Meet Our Team
Rabbi Lisa
Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller has been the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Torah since 1997, bringing warmth, care, and energy to our community. Her passion for teaching shines through in her adult learning programs, Torah study, and engagement with confirmation students. She is a strong advocate for building a cohesive Jewish community, celebrating simchas, and supporting congregants during difficult times.
As a respected leader in the Ventura interfaith community and local government, Rabbi Lisa upholds Temple Beth Torah’s positive reputation. Her commitment is to open up the promise of a Jewishly enriched life to all. Beloved by both children and adults, she fosters a warm and welcoming congregation alongside the Director of Education, the Early Childhood Director, the cantorial soloist, and the Board of Directors.
Ordained in 1991 from the Hebrew Union College, Rabbi Lisa also holds a Master's of Hebrew Letters and mentored rabbinic students. She trained in Jewish Education at Brandeis University and earned a degree in Journalism. In recognition of her 25 years in the rabbinate, she received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity. She and her husband, Rabbi Seth, are proud parents of three daughters active in temple life.
Cantor Robin
Robin Faigin brings her love and passion for Jewish music to our bimah each Shabbat. Her heartfelt voice and guitar have been part of the TBT Shabbat experience since 2002, and she has been a member of the High Holy Day choir for an equally long time. Robin has fulfilled the role of Cantor “officially” since the summer of 2020. She brings an accessibility, a kindness, and a genuine love for the spiritual power of music to everything she does. You will find Cantor Robin singing with our Torah School students, training our B’nai Mitzvah students to chant their torah portions, visiting congregants at times of illness, and spearheading creative services throughout the year, often with a circle of musicians.
Robin and her husband Jerry have been members of TBT since the late 1990’s, having raised their two children here.
Director of Education and Operations
Cliff Wilcox is the Director of Education and Operations at Temple Beth Torah, a position he has held since May 2021. Cliff and his family have been members of TBT since 1998. He holds a Ph.D. in intellectual history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and an M.A. in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR).
Cliff brings many years of teaching experience at the college and secondary levels. He also brings extensive experience from the corporate world in operations, project management, and staff development. He is passionate about education and learning and is dedicated to Temple Beth Torah and our Jewish community.
Director of Children's World Preshcool
Marion Levin-Welch has been a Torah School teacher at Temple Beth Torah for 32 years and has directed the NAEYC-accredited Preschool for 20 years. Since 2003, she has launched innovative programs, including enrichment classes and outdoor education, while also supporting community outreach efforts. Under her leadership, Children’s World is a top preschool in the region.
She holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts, with a focus on Social Welfare, and a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology from California State University, Northridge, specializing in Early Childhood Education. Marion’s work reflects her passion for fostering children's inquisitiveness and compassion.
President
Berta Steele has been an active member of Temple Beth Torah since 2003.
She is incredibly fortunate to work with a fine group of dedicated volunteers and professionals. Temple Beth Torah is a partnership-led congregation, where our lay leaders work hand-in-hand with our professional staff to create and maintain a caring and compassionate community.
