In Sept. 2026, Barbara Katz was presented the Mitzvah Award for her many years of service to Temple B’nai Israel. She has been one of the most impactful members of the congregation over the last 10 plus years and truly deserved the standing ovation which she received.

When she joined the temple in 2013, Barbara became involved with TBI fundraising with one of the first We Care concerts organized by the temple, in which a local non-profit receives net proceeds from two concerts organized annually, as well as the NH Jewish Food Festival. She joined the team and hit the road running using her natural creative skills to enhance every aspect of that marketing initiative and more. Having no background in marketing, she taught herself everything from how to write and distribute press releases to designing attention getting posters.

In addition, she took over TBI’s website by teaching herself web design and management, have no previous work experience in technology. Our current website design and e-commerce engine used for We Care and the Food Festival exist only through her efforts.

She eventually expanded her creative abilities and can-do attitudes to almost every aspect of temple life. Her influences can be seen all over the synagogue including our TBI exterior sign, the lobby reorganization, the bimah (including beautiful lectern covers honoring Melody and Joel Funk), and almost everywhere you look.

In addition to those visual improvements, she was essential in the development several aspects one cannot see, such as the many systems, processes, and procedures currently in use by temple leadership.

Barbara also served on the Board of Trustees for 4+yrs as Vice President – Marketing/Public Relations and as a member of the Interim Steering Committee.

She is a multi-talented force to be reckoned with, is high energy and does whatever needs to be done. She doesn’t wait to be asked, but immediately jumps in and takes on tasks.

Although spending thousands of hours working on temple projects, she still found time to devote herself to her other family: her husband David, her partner for 53 years, and her two daughters Jennifer and Susan, and son-in-law, Chip.

With all of this, she still found time to dedicate herself to Guiding Eyes for the Blind by providing puppy training for dozens of Labrador Retrievers who went on to assist people who are vision impaired.

Yasher Koach and Mazel Tov, Barbara!