jeffrey rips, executive director

Jeffrey’s main professional goal has always been, and continues to be, to build community while enhancing the lives of those around him. He has accomplished this through his over 35 years of working in the Jewish community. Jeffrey’s career in Jewish communal service began in resident camping and then to several years leading JCCs Youth, Teen, and Camp programs. He also served as a Hillel Executive Director for 13 years, and prior to joining Temple Akiba, worked at the Alpert Jewish Community Center in Long Beach for over 12 years, with 7+ of those years as the Executive Director.

Jeffrey has always been community minded. Through the years he has coached countless youth teams, served on many youth sports boards, participated in scouting commissions, and spent 6 years on the Rossmoor Community Services District Board.

The only thing Jeffrey loves more than building Jewish Community is his family. Jeffrey met his wife Lauren, a first grade public school teacher, while they were both working at a JCC day camp, and they have three children. Their daughter Ellie recently graduated from CSULB, and is in her 2nd year working at Houston Hillel, and is beginning her own journey of building community. Jeffrey and Lauren also have twin sons. Joshua is in his third year at ASU’s Barrett Honors College, is studying finance. Jacob, who is one of only 10 freshman selected as a Jacobs Scholar for the Jacobs School of Engineering at UCSD, is studying structural engineering and is also in his third year.

Jeffrey grew up a Dodger fan, but is now an avid Angels baseball fan. He still strongly roots for the Dodgers when they are not playing his beloved Angels. Jeffrey also enjoys going to theater, hiking in Yosemite, traveling, playing games at family game nights, watching a good movie, and is known by his co-workers, family, and friends as a pun-master (the jury is still out if that is a good thing).

Randee Bishoff, Director of Education

Randee has been involved in Jewish education for as long as she can remember, from her education as a student at Temple Emanuel Day School, to her involvement in youth programs and BBYO. Randee has an M.A. in secular education as well as an additional M.A. in Jewish Education from HUC. Along with her valuable classroom teaching background she brings experience in programming and innovative teaching methods. Randee has a background in administration and has been a member of the Temple Akiba Faculty beginning in the classroom and moving around all the way to her current position as Director of Education. Randee brings her love of Judaism that she has grown over the years into the classrooms of the Akiba students through sharing her rich knowledge about customs, traditions and culture. Randee shares this love of Judaism with her husband, Scott, and her two children Benjamin and Sarah for whom Temple Akiba is known as home.

Leah Penso, Director of Resident Camp and Youth Programs

Leah grew up at Temple Akiba and has been working with Akiba youth since 2006 through Akiba High, Resident Camp, and TASTY – Akiba’s 4th-12th grade youth group. Leah loves to bring her passion for children and creative programming into all areas of Akiba. Leah holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Child Development and a Masters degree in Counseling with a license in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Robyn Altman, Director of Day camp

Robyn has been working with the youth at Temple Akiba since 2006. She has taught Religious School for many years and attended day camp and overnight camp for most of her life. Combining her experiences as events manager along with her love for Judaism makes running Temple Akiba's Day Camp a brilliant fit!!