WRJ Pacific District Board of Directors 2020-2023
President:
Cher Krichmar, Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada, CA
Cher Krichmar, Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada, CA
1st Vice President:
Carol Schuster, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Carol Schuster, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Vice President Philanthropy:
Julia Weinstein, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles, CA
Julia Weinstein, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles, CA
Area Vice President:
Shari Carruthers, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Shari Carruthers, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Vice President Marketing & Communications:
Shoshana Lewin Fischer, Temple Adat Elohim, Thousand Oaks, CA
Shoshana Lewin Fischer, Temple Adat Elohim, Thousand Oaks, CA
Vice President Action & Advocacy:
Karen Goldberg, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Karen Goldberg, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Area Vice President:
Deawn Hermann, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Deawn Hermann, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Vice President Membership:
Stacy Nagel, Individual Member, Yorba Linda, CA
Stacy Nagel, Individual Member, Yorba Linda, CA
Area Vice President:
Tracey Poirier, Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA
Tracey Poirier, Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA
Treasurer:
Jackie Zev, Temple Ahavat Shalom, Northridge, CA
Jackie Zev, Temple Ahavat Shalom, Northridge, CA
Corresponding Secretary:
Aime Friedman, Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA
Aime Friedman, Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA
Recording Secretary:
Lillian Burkenheim Silver, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Lillian Burkenheim Silver, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Immediate Past President:
Dana Adler, Congregation Or Chadash, Tucson, AZ
Dana Adler, Congregation Or Chadash, Tucson, AZ
Area Directors
Twelve warm and energetic women serve our sisterhoods as Area Directors. Together we contact, connect with, support, and visit the fifty-six sisterhoods of the Pacific District. The role of the director is to build a relationship with the sisterhood presidents assigned to her and to get to know about each sisterhood. Area Directors are available just to chat, share concerns, be guests at board meetings, events such as Sisterhood Shabbats, installations or special programs and to assist in a myriad of ways.
Our Area Directors complete reports quarterly after speaking with sisterhood presidents or appointed contacts and after visits. This woman to woman contact makes it possible for us to know what is really happening in Pacific District and to meet the needs of our affiliated sisterhoods. We are women as sisters - stronger together.
Our Area Directors complete reports quarterly after speaking with sisterhood presidents or appointed contacts and after visits. This woman to woman contact makes it possible for us to know what is really happening in Pacific District and to meet the needs of our affiliated sisterhoods. We are women as sisters - stronger together.
Southern California:
Flo Cohen, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA
Joann Kotkin, Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada, CA
Evelyn Lever, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Ronni Udoff, Individual Member, Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego, CA
Northern California:
Karen Peterson, Congregation Shir Hadash, Los Gatos, CA
Nancy Sturm, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Pacific Northwest:
Debbie Braymer, Congregation Beth Israel, Portland, OR
Shari Shelton, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Carol Stoler, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Pacific Southwest:
Judi Braudy, Congregation Lev Shalom, Flagstaff, AZ
Laurie Kassman, Or Chadash, Tucson, AZ
Tina Wolfe, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
Flo Cohen, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA
Joann Kotkin, Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada, CA
Evelyn Lever, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Ronni Udoff, Individual Member, Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego, CA
Northern California:
Karen Peterson, Congregation Shir Hadash, Los Gatos, CA
Nancy Sturm, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Pacific Northwest:
Debbie Braymer, Congregation Beth Israel, Portland, OR
Shari Shelton, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Carol Stoler, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Pacific Southwest:
Judi Braudy, Congregation Lev Shalom, Flagstaff, AZ
Laurie Kassman, Or Chadash, Tucson, AZ
Tina Wolfe, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
Committee Chairs
Affiliations Chair: Dana Adler
Budget Chair: Robin Plotnik
By-Laws Chair:
Chai Line Editor: Naomi Estrada
District Tributes: Julia Weinstein
Financial Overseer: Cindy Weschrob
Kavod Awards: TBD
Liaisons for URJ Camps: Barbara Merino, Elizabeth Goertzel
NASHIM Society Co-Chairs: Margie Meadow, Erika Barnathan
Nominating Chair: Dana Adler
Program Chair: Wendy Black
Social Media Chair: Lori Glasky
Speakers Bureau: Julia Wackenheim
Website Admin: Julia Weinstein
YES Fund Chair: Dana Spiel
2023 Convention Chairs: Karen Goldberg, Robin Plotnik
Budget Chair: Robin Plotnik
By-Laws Chair:
Chai Line Editor: Naomi Estrada
District Tributes: Julia Weinstein
Financial Overseer: Cindy Weschrob
Kavod Awards: TBD
Liaisons for URJ Camps: Barbara Merino, Elizabeth Goertzel
NASHIM Society Co-Chairs: Margie Meadow, Erika Barnathan
Nominating Chair: Dana Adler
Program Chair: Wendy Black
Social Media Chair: Lori Glasky
Speakers Bureau: Julia Wackenheim
Website Admin: Julia Weinstein
YES Fund Chair: Dana Spiel
2023 Convention Chairs: Karen Goldberg, Robin Plotnik
Past District Presidents
1932-1934 Mrs. Jules Kaufman, Los Angeles, CA *
1934-1935 Mrs. Nathaniel Kessler, Oakland, CA *
1935-1937 Henrietta Hirshfield, Los Angeles, CA *
1937-1939 Bessie Barnett, San Francisco, CA *
1939-1941 Pearl Friedman, Los Angeles, CA *
1941-1943 Mrs. Leon Rosenberg, Fresno, CA *
1943-1946 Miriam Jacobs, Los Angeles, CA *
1946-1949 Zara Shapiro, San Francisco, CA *
1949-1951 Dorothy Hardman, Seattle, WA
1951-1953 Gertrude Kallin, Los Angeles, CA *
1953-1955 Minna Thor, San Francisco, CA *
1955-1957 Gustine Weber, Encino, CA *
1957-1959 Rose Lewis, Glendale, CA *
1959-1961 Rita Lubliner, Portland, OR *
1961-1964 Bertie Rasky, Palm Springs, CA
1964-1966 Betty Openheim, Mill Valley, CA *
1966-1968 Elizabeth Chesler, Phoenix, AZ
1968-1970 Harriet Katz, Phoenix, AZ
1970-1972 Beverly Singer, Garden Grove, CA *
1972-1974 Zara Jaffe, Hillsborough, CA
1974-1976 Bernadine Brenner, Portland, OR *
1976-1968 Marcia Levin, Downey, CA *
1976-1978 Juliette Nathan, Sacramento, CA *
1980-1982 Esther Saritzky, Northridge, CA *
1982-1984 Susan K. Wolfe, Tiburon, CA
1984-1986 Phyllis Shapiro, Phoenix, AZ *
1986-1988 Jane Schwartz, Sparks, NV
1988-1990 Ruthanne Begun, Westlake Village, CA
1990-1992 Michele Zwerin, San Rafael, CA
1992-1994 Maryann Fenster, Los Angeles, CA
1994-1996 Nancy Marcus, Costa Mesa, CA
1996-1998 Cherie Half, Palo Alto, CA
1998-2000 Elaine Saperstein, Thousand Oaks, CA
2000-2002 Fran Sherman, Anaheim, CA
2002-2004 Ricki Oleon, Orinda, CA
2004-2006 Ellen A. Pollack, Chatsworth, CA *
2006-2008 Edith Caplan, Fremont, CA
2008-2010 Sandy Gatlin, Des Moines, WA
2010-2012 Lindie Henderson, Sacramento, CA
2012-2014 Ellen Bick, Portland, OR
2014-2016 Phyllis Bigelson, Northridge, CA
2016-2018 Judith Shor Ning, Albuquerque, NM
2018-2020 Dana Adler, Tucson, AZ
Honorary Presidents:
Deborah Hirschberg,* Portland, OR
Eleanor Kretzer,* North Hollywood, CA
* Of Blessed Memory
1934-1935 Mrs. Nathaniel Kessler, Oakland, CA *
1935-1937 Henrietta Hirshfield, Los Angeles, CA *
1937-1939 Bessie Barnett, San Francisco, CA *
1939-1941 Pearl Friedman, Los Angeles, CA *
1941-1943 Mrs. Leon Rosenberg, Fresno, CA *
1943-1946 Miriam Jacobs, Los Angeles, CA *
1946-1949 Zara Shapiro, San Francisco, CA *
1949-1951 Dorothy Hardman, Seattle, WA
1951-1953 Gertrude Kallin, Los Angeles, CA *
1953-1955 Minna Thor, San Francisco, CA *
1955-1957 Gustine Weber, Encino, CA *
1957-1959 Rose Lewis, Glendale, CA *
1959-1961 Rita Lubliner, Portland, OR *
1961-1964 Bertie Rasky, Palm Springs, CA
1964-1966 Betty Openheim, Mill Valley, CA *
1966-1968 Elizabeth Chesler, Phoenix, AZ
1968-1970 Harriet Katz, Phoenix, AZ
1970-1972 Beverly Singer, Garden Grove, CA *
1972-1974 Zara Jaffe, Hillsborough, CA
1974-1976 Bernadine Brenner, Portland, OR *
1976-1968 Marcia Levin, Downey, CA *
1976-1978 Juliette Nathan, Sacramento, CA *
1980-1982 Esther Saritzky, Northridge, CA *
1982-1984 Susan K. Wolfe, Tiburon, CA
1984-1986 Phyllis Shapiro, Phoenix, AZ *
1986-1988 Jane Schwartz, Sparks, NV
1988-1990 Ruthanne Begun, Westlake Village, CA
1990-1992 Michele Zwerin, San Rafael, CA
1992-1994 Maryann Fenster, Los Angeles, CA
1994-1996 Nancy Marcus, Costa Mesa, CA
1996-1998 Cherie Half, Palo Alto, CA
1998-2000 Elaine Saperstein, Thousand Oaks, CA
2000-2002 Fran Sherman, Anaheim, CA
2002-2004 Ricki Oleon, Orinda, CA
2004-2006 Ellen A. Pollack, Chatsworth, CA *
2006-2008 Edith Caplan, Fremont, CA
2008-2010 Sandy Gatlin, Des Moines, WA
2010-2012 Lindie Henderson, Sacramento, CA
2012-2014 Ellen Bick, Portland, OR
2014-2016 Phyllis Bigelson, Northridge, CA
2016-2018 Judith Shor Ning, Albuquerque, NM
2018-2020 Dana Adler, Tucson, AZ
Honorary Presidents:
Deborah Hirschberg,* Portland, OR
Eleanor Kretzer,* North Hollywood, CA
* Of Blessed Memory
WRJ Board Members
Dana Adler, Congregation Or Chadash, Tucson, AZ
Shari Carruthers, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Flo Cohen, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA
Lynn Gelber, Congregation Beth Israel, Portland, OR
Karen Goldberg, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Madelyn Katz, WRJ Individual Member, Van Nuys, CA
Alyse Kirschen, Temple Beth Tikvah, Fullerton, CA
Cher Krichmar, Temple Beth Ohr, Anaheim Hills, CA
Deb Lelchuk, Temple Beth David, Westminster, CA
Judy Lohr-Safcik, Temple Emanuel, Tempe, AZ
Carol Schuster, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Lauren Shapiro-Milana, Temple Adat Shalom, Poway, CA
Deborah Radin, Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills, CA (Executive Committee)
Lillian Burkenheim Silver, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Gail Spivack, Women of Temple Bat Yahm, Newport Beach, CA
Julia Wackenheim, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Julia Weinstein, University Synagogue, Los Angeles, CA (WRJ Vice President of Programs and Education)
Shari Carruthers, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Flo Cohen, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA
Lynn Gelber, Congregation Beth Israel, Portland, OR
Karen Goldberg, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Madelyn Katz, WRJ Individual Member, Van Nuys, CA
Alyse Kirschen, Temple Beth Tikvah, Fullerton, CA
Cher Krichmar, Temple Beth Ohr, Anaheim Hills, CA
Deb Lelchuk, Temple Beth David, Westminster, CA
Judy Lohr-Safcik, Temple Emanuel, Tempe, AZ
Carol Schuster, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Lauren Shapiro-Milana, Temple Adat Shalom, Poway, CA
Deborah Radin, Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills, CA (Executive Committee)
Lillian Burkenheim Silver, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Gail Spivack, Women of Temple Bat Yahm, Newport Beach, CA
Julia Wackenheim, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Julia Weinstein, University Synagogue, Los Angeles, CA (WRJ Vice President of Programs and Education)
