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Lynbrook temple elects new president

Lisa Burch to head Reform Am-Echad congregation

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Temple Am Echad South Shore Reform Congregation, in Lynbrook, has elected Lisa Burch, of Rockville Centre, its new president. Her term is two years.

Burch, 49, who has served as the temple’s first and second vice president for the past four years, was selected by a nominating committee and then voted into office by the congregation. She has strong ties to the temple, having attended its nursery school as a youngster. Then Temple Emanu-el, the synagogue merged with Temple Sinai of Long Island, in Lawrence, in 2009.

Burch, who lives with her husband and two children, had her bat mitzvah at Temple Emanu-el in legacy in 1978. Her 15-year-old daughter celebrated her bat mitzvah there two years ago, and her 11-year-old son will have his bar mitzvah celebration at the temple in 2017.

As a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, Am Echad subscribes to the open, inclusive and progressive tenets of liberal Judaism. As its president, Burch said, she will lead the board by working closely with it, and helping it set goals for the congregation.

“I want to make sure that Reform Judaism has a presence here on Long Island,” she said. “We want the congregation to be one of openness, and be welcoming to people of diverse backgrounds and of different faiths and lifestyles.”

Burch takes over the presidency from Alan Paskoff.

“The last two years were very exciting for me as president, as we continued to grow our congregation, which is now starting its seventh year as Am Echad,” Paskoff said. “I’ve known Lisa for more than 40 years … [we] both grew up in what was Temple Emanu-el. I feel very good handing over the reins to her. She will do a terrific job.”

Burch said she is also proud to continue the legacy of her mother, Barbara Stern, who also served as the temple’s president. “I am the first daughter of a female president to serve,” she said.

“I’m so proud of my talented daughter on becoming the second generation in our family to be president of our temple,” said Stern.

Burch invites the public to come and see what the temple is all about. “There’s so much going on — we’re an active congregation,” she said. “We have an early-education center, the sisterhood, the men’s club, and wonderful events throughout the year.”

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