Staff

 Not sure who to call? Please start with the main office number to reach reception:
(415) 221-8736

Administration & Facilities

  • Alan Schnur

    Acting Executive Director

    aschnur@bethsholomsf.org
    (415) 940-7092

    Alan is a product of the Bay Area Jewish community. Following his becoming a Bar Mitzvah at Oakland’s Temple Beth Abraham, Alan has taught youth and adult classes in a number of local synagogues, was a staff member at Camp Arazim, directed Berkeley’s Camp Kee Tov and, later, after a long career in human resources and management consulting, provided professional guidance to Conservative synagogues in the Bay Area and beyond. Alan holds a B.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from U.C., Berkeley, and is the very proud parent of twin sons and the grandfather of four terrific grandchildren. He is almost always available to talk about the future of Conservative Judaism, politics and his beloved San Francisco Giants over a cup of coffee or a glass of good wine.

  • Hilary Elfman

    Director, Office of the Rabbi

    helfman@bethsholomsf.org
    (415) 940-7095

    Hilary Elfman, a Beth Sholom congregant and former member of the Board, has joined the staff as the first-ever Director in the Office of the Rabbi. She has a rich Jewish background, having taught in an Orthodox school in Israel, as the Community Organizer of our Young(ish) program, being affiliated with Hillel at the University of Washington in Seattle, and having taken our very own Intro to Judaism class.

    She completed The New Leaders Fellowship with Jewish Family and Children's Services, which strives to advance the next generation of Jewish leaders in San Francisco, culminating with a delegation to Israel and attending The Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.

    Hilary handles a wide array of administrative, events, and logistics activities to enable Rabbi Russell to focus on the educational, pastoral and spiritual needs of our congregation and the community.

  • Marlene Macmillan

    Executive Chef

    mmacmillan@bethsholomsf.org
    (209) 740-8474

    Marlene is a passionate bay area native who comes to Congregation Beth Sholom with extensive experience in the Early childhood field. She graduated from CSU, East Bay in 2013 with a Bachelors in Human Development: Adolescent Development and Adult and Gerontology Development. In 2015, Marlene decided to join the culinary arts program at CCSF- City College of San Francisco. Upon completion, after gaining experience with various catering companies, offered to support the former chef here in the CBS kitchen and was recruited to return to the preschool.

    While working a dual position in 2018-2022 , Marlene has now transitioned to the Executive Chef role full time. While she still loves working with children programs, Marlene is thrilled to have the responsibility to provide meals for Kiddushs, Mitvahs, and the High Holy Days. Her chili, burrekas, and mudslide cookies are legendary!

    In her free time, Marlene enjoys playing basketball, which she excelled at in college. Marlene also loves hiking, catching sunsets, cooking for her family, catching up on her favorite shows, doing puzzles, and singing at home.

  • Allen Levy

    Facilities Manager

    alevy@bethsholomsf.org
    (415) 852-3905

    My name is Allen Levy, and I am a member of Congregation Beth Sholom. My background working for CalTrans for 43 years makes Facilities Manager responsibilities second nature. I have never had a bad day since working here three years ago.

    Our CBS staff is a fantastic team of professional, creative, motivated individuals who make this work a labor of love. What motivates me is performing the many maintenance, safety, and management tasks that promote a clean and safe working environment for our staff, preschool, congregants and guests.

    It is extremely easy for me to spend most of my day here at work, laughing with fellow staff and serving our community. I am grateful to have a community to serve and respect here, all in one beautiful building.

  • Adie Paz-Priel

    Director of Membership

    apaz-priel@bethsholomsf.org
    (415) 940-7097

    Adie comes to us from the San Francisco Jewish Community Federation where she worked as the administrative coordinator in the early childhood education initiative for nearly 7 years.

    Originally from Israel, Adie was the first baby to be named in the conservative congregation her parents helped found in her hometown, Rehovot. She holds a master's degree in Geography from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, but her passion has been raising her four kids.

  • Alla Kudlov

    Membership & Finance Associate

    akudlov@bethsholomsf.org
    (415) 940-7123

    Alla Kudlov is excited to be the synagogue's Membership & Finance Associate. She started her career as an event planner at the Jewish Federation of San Francisco, where she was passionate about honoring each individual’s contribution to the community. In her free time, she likes hiking, going to events, traveling, spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Daisy.

  • Lily Kravetz

    Communications Specialist

    lkravetz@bethsholomsf.org

    Lily is an artist from Phoenix, Arizona, who spent a decade attending and working at Camp Ramah in California, where she fell in love with Judaism (and her fiance!). She has a B.S. in Visual Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S.Ed. in General and Special Education Grade 1-6 from Touro College. She’s passionate about making information easy to understand for audiences of all ages. Lily lives in Brooklyn, New York.

  • Beryl Rubin

    Reception & Events Coordinator

    brubin@bethsholomsf.org
    415-221-8736

    Beryl is a New Jersey native who has lived in the Bay Area for the past 20 years. After graduating from NYU's Gallatin School, Beryl spent a few years at Hebrew College in Boston studying Biblical and Modern Hebrew. She then pivoted to a career in food, as owner-operator of two businesses -- a corner bakery in Boston and a casual restaurant in the Mission District. After a stint living in Marin and running the kitchen at a meditation center there, Beryl is glad to be back in San Francisco, grounded in Jewish life by working in the office at CBS and studying Yiddish through online classes. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Golden Gate Park with her dog, Bluma, cooking meals for friends and family and dreaming of setting up a perfume laboratory in her basement.

Education