Our Leaders

Tiffany Doctors has been a member of Midbar Kodesh Temple for over 27 years and has been the head of the Education Committee, co-chaired a Recipe Book committee, sat on the Scholarship Committee, was a MKT Kadima Advisor and has been one of Midbar's Star Bakers.  Tiffany is a partner in a local law firm and participates in several professional organizations. 

Emily Ventura and her family have been congregants for the past 10 years. She has previously served as Treasurer and Religious School Chair, and has participated on various committees. She currently serves as Sisterhood Chair and oversees events as Executive Vice President. Emily is also a board member of JFSA and serves on the Women’s Philanthropy Council of Jewish Nevada. She assists her husband in his real estate business and volunteers at her children’s school. Emily looks forward to continuing to support, strengthen, and grow the MKT community.

Amy Fieldman, a current Vice President, past President, and founding member of Midbar Kodesh Temple has served on many committees.  Her children attended the first classes of MKT Preschool and MKT Religious school, with all 3 celebrating their B’nei Mitzvah at Midbar Kodesh Temple and becoming active in the USY program.  Her contributions in time, talent and treasure are invaluable and she looks forward to helping bring Midbar Kodesh Temple into the next decade

Jackie Gilbert serves as a Vice President on Midbar Kodesh Temple's Board of Directors. She is a long-time Las Vegas resident and retired attorney who calls Henderson home and members of Midbar her Nevada family. When not traveling or at home with her two-dog family, Jackie is at the Smith Center enjoying Broadway plays or can be heard yelling "Go Knights Go" at the T-Mobile Arena.

LVMPD Sergeant Darren Schwartz serves as a Vice President on Midbar Kodesh Temple's Board of Directors.  He advises on security at the synagogue. Both Darren and wife Jennifer were raised in Las Vegas and they both were USY advisors at Midbar Kodesh Temple.  They have been members of the synagogue for almost 2 decades and have a 12 year old son. 

Ileen Spoor is a retired Judicial Executive Assistant for the Eighth Judicial District Court and serves as Vice President, previously serving in the position of secretary at Midbar Kodesh Temple. Ileen coordinates MKT's book club.  Ileen and her husband Randy are long time members of the synagogue. The Spoor/Villanueva family are proud to be a 3 generation Midbar family! 

Erin, her husband Josh, and 2 children have been members of Midbar Kodesh Temple for over 3 years after her son, Mikah, attended Pre-K at the ECC at MKT. Erin’s daughter, Levli, celebrated her bat mitzvah at MKT in Sept 2023.  Erin has lived in Henderson since 1998. She is Executive Manager of SGG Management, a local property management company. Erin has been on the Religious School Committee for 2 years and serves on MKT’s Youth Commission.

Cindy holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Pepperdine University with an emphasis in Marketing. After graduating in 1995, she began her career as a Marketing Communications Specialist at a regional bank, where she advanced to Marketing Director, overseeing marketing, merchandising, and advertising for more than thirty branch locations. After taking time to raise her two daughters, Cindy remained professionally engaged as an online adjunct professor and by supporting marketing and finance initiatives for nonprofit organizations. She and her husband, Greg, were among the early families to join Midbar Kodesh and have witnessed many milestones in the congregation’s growth. Over the years, Cindy has served as ECC and Religious School committee chair, chaired multiple galas, and held leadership roles as Treasurer and President. She considers her family and the Midbar Kodesh community her greatest legacy and views the opportunity to give her time and leadership as a privilege.

Marc Grisar is the Immediate Past President of Midbar Kodesh Temple. He has been married to his wife, Robyn, for 26 years, and together they have three children. Marc is the owner of Mountain West Accounting in Las Vegas and has been an Enrolled Agent for sixteen years. He also volunteers as Treasurer for the local Little League District. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling with his family, following the Dodgers, and spending time with friends. Marc and his family have been members of Midbar Kodesh Temple since its founding in 1995.

Joel Altman has been a member of Midbar Kodesh Temple with wife Marci and their children for almost 2 decades, with Noah, Chase and Dax, all being graduates of MKT ECC.  Joel is an Exhibits Director for the Western Veterinarian Conference (WVC).   The Altman's parents are Bobbi & Hesh Altman and Janis & Harvey Riceberg, giving them status of a 3 generation Midbar family on both sides. 

Neil Braunstein along with his wife Lisa and 2 children have been members of Midbar Kodesh Temple for 8 years.  The Braunsteins were honored to have both children celebrate their b’nei mitzvah in the Midbar sanctuary.  Neil is a physician who specializes in Rheumatology and has lived in Southern Nevada since 2006.

Jana, her husband, Demian, and their daughter, Abigail, have been members of Midbar for over 7 years. Jana converted to Judaism at MKT with Rabbi Tecktiel in 2019. She holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and has extensive experience in photography, website creation and management, as well as overseeing various marketing campaigns.

Ira Goldberg moved to Las Vegas from the Bronx, NY in 1978 and with his wife Isabel, of blessed memory.  Together, they became one of the first members of Midbar Kodesh Temple. Ira is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and a clinical member of A.A.M.F.T. with a private practice with Comprehensive Therapy Centers.  Ira has always been available to the youth of MKT and has often been a guest host at USY and Ma'ayan events.  

Barbara Grisar Raben has been a member of Midbar Kodesh Temple for almost 2 decades. Barbara has been honored by JFSA for the work that she has done as a past President and for the community. Barbara was a co-President of Hadassah Southern Nevada and served as President of Hadassah's Desert Mountain Region. Barbara is married Terry Raben and together they enjoy time with their children and grandchildren.

David Schwartz has been a member of Midbar Kodesh Temple along with his wife since 2005. Both of his children have attended the ECC and Religious School. He currently serves as ombuds at a local university and is deeply involved in a number of professional organizations.  

Laura Teisch, husband Avi Moas, and their 2 children have been congregants for 5 years. Both of Laura's children attend the ECC at Midbar currently and she has worked closely with the preschool over the years. Laura is a pediatrician at a local private practice here in Henderson. Outside of the office, Laura enjoys traveling and hiking.