Beth Mann is one of many who were born and raised at Town & Village Synagogue and came back as a young adult because of its enormous draw for people of all walks of life seeking spiritual and communal connection. Her late parents, Sadie and Jack Mann, were active partners with the synagogue, her father having served as an officer before his untimely death when Beth was 13. Along with her three elder brothers, Joseph, Herb and Arthur, their family were influenced by the life of Conservative Judaism and were part of its evolution, as well.

It was here where she was turned on to a joyous and meaningful Jewish life, especially with the inspired leadership of Rabbi Stephen C. Lerner, z”l, her mentor and champion, and Dr. Anne Lapidus Lerner, who were both instrumental in Beth’s development, especially after the death of her father. They encouraged Beth to attend Camp Ramah, which dramatically changed the trajectory of her life. It was at her Bat Mitzvah that egalitarianism was introduced to the synagogue by Rabbi Lerner. Two years later, Beth became the first woman to read from the Torah at T&V. 17 years later, Beth became the youngest president in the synagogue’s history.

A recovering attorney, Beth entered the Jewish communal profession as the executive director of the new 14th Street Y, after haranguing several people about the lack of use of that institution, and who finally said to her: “Why don’t you do it?” – a challenge Beth could not resist. Beth went on to several executive positions in the Jewish communal field, including the Jewish Federations of North America. Today, Beth is an organizational consultant specializing in Jewish communal institutions in the areas of organizational strategy and financial resource development. She has served as the interim CEO for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and currently serves as Senior Philanthropic Advisor to the JCC Association of North America, Philanthropic consultant to the National Ramah Commission and professional advisor to JFACT. Her advice and guidance is sought out by a diverse array of organizations and institutions.

She is an alumna of the Wexner Heritage Foundation, the Institute for Not-For-Profit Management from Columbia University Business School and Weiner Educational Center of UJA-Federation of New York, and the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC.  She is a past recipient of the Matthew Elson Award of Distinction for Professional of the Year of the Association for Jewish Center Professionals, and a Board Member and/or Officer of several Jewish communal organizations, including Project Kesher, The Schechter School of Manhattan, and JPRO. Beth is enormously grateful to all her mentors and teachers who guided her in her career and who have become cherished friends.

Always the native New Yorker, Beth earned her B.A. in Political Science from Barnard College, Columbia University, and her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University.