Our Board of Trustees 2017-2018

Artie Baran

Brotherhood Co-Chair

Originally from New Kensington, I spent 20 + years living on the West Coast where I met my wife, Lori (Mannheimer), a Mt. Lebanon native and second generation Temple member. My first introduction to Temple Emanuel was when Rabbi Mahler performed our wedding ceremony in San Diego in 2004. We returned to Pittsburgh in 2009 and have two children, Kurt and Kylie. I’m an attorney licensed in California and Pennsylvania, with my practice focusing on consumer fraud class action work. I’ve been part of Temple’s Larry Miller Caring Community team for a few years and previously served on the new executive director search committee. I look forward serving on the Temple board.

Marci Barnes

Women of Temple Emanuel Co-Chair

Marci is honored to be included with such a lovely group of people on the Temple Emanuel Board of Directors. A lifelong Temple member, Marci and her husband, Frank, are looking forward to celebrating their next simcha at Temple Emanuel in 2018 – their son Henry’s Bar Mitzvah!  Marci has previously worked for Temple Emanuel as a student aide, tutor, Hebrew and Religious School teacher, Youth Group Advisor, Torah Center Assistant and Interim Torah Center Director while Rabbi Locketz was on maternity leave.  She has served on the Torah Center Advisory Board in the past and has volunteered for numerous Temple projects over the years.  Professionally, Marci is a Licensed Public Adjuster with Metro Public Adjustment, Inc. and was thrilled to be included as one of the speakers in Temple’s Lunch and Learn Series in 2016.

Mitch Bober

Adult Education Co-Chair

Mitchell has been a Board member since 2016. A Mt. Lebanon native, Mitchell grew up at Temple Emanuel, attending services with his sister, Sharon, and parents, Stanley and Marilyn. After graduating from Mt. Lebanon High School and Duquesne University, he made stops in Philadelphia, Guam (yes, Guam), and Washington, D.C. before returning home to Pittsburgh in 2013 with his wife, Itzel, and three children, Shai, Marissa, and Zach. Mitchell currently works as in-house litigation counsel for FedEx Ground, and he is also active in local government, serving on Mt. Lebanon’s Civil Service Board, where his duties include hearing appeals of disciplinary actions and dismissals of police and fire personnel, and supervising the appointment and promotion process used by these agencies.

Adam Brufsky

Human Resources Chair

I am a medical oncologist who is co-Director of the Breast Cancer Program at Magee-Women’s Hospital and Associate Chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh. I have been a Temple member since my wife Jill and I moved here from Boston in 1996. Jill was a Vice President of Temple Emanuel and a member of the Temple board for many years, and I am looking forward to contributing to Temple during my term. When I am not attending to my cancer patients at Magee, administering my Division, or traveling for lectures, I can usually be found with my wife Jill driving my children Eliza, Alex, and Josh to dance, hockey, soccer, cross-country, or baseball practice.

Nate Eisinger

Brotherhood Co-Chair

Nate has been in the Pittsburgh area and a member of Temple for about nine years after moving from West Virginia. He is married with two girls that have been through ECDC and are currently enrolled in Torah Center. He lives in Upper St Clair and works as a metallurgist for The Perryman Company in Washington County. Nate believes that the community offered by Temple Emanuel is a wonderful resource that he hopes to enhance through his board service. In his spare time he enjoys fishing and ultimate Frisbee.

Sara Frey

Caring Community Chair

Sara has been a Temple member since moving to Pittsburgh in 2001 with her family. For 15 years she has taught fifth grade Hebrew and tutored Hebrew, and served on the Temple Worship Committee.  She graduated from Colgate University, and is active as the Colgate Alumni Admissions Chairperson for the Pittsburgh region. For Sara, being involved at Temple and educating the next generation strengthens her sense of Jewish community. In her free time she enjoys sewing, Mah Jongg, square dancing with the Peanut Squares Square Dance Club, and Israeli folk dancing.

Max Louik

Engagement Co-Chair

Max and his wife Kate have been Temple members since returning to Max’s native Mt. Lebanon a few years ago. Max and Kate are delighted to be able to share the joys of Temple and the South Hills Jewish community with their two young daughters, Mavis and Emilia.  Max’s maternal grandfather, Dean Hirschfield, was a founding member and past president of Temple, and Max’s mother (and favorite dentist) Dr. Betty Jo Hirschfield also served as Temple president. Max is an attorney with the law firm K&L Gates LLP, where he practices as a commercial litigator.

Ron Richards

House & Grounds Chair

Ron has been a member of Temple for 17 years. In addition to being president of Brotherhood, he is often seen helping out whenever possible.

Jo Schuman

Torah Center Advisory Chair

My parents, Lillian and Lou Mitchell, were founding members of Temple. I was confirmed here and my two daughters grew up amid a vibrant youth group. For 27 years I taught religious school (kindergarten and Confirmation) and served as Chairman of “Arts and Gifts” on the board in the 70s. As a Bridal Consultant and Bridal Registry Director at Kaufmann’s for 25 years before early retirement, I enjoyed a fascinating career and hope to add my skills as a new board member.

Beth Schwartz

Worship Chair

I have been a member of Temple Emanuel since 1997 when I moved to Pittsburgh after marrying my husband, Matt (who grew up at Temple). I met Matt while in St. Louis and work as a medical social worker at a local skilled nursing facility. Our two daughters, Rebecca and Anna have gone through ECDC and Torah Center, and are both currently enrolled in the Jewish High School program. I was on the Temple Emanuel board from 1999-2003, and I am glad to again have the opportunity to serve the Temple Emanuel community as a board member. Temple Emanuel has been a central part of our family’s life, and I am eager to be involved in helping it thrive for years to come.

Lisa Steinfeld

Communications Team Chair

The last time I was on a synagogue board was when I was president of my youth group in Buffalo, NY. I was forced to join youth group by my parents, but it changed my life. Now that I’m married with two kids, I have a vested interest in making our Temple — of which I’ve been a member since 2008 — a true community so they reap the same benefits. Professionally, I’m a freelance journalist with a Master’s in Journalism from UC Berkeley, and am utilizing my interests and skills in chairing the re-instituted Communications team.

Barb Udren

Engagement Team Co-Chair

Barbara Udren and her husband Eric have been members of Temple Emanuel for 19 years. In their 47 years of marriage, they have lived in New Jersey, Monroeville, PA, Coral Springs Florida, Cambridge, England and now Mt. Lebanon. They have two children, Jonathan and Jenna. Jenna and her husband Tobi live in Seattle, Washington. Jonathan, Dena and their four children reside in Beit El, Israel. For the past 18 years, she has been employed by the Temple Emanuel Early Childhood Development Center as an assistant in the classroom. Her role on the Temple Board is co-chairman of the Engagement Committee. Barb says that being involved in Temple gives her a feeling of belonging to a Jewish community that provides support, education, and a place to share life experiences.

Jeffrey Weiner

Cemetery Chair

Jeff has been a Temple Emanuel member since before he was born. His parents were members when Temple was just a foundation. Jeff was born in Mt. Lebanon and now lives in Upper St Clair. He and his wife Suzanne officially rejoined when their eldest daughter was starting kindergarten over 20 years ago. Prior to his current stint on the Board, Jeff served as Brotherhood president and was on the fundraising team. Jeff feels that it is important to be involved with Temple in ways other than just financial. Suzanne and Jeff own and operate Eden’s Market – a Gluten Free Emporium in Mt Lebanon; the store specializes in natural and organic allergy friendly foods and food based nutritional supplements. The Weiner household currently consists of Jeff, Suzanne, their children Chelsea, Zoe, Taylor, and Eden, three cats and a dog. In addition to his involvement at Temple, Jeff is the head of The Gluten Intolerance Group Western Pa chapter, a national organization providing information and education regarding Celiac disease and Gluten Intolerance. He is on the board of The Mt. Lebanon Partnership and is a member of the Dallas Lodge of A&FM (Masons).