Dessert Reception to follow, co-sponsored by
Roberta Herman Dietrich, Houston Jewish Community Foundation
Roberta Herman Dietrich has served as Executive Director of the Houston Jewish Community Foundation (HJCF) since 2007, leading with heart, vision, and an unwavering commitment to the Jewish future.
Roberta is a true connector, working hand-in-hand with legacy donors, families, local nonprofits, and professional advisors to make philanthropy meaningful and accessible. HJCF partners with more than 40 Houston-area Jewish organizations to help build their endowments and ensure their long-term strength. Roberta also secured HJCF’s participation in the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Life & Legacy program, sparking a community-wide movement for after-lifetime giving.
Known for her warmth and thoughtful guidance, she helps donors align their values with their giving in deeply personal ways. “I believe philanthropy is one of the most powerful ways we express who we are and what we stand for,” Roberta says. “It’s a privilege to walk alongside people as they give with purpose and heart.”
Roberta and her husband, Michael, live in Houston with their beloved (and oversized) cats, Sergio and Marie, and their two dachshunds, Mickey and Kevin.
Ali Bamberger
A proud fourth-generation Houstonian, Ali Bamberger has deep roots in the local Jewish community and a strong passion for helping it thrive. After spending many years in Durham, North Carolina for college and early career opportunities, she returned to Houston in the summer of 2021 and quickly reimmersed herself in community life.
Ali brings her background in hospitality management, catering sales, and event planning to everything she does—combining professionalism with heart. At the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, she currently serves as Chair of the Minnette and Jerome Robinson Young Adult Division (YAD), helping to create meaningful programming for the next generation of Jewish leadership. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Houston Chapter of National Young Leadership Cabinet through JFNA, and has previously served on the Hineni Communications Committee. She continues her impact as a current member of the Houston Jewish Community Foundation Grant Committee. Ali is also a member of the Urban Green Steering Committee through Hermann Park Conservancy and a member of Congregation Emanu El.
By day, Ali is the Sales and Consignment Manager for a boutique dealership that specializes in collector and investment-quality vehicles. When she’s not working, Ali loves exploring Houston’s vibrant food and coffee scene, traveling, and spending time with her two beloved pups—a Boston Terrier and a French Bulldog.
Ali’s energy, dedication, and warmth make her a true asset to the Houston Jewish community.
Adrian Heid
Adrian Heid is an architect and entrepreneur lucky to call Houston home! Born in Colombia, he immigrated to South Florida with his family as a teenager. After working for architecture firms in New York and Miami, Adrian founded his own architecture and design practice, Based Architects, in 2015 with residential and commercial projects across Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.
A descendant of Holocaust survivors on both sides, Adrian focuses much of his community work on combating antisemitism through Holocaust memory and education, serving on the Board of Advisors of Holocaust Museum Houston. He is currently spearheading 3GHTX, a Houston-based initiative supporting third-generation Holocaust descendants – a program directly benefiting from the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s Impact Fund grants. This summer, he helped recruit and lead a group of Texans to participate in Ride for the Living, JCC Krakow’s signature fundraiser program and 60-mile bike ride from Auschwitz-Birkenau to Krakow, Poland. Previously, Adrian served on the Federation’s Hineni Inclusion Committee. In 2022, he and his partner, Andrew Burnett, participated in Houston’s inaugural Honeymoon Israel (HMI) cohort, returning to Israel in June 2023 following the October 7th attacks in a national alumni leadership capacity with HMI. This year Adrian joined JFNA’s National Young Leadership Cabinet and is looking forward to continuing to expand his leadership skills and community knowledge, locally and beyond.
Adrian enjoys escaping Texas’ summer heat in Colorado, improving his skiing season-after-season, exploring contemporary art and design galleries, urban planning and buildings, and caring for him and his partner’s two Basenjis, Max and Moritz.
Jennifer LeVine, Jack Segal Academy of Beth Yeshurun
Jennifer LeVine is in her seventh year as Head of School at Jack Segal Academy of Beth Yeshurun, where she has led transformative growth across the institution. Under her leadership, the school has undergone a historic name change, opened its first-ever infant class, introduced an affordable tuition initiative, and significantly increased enrollment in both the Early Childhood and Elementary divisions, making the school one of the largest early childhood-5th grade Jewish day schools in the country.
A proud Jewish day school graduate, Jennifer grew up in Los Angeles and has dedicated her entire professional life to Jewish education. She holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from Loyola Marymount University, an M.A. in Education from Pepperdine University, and is beginning her doctoral studies (Ed.D.) in Early Childhood Education Leadership at American Jewish University. Before her current role, she served in educational leadership positions at Kadima Day School in Los Angeles and Akiba Academy in Dallas. Jennifer is the 2023 recipient of the Rabbi Jack Segal Excellence in Education Award and a passionate advocate for individualized learning. She and her husband, Joel, are proud parents of three children—Aiden (17), Alex (10), and Amelia (10)—and are deeply committed to Jewish life, learning, and community. As an educator and mother, Jennifer is devoted to creating nurturing, developmentally responsive environments where children thrive.
Rabbi Asher Block, Robert M. Beren Academy
For the last 15 years, Rabbi Asher Block has served as an Upper School Judaic Studies educator the Robert M. Beren Academy. In addition to instilling in his students with the confidence to learn Jewish texts independently, Rabbi Block focuses on the wisdom and incredible depth of each teaching of the Torah and it’s practical relevance to our everyday lives. Rabbi Block holds a Masters Degree in Talmudic Law and Ordination from the Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Baltimore) as well as a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Loyola University (Chicago). When not spending time with family, he enjoys basketball, finding travel deals for family and friends,and keeping up with students from years past across the globe.
Daniel Smith, Miriam Browning Jewish Learning Center of Congregation Beth Israel
Daniel Smith is a native Houstonian and a dedicated Jewish educator with a B.A. in Philosophy and a Minor in Jewish Studies from the University of Houston. He currently serves as the 6th Grade Judaics Educator and Hebrew Coordinator at the Miriam Browning Jewish Learning Center at Congregation Beth Israel (where he also attended in his youth). He also received the rank of Eagle Scout through Beth Israel’s Boy Scout Troop 806. During college at UH he became a brother of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity holding the offices of President of the Chapter and Jewish Identity Chair. After graduation, Daniel returned to Beth Israel with passion to help young Jews cement a foundation in Judaism and gain an understanding of what it means to be someone who is a part of the Jewish people. Wanting to improve and enhance his educator skill set, he is a graduate of the Israel Link Educator Program in Chicago and a participant in the Shirley Barish Educators Israel Experience where he tries to bring Judaism and Israel to life in the classroom with stories, pictures, videos, and artifacts. Daniel is deeply committed to fostering meaningful connections to Jewish tradition among his students.
Judaism and Jewish learning are not only Daniel’s professional focus but also a central part of his personal identity. He brings passion, purpose, and warmth to the classroom, striving to help young Jews embrace their heritage and take ownership of their place in the Jewish story. Outside of his work, Daniel enjoys cooking, camping, and exploring historical sites and museums.
