CLERGY
Rabbi Nathaniel Ezray
Together with dedicated leaders and staff, Rabbi Nathaniel (Nat) Ezray is building an inspiring community full of joy and connection. When you walk into CBJ, you feel hope, relevance, love, and care – which emanates from Rabbi Ezray.
Rabbi Ezray joined CBJ in 1995 after serving as Associate Rabbi at Temple Emanuel in Newton, Massachusetts for four years. He is passionate about CBJ being a place of learning, different types of prayer experiences, social justice and community. Rabbi Ezray treasures relationships and walking through every significant moment in life together with you.
Rabbi Ezray seeks to create connections and inclusion. Programs ranging from our L’dor Vador, (from generation to generation) which partners our B'nai Mitzvah students with older congregants to our Oral History project where the stories of our members are captured via interviews lift up the power of story to transform life. CBJ has been an innovator and leader in inclusion of those with special needs and received the prestigious Rosh Pina Certification for the systemic inclusion of Special Needs students. Our Religious School welcomes children of all experiences, doing our very best to help them thrive and connect to their Jewish identity.
Teaching and learning are the cornerstone of Rabbi Ezray’s rabbinate. He loves telling stories to the Preschool, teaching the B'nai Mitzvah students, digging deep into each verse of the Torah in our weekly Torah class. He loves interactive learning from the bimah and treasures every opportunity to teach.
Rabbi Ezray believes in providing multiple doors of entry into Jewish life – ranging from different types of religious services to cultural programs celebrating Jewish life. He seeks to create meaningful connection to Israel by forging relationships with different organizations in Israel which seek to bring Jewish values to life - Adi Negev, AICAT, and United Hatzalah. He has been active in bringing respectful dialogue to life at CBJ where we learn about and practice listening to one another with respect and curiosity – especially when we disagree.
Rabbi Ezray is involved in all aspects of local, national and international community. He has traveled to Mexico with American Jewish World Service seeking to understand how we can influence positive change for those in desperate situations. He works with a variety of organizations – including those fostering connection to Israel, Jewish education, civil engagement and helping those in need. He helped organize a community conference to address sexual abuse in the Jewish community and has been instrumental in creating interfaith connections. He currently serves as the immediate past President of the Northern California Board of Rabbis. His involvement spreads well beyond that of the four walls that we inhabit.
Rabbi Ezray grew up in Sacramento, California, and is blessed with his wonderful wife Mimi, and two children, Emily and Ethan. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, reading, good restaurants, and making health a priority.
Cantor Barbara Powell
Barbara Powell, Beth Jacob’s Cantor since July 2007, leads services and teaches music and t'fillah to adults as well as in the Religious School. She coordinates lay service leaders and Torah/Haftarah/Megillah readers with an eye on making the services accessible and participatory. Contact her at the above address if you would like to get involved in chanting Torah or Haftarah at Shabbat or holiday services. Prior to CBJ, Barbara taught and led services at congregations in Northern California and the East Coast, taught music privately and at San Francisco public schools, and did extensive social service work. Her singing career spans many genres, from jazz to liturgical. Barbara holds a BA in community studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, studied in Israel, and grew up on the Peninsula.
Bill Futornick, Ritual Director
Bill Futornick has served as a clergy partner at Congregation Beth Jacob since 2002. In this role, he is a teacher and mentor to all ages, and especially to the youth of CBJ. One of his chief contributions and joys is to create connections and form relationships with the people of our community. To that end, Bill maintains contact with the vast majority of B’nai mitzvah students he has taught, staying in touch through college, and post-college years.
Bill works with each of our B’nai mitzvah students individually as a mentor. He oversees our teen, college, and young adult outreach programs. Bill has a love of learning and teaches all ages, from preschool to seniors, including Adult B’nai Mitzvah students and alumni of our Adult B’nai Mitzvah classes. For him, there’s nothing better than finding new meaning in our texts and helping others connect with the tradition in meaningful ways. Bill has led several synagogue groups to Israel and is a passionate supporter of Israel. Bill especially loves the humanitarian and research projects that CBJ supports in Israel, including Adi Negev, the Central Arava Medical Center, AICAT, Project Leket, and the Arava Institute, to name a few.
Bill has been actively involved in the broader Jewish community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, Advisory Committee of the Peninsula Jewish Teen Foundation, and in the American Jewish World Service.
Before coming to CBJ, Bill worked in the corporate world as an executive search consultant. He remained involved in synagogue leadership throughout, reading Torah, and serving on synagogue boards. He has a degree in history from Princeton University. Bill was born in the Bronx, raised in New Jersey, and is blessed with a wonderful family.
Rabbi H. David Teitelbaum, z"l Rabbi Emeritus
Cantor Hans Cohn, z”l Cantor Emeritus
STAFF
Sarah Cohen, Executive Director
Congregant Sarah Cohen joined us as our Interim Executive Director at the end of May. Sarah has a strong and varied background, including hotel/hospitality management, non-profit leadership at both AIPAC and JNF, and large-scale event production. Her broad knowledge of operations, managing budgets, and customer service is exactly what we need right now, and we are thrilled to have her.
Jeni Markowitz Clancy, Religious School Director
We are excited to introduce you to our new Religious School Director, Jeni Markowitz Clancy. Jeni brings with her a wealth of leadership experience in the Jewish community, including synagogues, the PJCC, and Jewish Family and Children’s Services. Her work has focused on children and families, and she has been recognized by several awards, including the prestigious Helen Diller Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
Natalya Martyushova, Director of Family Engagement
Natalya is in her twentieth year teaching and working at Congregation Beth Jacob. This community has become her second home and has a very special place in her heart. Having a Master's degree in Child Psychology and ESL, and Pre-Rabbinical Program, allows Natalya to introduce children to the world of Jewish stories, traditions, and customs, and most importantly to create their own Jewish Community for a lifetime. Natalya is blessed working with children and watching them grow from preschool age to their B'nei Mitzvot and helping them discover the world around them. In her free time, Natalya enjoys traveling, exploring San Francisco and Napa Valley, and relaxing on the beach.
Kelly Lusk, Project Manager
Kelly joined CBJ at the end of 2024 as the Interim Membership Manager and quickly fell in love with the community. Now serving as Project Manager, she brings a background in business development, event planning, and just a little Disney magic—thanks to her years as a professional chef at Walt Disney World. She’s passionate about creating meaningful experiences, keeping things organized, and yes, showing up in a great outfit.
Deborah Wahnich-Reitman, Membership & Experience Manager
Deborah has been an integral part of Congregation Beth Jacob since 2020. With a background in Hotel Catering Sales and Events, Deborah is accomplished in customer service, event coordination, and hospitality to her role as Membership & Experience Manager. As of August 2024, she has taken on the responsibility of growing Congregation Beth Jacob’s membership and enhancing the experience for existing members. Her blend of event management expertise and passion for community building makes her uniquely suited to foster a welcoming and engaging environment for the congregation.
Laura Hasse, Executive Assistant
As the Executive Assistant at our synagogue, Laura brings a wealth of expertise to her role, managing all communications and marketing endeavors. She is a proficient Business Administrator who enjoys seeking opportunities to learn and improve skills. Laura is passionate about identifying and addressing business needs. Beyond her synagogue duties, Laura is a proud mother of two children, Mika and Lenny. She enjoys attending lectures and Broadway shows. Laura is originally from the L.A. area. She holds a BBA in Management from the Metropolitan University of Denver. With her winning smile and warm personality, Laura is eager to connect with you and contribute to the community's shared goals.
Martín Hernandez, Facilities
Martín Hernandez has been with the staff since 2015. He runs the custodial and maintenance of the building. Martín volunteers with the Redwood City Police Department in their community outreach program. In his spare time, he keeps busy with drawing and crafting. He also enjoys hanging out and helping congregants who need assistance.