Ben Rothman

I was born and raised in Park Slope, and PSJC has been my synagogue since after my bar mitzvah, when my parents became part of the community. PSJC was the place where my mom completed her conversion and celebrated her Bat Mitzvah. I don't normally go to synagogue except for high holidays. In the last two years, the Yesod program under Rabbi Hayley reinvolved me with PSJC in a more significant way. This deepening relationship with PSJC is part of a personal journey of mine with the Jewish people at large, to expand the existential solitary Judaism of my youth into a communal Judaism of adulthood. I’m grateful for the chance to continue growing my Jewish life here, and to help strengthen the community that has supported my family’s journey for many years.

As an adult, I’ve been drawn to forms of Judaism (and other religious practices) that are earth-based, embodied, and spiritually renewing. My Jewish life is influenced by thinkers such as Martin Buber, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Rabbi Jonathan Sachs, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, and Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, whose writings help me seek a Judaism rooted in relationship, presence, holy insecurity, and awe. I'm a deep believer that Judaism is an ever-evolving religion that revitalizes itself in each generation by incorporating the thought and practices of its neighboring civilizations into itself. For me, that involves creating a personal Judaism that incorporates the wisdom and practices of the East (Buddhism, Daoism and Hinduism), as well as the wisdom and practices of Indigenous people (which includes our own Baal Shems in Eastern Europe, Jewish shamans and miracle workers who lived only a few hundred years ago; and the Hebrews who lived in Biblical times - recently I've been researching their practices of honoring the divine feminine through Goddess worship, for example in the temple of Astarte, built by King Solomon. I know this is a controversial topic in Judaism - another thing to note about me, I love exploring the taboo edges of Judaism). I'm extremely interested in the untold history of Judaism, what I can learn about our ancestors and God by what was deliberately left out of the tradition. Most of all, I'm learning how to open my heart, trust in God, and love myself and others in a deeper way, each and every day.

I graduated from Vassar College in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in religious studies. Professionally, I used to work as a computer programmer at Google, but left my job in November 2025. While job searching, I'm reading vigorously, writing a lot, connecting with others, and practicing embodied Jewish, Buddhist, Yogic and other technologies that reconnect me with the earth, myself, and God.

Roberta Moskowitz

My husband Marty and I live in Windsor Terrace with our thirteen-year-old rescue dog, Sadie. We have been members of PSJC for over twenty-five years. The warmth, inclusivity, humane spirit and heartfelt davening were just some of the qualities that drew us to PSJC. I believe those qualities of PSJC had a profoundly wonderful influence on the values of our twenty-five-year-old son Jonathan, who grew up attending PSJC. Jon’s Bar Mitzvah fell on the tenth anniversary weekend of 9/11. Under the direction of Rabbi Carie, this occasion was appropriately joyous & respectfully solemn. Professionally, I taught first grade, early childhood science & third grade for over 30 years. My teaching years were incredibly gratifying. I currently work part-time as a homework teacher at P.S.154’s after-school program. My PSJC pre-retirement volunteer experiences include CHIPS’ Francis Residency, being part of the team organizing the Purim carnival in the early 2000s, organizing childcare during Kol Nidre service, working on the food and beverages at the annual auction, and volunteering at Masbia. As a retiree, I wanted to give back. Through Engage Brooklyn, in which I was an active member of the Leadership Committee, I volunteered at organizations offering food & support to those in need. I have been serving on the PAI Steering Committee since its inception in 2017. In addition to working with the group to plan various activities, my pet project has been “PSJC PAI PB&J Sandwiches and Hardboiled Eggs for CHIPS “. Since October 2021, we have donated over 3,000 PB&J sandwiches and over 2,000 hardboiled eggs to CHiPS, as well as toiletries and other much-needed food items. This past MLK Day Sunday, I had the opportunity to organize the PB&J sandwich making. Working with PSJCers, as well as Brooklyn Millennium high school students, was so much fun and so productive! I look forward to the opportunity to sit on the PSJC board and continue to give back to this wonderful community.

Adina Lerner

My husband, Eric, and I grew up attending shul weekly, and it was important to us that our children develop the same sense of connection and familiarity. At PSJC, we’ve found not only an incredible Hebrew School for Isla and Judah, but also a vibrant, welcoming community full of ruach. I’ve even had the privilege of serving as the Hebrew School Committee chair, which has deepened my connection to this special place.

Before becoming a full-time simcha and family photographer, I was a teacher in the NYC Department of Education. These experiences have shaped my dedication to fostering strong relationships and building community. PSJC truly feels like home, and I’m excited to contribute to its growth and vibrancy as a member of the board of trustees.

Abby Ingber

My husband, Jeffrey Easton, and I joined PSJC more than 20 years ago when our daughters, Alex and Rachel (now 26 and 23), were very young, and we were looking for an egalitarian Jewish community that also reflected the tradition, warmth and Jewish spirit I was raised with. As background, I attended modern orthodox Jewish day schools and summer camps through high school, and my Jewish home life was filled with singing and spirituality -- with my father serving as a part-time volunteer high holidays cantor and my mother working as a Jewish early childhood educator. As an adult, PSJC has been essential in helping me continue to lead an active and meaningful Jewish life. My children had wonderful Bat Mitzvahs at PSJC, and more recently I have become more active in PSJC and the wider Brooklyn Jewish community, singing in and designing/maintaining the website for Shir Chadash - the Brooklyn Jewish Community Chorus, writing for and performing in the PSJC Purimspiel, recording videos for high holiday services, serving on the Hannah Senesh Alumni Parent Steering Committee, and, in this pandemic year of mourning for my mom, regularly attending and actively participating in PSJC Wednesday morning minyan and Shabbat services (while sampling the services of six other congregations – wandering, but always coming home to PSJC!). Professionally, I have been a financial services lawyer for over 30 years, currently serving as Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase and Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of the Six Circles mutual funds. I look forward to the opportunity to serve on the PSJC Board and contribute to this wonderful community.

Barbara Auslander

I first came to Park Slope Jewish Center in the fall of 1985 along with my husband, Andrew.  As newlyweds in search of a synagogue for High Holiday services that would bridge the gap between my Orthodox upbringing and his assimilated one, we were shul shopping.  It was my Holocaust survivor father who made the shul shidduch.  Andrew and I were living in Sunset Park at the time and the closest temple was an aging congregation in Bay Ridge.  Dad sent me an article about a shul in Park Slope with a female rabbi and said that this is kooky enough for both of you.  I knew little about Conservative Judaism but dad was right in that the shul was a mix of friendly people engaged in prayer, observance, female empowerment, and social causes. I approached the president at the time inquiring as to the price of tickets.  He told me membership was whatever it was and we quickly became members.  Immediately upon learning that I had attended an all-girls yeshiva for twelve years, the president “volunteered’ me to teach an adult Hebrew class.  Soon I was organizing monthly catered Friday night Shabbat dinners and asked to serve on the board of three administrations where I headed up the membership committee and co-chaired the auction.  I experienced PSJC’s trial by fire and then the inevitable burnout.  For the next decade or so I drifted in and out while working in sales and eventually as the Director of Marketing for an international textile company and then in interior decorating.

During the isolation of Covid and chemo I did the “shul Shuffle” and Zoomed different religious services and classes across the time zones particularly seduced by the musical ones.  But in the end I realized that PSJC was home and almost everything that I was looking for in a shul.  We are a warm congregation where families as well as individual attendees are encouraged to learn and pray and do acts of gemilas chesed.  I personally was the recipient of the kindness and generosity of our members and now I want to pay it forward.  Thank you for your consideration.

Bruce Meyerson

Bruce Meyerson has lived in Park Slope for 32 years. He grew up in Bayside, Queens, where his family was active in a conservative shul. Bruce and his wife, Elyse, have three children and have been active parents at three local public schools, with Bruce serving as treasurer for the PTA at Park Slope Collegiate for six years, and then as a member of the School Leadership Team at Millennium Brooklyn High School for four years. Bruce has also served on his co-op board for 20 years, including as president since 2017. Professionally, Bruce is a journalist, professor, and a small business CFO. As a journalist, he wrote for The Associated Press for 17 years. Since 2008, he has taught as an adjunct professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, run a boutique entertainment law firm, and produced independent documentaries and films.

Gabrielle Fisher

Born and raised in Westchester County, NY, I first found my way to PSJC through my brother and sister in law, Avi Fisher and Amy Sandgrund, for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. While my childhood included mandatory weekly synagogue attendance, my adult shul participation was limited to the high holy days. Saturdays were reserved for marathon training, rock climbing or bike racing. Shabbat was not on the list of weekly things to do.

In 2017 I read Torah at PSJC for my nephew Micah’s bar mitzvah and was absolutely delighted when Rabbi Carrie asked if I could leyn again in the future. (I said yes.) Since then, I have been on the regular monthly leyning rotation, happily making the trek down from Riverdale (the Bronx) and even from Albany while living upstate for work 2022-2025. In 2020 I became an official PSJC member and have enjoyed being part of the wonderful community here.

My professional background is in NYC and NYS government technology leadership where I build and direct emergent technology modernization implementations and manage significant budgets. Outside of work I wake up at the crack of dawn to practice Ashtanga yoga 5-6 days week. When I’m not on my mat and not falling asleep, I enjoy spending time with family, friends and my two cats, Neal and Diego.

As a public servant I’m thrilled to be able to give back to PSJC by serving as a trustee. I am very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to leveraging my experience for the greater good of the PSJC community.

Lena Katsnelson

I joined Park Slope Jewish Center over 13 years ago when we moved to Brooklyn. My husband, Eli, and I were expecting our first child and were looking for a community - we have certainly found that in PSJC. I previously served on the PSJC board as a trustee and for one term as a co-President. PSJC is the only synagogue I have ever belonged to, having grown up without any formal Jewish education or community, and I am deeply grateful for the incredible community I have found here. 

Professionally, I am the Director of the Lawyers Division and UJA FSU (Former Soviet Union) at UJA-Federation of NY. Before joining UJA, I practiced commercial and securities litigation for nearly five years. 

I am originally from Minsk, Belarus, and emigrated from the former Soviet Union in 1988. I was raised in Brooklyn and live here now, with my husband, Eli Wolfhagen, also an active PSJCer, and our kids, Yoni, Levy, and Asher.

Ben Engber

My wife Lise and I have been part of the PSJC community for 13 years.  We came to PSJC to give our twin daughters Lily and Miriam (now 18) a sense of Jewish identity and foundation in Jewish life -- more so than what I was raised with. I'm delighted to see that they have carried this into young adulthood and have both made the effort to establish Jewish communities in a time and in places where it is not necessarily so easy to do so. Our third daughter, Shoshanna, is having her Bat Mitzvah a year from now. As for myself, I have learned more about Judaism being part of PSJC than I had over the rest of my life.

Professionally, I founded a software consulting company about 25 years ago, with offices here and also in the countries of Armenia and Georgia. Lise is a landscape designer and some of the brains behind the new PSJC courtyard. But without a doubt the most well-known Engber in the neighborhood is our dog Zeus.