PAS Staff are Here for You
From the receptionist who answers your call and greets you at the door to the educators who plan events, our dedicated and capable staff welcome you to a rich array of classes, social events, and innovative explorations of all facets of Judaism.
Administrative
Beryl P. Chernov
Executive DirectorBeryl Chernov has served as the Executive Director of the Park Avenue Synagogue since July 2002. Previously, he served as the Temple Administrator for North Shore Synagogue, a large Reform congregation on Long Island. Beryl was also the founding director of the Weinberger Jewish Family Center at the Sid Jacobson JCC (Roslyn, NY) and the Director of Education and Youth Programming at the Fair Lawn Jewish Center (Fair Lawn, NJ).
Liz Offenbach
Associate Executive DirectorLiz Offenbach is the Associate Executive Director of Park Avenue Synagogue. From May 2011–July 2015, Liz was Park Avenue Synagogue’s Director of Synagogue Programming where she oversaw adult learning opportunities and events. Liz initiated several new adult learning programs, including the Park Avenue Synagogue Conversation, the Women’s Seder, the Women’s Trip to Israel, the Adult Learning Retreat and the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning graduate program.
Rachel Zorbaron
Director of MembershipRachel Zorbaron joined Park Avenue Synagogue as the Director of Membership in March 2016. She has an extensive background as an actor, dancer and non-profit professional. Previously, Rachel has worked in theatre companies as well as grass roots non-profit organizations forging new partnership, collaborating on events and developing the building blocks of impactful programming.
Geet Engel
Director of FinanceGeet joined Park Avenue Synagogue as Director of Finance in March, 2015. She has extensive management experience in accounting and financial management positions with a specialization in working with private Jewish Day schools. She has an expertise in accounting procedures and financial statements, payroll and financial forecasting.
Programming
Rabbi Charles Savenor
Director of Congregational EducationRabbi Charles E. Savenor joined the PAS staff as Director of Congregational Education in July, 2014. Rabbi Savenor came to PAS from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), where he served as the Director of Kehilla (Congregational) Development (2011 to present) and as Executive Director of its Metropolitan New York District (2008-2011).
Mara Bernstein
Director of Synagogue Programming and Adult EducationMara joined the Park Avenue Synagogue team in June 2018 as Director of Synagogue Programming and Adult Education. She has a background in event planning and program management, having worked at several New York City nonprofit organizations and cultural institutions, including Fraunces Tavern Museum, the Museum at Eldridge Street, and the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Niki Fleishman
Director of Youth Programming and EngagementNiki joined the Park Avenue Synagogue educational team in July 2018 as Director of Youth Programming and Engagement. Previously, Niki worked at UJA-Federation of New York in the Center for Youth Philanthropy, running the middle school and high school programs. Niki graduated from New York University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and a double minor in social work and child & adolescent mental health studies.
Jennifer Stern Granowitz
Director of the Congregational SchoolJennifer joined Park Avenue Synagogue in 2011 after receiving her Master of Arts in Jewish Education from the William Davidson School of Jewish Education at JTS. Earlier, she earned a BA in Sociology from Johns Hopkins University. Jennifer served as a unit head at Camp Ramah in New England and continues to be connected to Jewish camping as a board member of her childhood camp.
Pamela B. Schwartz
Director of Penn Family Early Childhood CenterPamela B. Schwartz joined PAS as Director of the Penn Family Early Childhood Center in July, 2014. As Director, her mission is to move the PFECC from strength to strength by incorporating best practices in early childhood education. Before coming to PAS, Pamela was the learning specialist in the early childhood division of the Abraham Joshua Heschel School for seven years.
Jamie Diamond
Director of Young Family Education/Director of Camp KeshetJamie returned to PAS as the Director of Young Family Education and the Director of Camp Keshet in July 2016. In 2011–14 she was an Assistant Director of the Congregational School, focusing on the learners in grades K–2 and helping to develop the school's experiential education program.
Marga Hirsch
Director of Library, Publications Editor and Gallery CuratorMarga joined the staff of Park Avenue Synagogue as Librarian in August 2008 and became editor of the Park Avenue Synagogue Bulletin a year later. She also edits the annual collections of Rabbi Cosgrove's sermons as well as other synagogue publications, including Mah Hadash, the weekly Shabbat Shalom, and the PAS website.
Joshua Rosenberg
Principal Music EducatorJoshua Rosenberg grew up in Bethesda, MD and attended the Eastman School of Music and earned a Master’s degree from Boston University in Music Education. While working as an elementary general music teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools (MD), he also served as cantorial soloist for Congregation Or Chadash (Damascus, MD), songleader for the DCJCC, and music specialist for Temple Rodef Shalom (Falls Church, VA).