Meet Our Leaders

Born and raised in Las Vegas Greg Goussak serves as Presidentof Midbar Kodesh Temple.  He is a Principal Auditor for the Clark County Water Reclamation District.  Greg with his wife Cindy and their 2 young adult daughters, who both celebrated their bat mitzvah at MKT, has been a member of the synagogue for almost 20 years.

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

Dave Gavrin, a retired middle school teacher from New York, currently serves as a Vice President of Midbar Kodesh Temple, and has been President of Men's Club for many years.  Each year he heads up January's annual poker tournament, February's World Wide Wrap and April's yellow candle project.  At Sukkot and other times during the year you will find Dave at the BBQ visiting with congregants young and old, and every Shabbat sitting next to wife Roza.

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. 

Marc Grisar recently returned to the Midbar Kodesh Temple board of directors as Treasurer.  He had served in that position several years ago and was invited to serve again.  Marc and wife Robyn were raised in Las Vegas and have been members of the synagogue for over 20 years. They have 3 children, all who celebrated their b'nei mitzvah with the congregation.  He is an Enrolled Agent with C.Terry Raben, CPA and spends time with District 2 Little League as an Assistant District Administrator and Treasurer. 

Tiffany Doctors, who was raised in Las Vegas, has been a member of Midbar Kodesh Temple for 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.  She has done set up and clean up for many functions, has always been available for the USYers as she and her children, Jordan and Elizabeth, are USY alumni and husband Steven is a former MKT USY Director.  Tiffany is a partner in a local law firm and participates in several professional organizations. Tiffany's parents, Jerry & Marcy Welt are also long time members of Midbar Kodesh Temple, making Welt/Doctors a 3 generation MKT family. 

Joel Altman, raised in Las Vegas, 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 MKTECC.  Joel is an Exhibits Director for the Western Veterinarian Conference (WVC).   This is Joel's second term on the MKT Board of Directors. The Altman's parents are Bobbi & Hesh Altman and Janis & Harvey Riceberg, giving them status of a 3 generation Midbar family on both sides. 

Dayna Eisen grew up in New York and Atlanta, moving to Las Vegas to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2012. While at UNLV, Dayna was very involved in Hillel and various other campus organizations, graduating in 2016 with a Hospitality Management degree. While at UNLV, she met her now husband, Jonathan, and in 2018, they were married by Rabbi Tecktiel. Dayna began her career in the hotel industry, working in luxury properties both in and out of Las Vegas, recently moving on to corporate event planning. Dayna founded Midbar Kodesh’s young adult group,YAD, whose programming has recently included sponsoring a CCSD student for the holidays and hosting a Chanukah Gift Exchange. Dayna and Jonathan are third generation members of MKT, and are excited to welcome the fourth generation of Eisens into the world in summer of 2023. 

Ira J. Goldberg moved to Las Vegas from the Bronx, NY in 1978 and with his wife Isabel, of blessed memory. They were very active in the Las Vegas Jewish community.  Together, they became one of the first members of Midbar Kodesh Temple. Ira was a teacher in New York.  For many years, he was a teacher and high school counselor at a local private school and at Green Valley High School, as well as a private therapist in his own practice.  Ira is currently 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 Midbar Kodesh Temple and has often been a guest host at USY and Ma'ayan events.  

Laura Pyzer is new to the MKT Board of Directors.  She joined Midbar Kodesh Temple 6 years ago, taking interest in the Midbar's educational committees as her children continue their education at Midbar Kodesh Temple.  Married to Jeremy Pyzer, they share 2 young children, 1 enrolled in the Religious School and the other, recently celebrating her bat mitzvah.  Laura is CEO and Owner of PyTown Marketing, a local advertising agency focusing on the Strip.  She is a co-founder of Boulder City Community Alliance, a member of American Association of University Women, and sits on the Marketing Committee for United Way of Southern Nevada. 

Barbara Grisar Raben, a member of Midbar Kodesh Temple for almost 2 decades, was elected to Midbar's Board of Directors at the recent annual meeting. Barbara has been honored by JFSA for the work that she has done with that organization 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 to long time Las Vegan Terry Raben and together, they enjoy Terry's children Neil Raben and Holly & Kevin Chidester and grandson, Scott. She is mother to Michael, Andrew, David, and Marc and grandmother to Riley, Kameron, Emma and Ethan. Her son Marc, with wife Robyn and their 3 children, are also MKT members, which gives the Grisar/Raben family status as a 3 generation MKT family.

Ileen Spoor, who is a Judicial Executive Assistant for the Eighth Judicial District Court, recently stepped down from her position of secretary at Midbar Kodesh Temple.  Over the years, she has headed committees and has been a Vice President. Ileen, who heads up MKT's book club, invites you to join her each month with the newest title choice.  You will find Ileen and husband Randy, long time members of the synagogue, attending services with their young grandchildren, 1 currently enrolled at MKT ECC and 2 who are alumni of the synagogue's preschool. The Spoor/Villanueva family are proud to be a 3 generation Midbar family! 

Emily Ventura has worked closely with the Early Childhood Center for several years and for the past year has been a membership co-chair of Midbar Kodesh Temple's restructured Sisterhood.  She joined the board this year taking Religious School as her portfolio.  Emily, and husband Ron and their 2 children have been congregants for 6 years.  She assists her husband in his real estate business.  Emily came to Las Vegas in 2007 as the Assistant Area Director of AIPAC. She also worked for the Jewish Federation before becoming a stay at home parent. Emily is looking forward to continuing to improve and grow the MKT Religious School community. 

Cory Weinstein, recently elected to the Board of Directors of Midbar Kodesh Temple, moved to Las Vegas from Simi Valley with wife Danielle and their 2 young children, arriving in the summer of 2017. While shopping for preschools, they found a synagogue home, becoming members in 2018. Their son and daughter are both ECC alumni and now, students in the Religious School. Cory is a former data analyst for an insurance company and is the VP of Operations of Bass Brushes, a family owned Las Vegas manufacturing and distribution business. Cory sits on Midbar's financial committee and brings his business skills to Midbar Kodesh Temple. He is a sports enthusiast, enjoying coaching his son's hockey team and playing hockey and golf himself. 

Kevin Diamond is a recent past co-President of Midbar Kodesh Temple and will continue to serve on several committees, including the COVID-19 Steering Committee that has helped guide Midbar families through the pandemic. Kevin is a Senior Partner at the law firm of Thorndal, Armstrong, Delk, Balkenbush & Eisinger, having worked there since 2000.  Kevin and his wife Sharon, have a special connection to Midbar Kodesh Temple, since as Las Vegas natives, they grew up with many of the members.  Their son Nathaniel (Nate) is a USY Advisor and high school daughter Talia is the USY President.

Shira Wood recently completed her co-Presidency at Midbar Kodesh Temple and will continue work with the synagogue on several committees. Husband Adam is from Australia, and while they spent some time together down under, they moved back to Las Vegas in 2004. While serving as co-President and during both years of the pandemic, they celebrated the bar and bat mitzvah of their children, Max and Kate. Taking on the challenge and being successfully adaptable were key for the 2 years of her co-presidency. Shira is a Talent Leader at Deloitte. She grew up in Las Vegas, and her parents, Neal and Judie Lewis, were some of the first members of Midbar Kodesh Temple, proudly making them a 3 generation Midbar family!