Our Team

Cindy Rogoway

Executive Director

  (415) 546-9902 x107
  cindy@hflasf.org

In May 2014, Cindy Rogoway became the new Executive Director of Hebrew Free Loan, the first woman to assume this role since the agency was founded in 1897.

For the past 30 years, Cindy has worked in fundraising and non-profit management within the San Francisco Jewish community. She joined Hebrew Free Loan in 2003 when she was hired as the agency’s first Development Director. In that capacity, she managed both fundraising and marketing activities for the agency, expanding Hebrew Free Loan’s reach into the community so that more people could have the opportunity to become self-sufficient and realize their dreams.

In 2010, she became the Associate Director and assumed responsibility for our loan program. This role brought her in contact with hundreds of loan recipients each year and deepened Cindy’s appreciation for the “profound and lasting impact a micro-loan can make on a person’s life.”

Prior to joining Hebrew Free Loan, Cindy worked for the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation for 14 years, where she focused on fundraising, community building, and leadership development.

Cindy graduated from UCLA, where she majored in Communication Studies. While at UCLA, she got her first experience of Jewish communal work by serving as the Business Manager for Ha’Am, the UCLA Jewish newspaper. She also founded and served as the first chairperson of the Jewish Student Union, an umbrella organization for all the Jewish groups on campus, which still operates today. After graduating, Cindy moved to the Bay Area to begin her career.

In addition to her professional involvement in the Jewish community, Cindy has been an active volunteer for political campaigns and several local Jewish organizations, including Congregation Kol Emeth, the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School and the Palo Alto-based Friendship Circle. She also serves as a President of the International Association of Jewish Free Loans.

She finds it extremely gratifying to work for organizations that strengthen community and provide support to those in need.

Cindy lives in the Bay Area with her husband, Joe, and their son, Alan.

Beth Blackman, Z”L

In Memoriam (1953-2021)

Beth Blackman, our beloved friend and colleague, passed away on January 18, 2021, after a valiant fight with cancer. Beth waged her battle with steadfast determination for over a year, surrounded by a circle of loving friends and family. While she realized early on that this was not a war she would ultimately win, her will to live as long as she possibly could never faltered.

Beth was a longtime employee of Hebrew Free Loan, working here for more than 36 years. Her father, Cantor Julius Blackman, served as our Executive Director for 27 years from 1963-1990, and Beth came on board in 1984. She held various titles over the years, serving most recently as our Finance Associate/Loan Officer. Beth managed our finances, but she did so much more.

One of her favorite responsibilities was interviewing loan applicants. Indeed, during this past year, Beth continued to meet with clients over Zoom even during her hospital stays. Over the years, Beth worked with hundreds of clients. She was kind, loyal, and generous, and she guided people through the loan process with compassion and understanding.

Outside of work, Beth loved spending time with close friends and her extended family. She was a caregiver par excellence, assisting her mother, Phyllis Blackman, before she passed in 2007, and then turning her attention to her father, Julius Blackman, until he passed in 2019. Her unselfish devotion to her parents was remarkable and inspirational.

Beth loved to watch both baseball and basketball, and was an ardent fan of the SF Giants and the Golden State Warriors. She was politically aware and engaged until the end, and she also loved the game show Jeopardy. Last week she was able to watch Ken Jennings (her all-time favorite contestant) serve as guest host on the show.

In addition to her multitude of fans, Beth is survived by her sister Ellen Blackman of Culver City, CA and her brother Paul Blackman of Arlington, VA. Donations can be made in Beth’s memory to the Cantor Julius and Phyllis Blackman and Beth Amy Blackman Fund at Hebrew Free Loan.

Beth was a gute neshama (good soul), and her memory will be for a blessing — now and forever.

Jamie Hyams

Development Director

  (415) 546-9902 x106
  jamie@hflasf.org

Jamie Hackel Hyams is our Development Director. Prior to joining our team in 2016, Jamie served as Associate Director, West Coast of Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and as Executive Director of Contra Costa JCC. She and her husband have two grown sons, three cats, and a dog named Jane.

Jamie holds a BA in History from Lewis and Clark College, a BFA from California College of the Arts, and an MA in Rabbinic Studies from the Academy for Jewish Religion, CA. A Wexner Heritage Fellow, she’s an avid cyclist whenever she can fit it in.

Marina Levy

Operations Manager

  (415) 546-9902 x104
  marina@hflasf.org

Marina Levy joined the Hebrew Free Loan team in May of 2014. She is involved in all facets of the organization including loans, programming, and operations. Prior to joining Hebrew Free Loan, Marina held positions in administration and management in both the non-profit and for-profit worlds.

Marina was born in the Soviet Union and also lived in Israel for six years before emigrating to the US in 2004. Now residing on the Peninsula, Marina enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, and listening to salsa music in her spare time.

Terry Lowe

Assistant Director

  (415) 546-9902 x108
  terry@hflasf.org

Judith Markowitz

Loan Officer

  (415) 546-9902 x118
  judith@hflasf.org

Judith joined Hebrew Free Loan as a Loan Officer in April of 2020. A graduate of Ithaca College, with a dual major in music performance and business, Judith began her extensive career in Human Resources at American Express in New York. She held numerous HR leadership positions at Lampen Associates in New Zealand, Jordan Marsh in Boston, and Macy’s in New York and the Bay Area. Judith’s desire to contribute beyond volunteering in her community led to new career opportunities as a Jewish communal professional. She has held director roles at The Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, the Contra Costa JCC and the Jewish Federation of the East Bay.

Judith continues to be an active volunteer as a lay service leader and cantorial soloist at Beth Chaim Congregation in Danville, and is a trustee on their Board of Directors. Judith also serves on the Security Advisory Council at JCFSF.

Jim Massara

Director of Data Solutions and Analytics

  415.546.9902 x 120
  jim@hflasf.org

Jim has over 20 years of technology leadership experience in a variety of industries including nonprofit, finance, real estate, and consulting services.

Prior to joining Hebrew Free Loan, Jim has served as the IT director for the Jewish Community Federation for nearly 5 years and the vice president of application support for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for over 12 years.

Jim holds multiple certifications including Salesforce Advanced Administrator and has earned dual BA degrees from San Francisco State University in Information Technology and Accounting. He lives in Portland Oregon with his wife Tamie and their son Michael where he enjoys exploring the great northwest and gardening.

Manny Mekbeb

Finance Director

  (415) 546-9902 x105
  manny@hflasf.org

Manny has over 20 years of accounting, finance and operation management experience. He spent the past 10 years as a Senior Accountant at the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. Prior to that, he served for 10 years as the Assistant Controller for Resources for Community Development, a nonprofit in Berkeley.

Valerie Rocklin

Operations Officer

  (415) 546-9902 x110
  valerie@hflasf.org

Originally from Moscow, Russia, Valerie Rocklin has been living in the Bay Area with her family for over 20 years. Valerie’s desire to contribute to her community has led to a longstanding career as a Jewish communal professional. Prior to joining Hebrew Free Loan, she spent 18 years at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, serving and building strong relationships within the Bay Area Jewish Community.

Valerie holds a J.D. from Lomonosov Moscow State University Law School. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and their son and, in her spare time, enjoys volunteering, reading, watching movies, cooking, and traveling.

Olga Sokhor

Senior Accountant

  (415) 546-9902 x103
  olga@hflasf.org

Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Olga has been calling the Bay Area her home since 1995. She spent 24 years working in Accounting for Congregation Kol Emeth in Palo Alto and ventured into the for-profit world for a short period. Olga is delighted to be back in the non-profit world and serving the Bay Area Jewish community!

Greg Zale

Marketing Director

  (415) 546-9902 x109
  greg@hflasf.org

Greg joined Hebrew Free Loan with extensive corporate marketing experience, leading cross-functional teams on strategy and campaigns at brands such as SONY and agencies such as BBDO. He has a BA from Emory University, spent a year in Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship, and earned an MBA at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Active in the Jewish community, Greg completed a Federation Fellowship and is a board member at the Jewish Community Relations Council. He finds deep fulfillment in working for organizations dedicated to making the world a better place.

Greg is fluent in German and has independently traveled through over 60 countries on 6 continents. He lives in San Francisco with his family and enjoys skiing whenever he can.