Jeff Goss, Past President
Jeff grew up in the well-known Jewish hotbed of Southern California, San Marino. Growing up in San Marino, he had to work to be Jewish. Jeff attended Hebrew school and was confirmed at Temple Beth Torah in Alhambra. He then attended Los Angeles Hebrew High School. He was active in USY and was a camper and staff at Camp Ramah for close to fifteen years.
After graduating from San Marino High School, Jeff attended UCLA for two years and then transferred to USC when he followed one of his older brothers into the world of accounting. After spending almost four years at Arthur Andersen & Co., Jeff went to work for Miller Kaplan Arase where he recently celebrated his thirty-third work anniversary. Jeff is the partner in charge of the firm’s Employee Benefits group, serving clients throughout the western United States. He has spoken at regional and national conferences on audit and tax regulations affecting employee benefit plans.
Jeff learned the importance of giving back to the community from his parents Leonard (z’’l) and Hilda (z’’l) who gave a tremendous amount of time and energy to Temple Beth Torah (and its successor Temples), San Marino Public Library, Pasadena Homeless Shelter, and many other non-profit organizations. Jeff has been on the Valley Beth Shalom Board of Directors and Executive Committee since the early 1990s and has also served on the Board and numerous committees of Camp Ramah.
Jeff has been happily married to Karen for more than thirty-three years and is the proud father and father-in-law of Lauren and Spencer Ruskin and Matthew Goss and (soon to be daughter-in-law) Shayna Gerhardt. He is very close to his four siblings and their spouses, brother and sister-in-law and sixteen nieces and nephews plus eleven nieces and nephews-in-law.
Donna and Ron Bender
VBS has been central in Ron’s life since childhood, and after meeting Donna in Israel while studying abroad, they were destined to continue making VBS their home. Ron is a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania and has a J.D. from Stanford University Law School. He is the Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of the insolvency/bankruptcy law firm Levene, Neale, Bender, Yoo & Golubchik L.L.P. An avid sports coach, Ron played a key role in starting the official sports program at VBS Day School and bringing Coach Sam to VBS. He is engaged in many Israel-related and Jewish organizations.
Donna has served on numerous VBS committees, and was a member of the VBS Day School Board. Following a 25-year career as a healthcare executive, Donna departed to devote her energy to the Jewish Community and Israel. For over two decades, Donna has served the pro-Israel community in leadership roles, including Chairing AIPAC's Valley Division and the Valley pro-Israel Political Network. In 2013, Donna joined AIPAC's National Board of Directors and serves on its Executive Committee. Traveling to Washington frequently, she has built meaningful relationships with countless Members of Congress and participates in Congressional Trips to Israel. Donna also serves on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, and on the Los Angeles Birthright Leadership Council. She is an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wexner Heritage Program.
A love of VBS runs in the Bender Family; Ron’s mother, Adina Bender, was a beloved VBS Hebrew teacher for 50 years, and Donna’s father, Sydney Orel, served many terms on the VBS Board of Directors and is currently a Trustee. Donna and Ron are the very proud parents of Talia (Ryan) and Ari - both VBS Day School graduates - and the grandparents of little loves, Liam and Lily.
Gala Reservations
