President's Welcome
Jan Biros, President
Shalom and thanks for browsing our website!
Temple Brith Achim has been serving the reform Jewish community in the greater Philadelphia area for over 50 years. Our community works together to create a wonderful, welcoming "second home" for our current members and for those of you contemplating joining us.
Our Mission of Torah (Teach), Brit (Build Connections) and Avodah ( Advance Spirituality), along with a commitment to Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) is lived here at TBA every day by so many dedicated leaders, staff and volunteers, and it's an honor to count myself among them.
Meet TBA President Jan Biros
Jan Biros, our elected Congregational President, took office June 1st 2023. Jan has been a member of TBA since moving to the area in 1985. She has previously served as co-president of Sisterhood and member of the Sisterhood Board, and over the past year she has been co-chair of the 50th Anniversary Celebration and the Capital Campaign. Jan is also a long-time member of the TBA Choir.
Jan has a Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) from the State University of New York at Albany, and before her retirement in 2016 she served as Senior Vice Provost of Drexel University. In the years following her retirement, she has been an active member and president of the Phoenixville Rotary Club and president of the local chapter of the Gundaker Foundation, a charitable offshoot of Rotary. In 2017, Jan traveled to Myanmar as support staff for a Gundaker-sponsored medical mission providing cleft-palate surgery for indigent children. Jan has also served as a board member of Alianzas de Phoenixville, an advocacy group for recent immigrants; co-chair of the Phoenixville Fair Housing committee; and a board member of the Chester County Volunteer English Program.
Jan has been married 47 years to TBA Choir Director Steve Hirsch. They have two sons, Matt and Dan, both of whom became bar mitzvahs and confirmands at Brith Achim. They also have two wonderful granddaughters, Millie and Rosie.
Jan sends special thanks to outgoing TBA president Steve Kantrowitz. “Steve accomplished an amazing amount in his four years as president,” she says, “and I really appreciate the confidence and guidance he’s given me over the last few months as I’ve prepared to succeed him. He’s definitely going to be a hard act to follow.”
Jan is eager to hear from the congregation regarding their ideas and concerns. You can reach her via email at president@brithachim.org. I look forward to connecting with you!
Kol tuv,
Jan Biros
President, Temple Brith Achim