Our Past Presidents' Commitment to Community

Our Past Presidents’ Commitment to Community

Deborah K. Goldfarb

As immediate past co-presidents of the Jewish Long Beach & Alpert Jewish Community Center Board, both Edie Brodsky and Barry Zamost have had long histories of involvement in the Long Beach Jewish Community. They have served as role models for the community over the past 40 years.

Both joined the JCC* Young Couples Leadership group, with their spouses, early in their careers. While Barry was building his private practice of gastroenterology, his wife Rita was actively involved. She became president of the JCC from 1990-1992, and she and Barry were involved in raising funds for the new building.

Edie’s volunteer involvement began with the JCC Early Childhood Education Center and family committees in the mid-1980s. She soon became involved in the Federation through Women’s Division, chairing many events. She was chosen to be on the national Jewish Federations’ Women’s Young Leadership Cabinet for 6 years. From there, she served on both the JCC and Jewish Federation boards, before taking a hiatus to serve as PTA president and build her real estate career.

Following Rita’s term, Barry was on the Alpert Jewish Community Center board for 25 years, serving on the Executive Committee along with actively working on Golf Tournaments, Maccabi Games, and the Aquatics committee.

Edie again joined the Alpert JCC board when the new building opened, quickly becoming Secretary, Vice President and finally AJCC President from 2007-2009, and later was nominated to the national Jewish Community Center Association board. Next Edie served on the Jewish Community Foundation Board, and held Vice President Legacy and Policy chairmanships.

In September of 2020, Barry assumed the presidency of the AJCC. At the same time Edie became president of the combined Jewish Federation/Jewish Community Foundation board, which had recently become Jewish Long Beach, in July 2020. Together, Edie and Barry facilitated the process to integrate the AJCC and Jewish Long Beach.

When asked why he had been so committed, Barry said, “Our connection to the Jewish Community Center had a profound and positive impact on the quality of our lives and those of our children. Through our volunteerism and philanthropy, we hope to increase the likelihood that more individuals and families will have similar experiences.”

Likewise, Edie said, “Being a child of two Holocaust Survivors, I want to make sure that the Jewish people survive and that my parents’ survival meant something beyond our own family. Second, it was through the AJCC and the Federation that my husband and I made most of our friends in Long Beach. It gave us a home in a place where we knew no one. I want to make sure that our community stays strong and is there for generations to come. I want them to feel part of a greater Jewish Community and be connected in a positive way as we did.”.

Ultimately, Edie and Barry assumed the Co-Presidency of the newly integrated Jewish Long Beach board in January 2022, serving through December. Their leadership has truly left a legacy in the community.

Deborah K. Goldfarb served as CEO of the Jewish Federation and Community Foundation from 2005 to 2019, and as Interim Executive Director of the Alpert JCC from 2020 to 2021.

*”JCC” refers to any programs or activities that took place at the Long Beach JCC prior to the generous gift from the Alpert Family in 1998.