy, Stephanie Locker, Stacey Matson, Michael Nissenson, Rachelle Pegg, Ken Rotman, Leslie Cane Schneiderman, and Sam Sosa.

New Board members starting in 2014 include: Dr. Jeffrey Kupperman, Dr. Keith Massel, and Dusty Heist-Levine.

The Jewish Federation raises and distributes funds to support the needs of the local and international Jewish community and is devoted to fulfilling a multitude of local needs while providing rescue and relief in Israel and around the world.

The Federation’s Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center, located at 524 Chapala St., offers a variety of classes, activities and programs which provide education, culture, recreation, and community. The JCC houses several programs:

Jewish Family Service, offering counseling and social services for all;

Portraits of Survival and Upstanders: Courage in the Face of Evil, two permanent photographic exhibits of local Holocaust survivors and those who “stood up” for them, as well as educational programs and community resources.

All of the Federation’s programs and activities are open to the public, regardless of cultural, religious or socio-economic background.

For more information on the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, go to www.JewishSantaBarbara.org or call 805.957.1115.