Illuminating Holocaust Education

David Bark is an attorney specializing in real estate litigation and transactional law at Pettersen & Bark and serves as the Foreclosure Trustee and Underwriter for First American Title. A graduate of the University of San Diego with both a JD and MBA, David also lends his expertise to the San Diego District Attorney’s Office as a professional consultant in the Economic Crimes Division. Deeply committed to Jewish life and community, David has been an active member of Temple Beth Israel for many years, serving on its board and raising his three sons in the congregation’s religious school. He has long supported Jewish education and identity building through Camp Mountain Chai, where he is a board member and former board president. A dedicated advocate for Israel, David has been an AIPAC member since 1995. David recently completed a two-year term as Board Chair of Jewish Federation of San Diego and now serves as a Trustee of Jewish Federations of North America, in addition to his involvement with the American Jewish Committee and Hillel at UC Riverside. His commitment to Holocaust education deepened through years of parenting and community leadership, and the events surrounding October 7 reinforced his belief that young people must learn not only the history of the Holocaust but also the conditions that made it possible—an urgency that fuels his support for the Legacy of Light Goldberg Institute for Holocaust Education and the Federation’s mission to ensure those lessons are never lost.

Sonia Ancoli Israel is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and the Co-Chair of Jewish Federation of San Diego’s Annual Campaign. A second-generation Survivor, Sonia has devoted decades to Holocaust remembrance and education, including chairing the committees that created the Holocaust Memorials at the Lawrence Family JCC and Congregation Beth El, and serving on the board of The Butterfly Project. Internationally recognized for her groundbreaking research on sleep and circadian rhythms, Sonia has authored more than 575 scientific publications and has been honored with numerous lifetime achievement awards, including recognition as one of the top 1,000 female scientists in the world for four consecutive years. Her leadership extends across the San Diego Jewish community, where she has served in multiple board and executive roles, including as past president of Congregation Beth El and as chair of the community’s annual Yom HaShoah commemoration for nearly a decade. For Sonia, Holocaust education is an act of sacred remembrance and a vital safeguard against the dangers of forgetting. She believes deeply that by sharing stories and building understanding, we honor those lost and help ensure such atrocities never happen again. Outside her professional and communal life, Sonia finds joy in traveling the world and photographing its beauty; she often says that sharing meals and laughter across cultures is one of the most powerful antidotes to prejudice.

Jeff Schindler is the current Board Chair of Jewish Federation of San Diego, a CPA, career CFO, and real estate investor with decades of leadership experience across San Diego companies and Jewish communal organizations. The son of Holocaust Survivors Rose and Max Schindler (z”l)*, Jeff’s commitment to Jewish life and remembrance is both deeply personal and central to his community work. He helped guide Temple Emanu-El as co-President during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and recently led the restoration of San Diego’s original 1972 Holocaust memorial monument, now proudly housed at Federation. Jeff also co-chaired the San Diego delegation to the March of the Living in Poland, strengthening his resolve to ensure that Holocaust memory remains a living legacy for future generations. As Federation Board Chair, he is focused on expanding the Legacy of Light Goldberg Institute for Holocaust Education, including the launch of the Spark Interactive mobile museum and classroom, while engaging emerging leaders, fortifying the community’s partnership with Israel, and building strong coalitions to combat antisemitism. A native San Diegan, Jeff has been married to his wife, Rachel, for more than 33 years, and together they are the parents of three adult children: Moriah, Joey, and Jonny.

*of blessed memory

Elizabeth Siegler began her career in advertising at Young & Rubicam in New York, advising major Fortune 500 companies before continuing her work in marketing and account management with several San Diego–based consumer and multichannel retail organizations. Deeply committed to strengthening Jewish life and combating antisemitism, Elizabeth is a member of Jewish Federation of San Diego’s Board of Directors and an active leader in Women’s Philanthropy, playing a key role in launching the Kesher initiative to foster meaningful connection among Jewish women across San Diego. Elizabeth and her husband, Mitch, are founding donors of AJC San Diego, where she co-chairs the Positive Education Environment subcommittee, and together they co-founded the THINC Foundation, advocating for transparency and integrity in K–12 classrooms. She has participated in multiple Federation missions, including Mexico City, the Israel Solidarity Trip, and March of the Living, which have further deepened her commitment to global Jewish community and Holocaust remembrance. Elizabeth holds a B.S. in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. In her free time, she enjoys hot yoga, skiing, hiking, gardening, reading, and summers spent boating in the Canadian Gulf Islands. She and Mitch are the parents of Jake and Rebecca, who continue to inspire their dedication to building a safer and more connected Jewish future.