WRJ Pacific District Board of Directors 2023-2026
President:
Carol Schuster, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Carol Schuster, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Co-1st Vice President:
Flo Cohen, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA
Flo Cohen, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA
Co-1st Vice President:
Lillian Silver, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Lillian Silver, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Vice President Marketing & Communications:
Naomi Estrada, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
Naomi Estrada, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
Vice President Membership:
Deawn Hermann, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Deawn Hermann, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Vice President Action & Advocacy:
Shari Kotzen Shelton, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Shari Kotzen Shelton, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Vice President Philanthropy:
Dana Spiel, Temple Emanuel, Tempe, AZ
Dana Spiel, Temple Emanuel, Tempe, AZ
Area Vice President - Pacific Northwest:
Rhonda Daniels, Congregation Beth Israel, Portland, OR
Rhonda Daniels, Congregation Beth Israel, Portland, OR
Area Vice President - Northern California:
Karen Peterson, Congregation Shir Hadash, Los Gatos, CA
Karen Peterson, Congregation Shir Hadash, Los Gatos, CA
Area Vice President - Southern California:
Margie Meadow, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Margie Meadow, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Area Vice President - Pacific Southwest:
Laurie Kassman, Kol Ami Synagogue, Tucson, AZ
Laurie Kassman, Kol Ami Synagogue, Tucson, AZ
Treasurer:
Shari Carruthers, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Shari Carruthers, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Recording Secretary:
Tracey Poirier, Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA
Tracey Poirier, Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA
Corresponding Secretary:
Aime Friedman, Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA
Aime Friedman, Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA
Immediate Past President:
Cher Krichmar, Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada, CA
Cher Krichmar, Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada, CA
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 Bornstein, Temple Emanuel, San Diego, CA
Joann Kotkin, Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada, CA
Evelyn Lever, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Freddie Goldberg, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Northern California:
Melissa Jakubowitz, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Beverly Mendel, Temple Emnanu-El, San Jose, CA
Eve Panush, Congregation B’nai Israel, Sacramento, CA
Pacific Northwest:
Shana Aucsmith, Temple B’nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Carol Stoler, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Pacific Southwest:
Judi Braudy, Congregation Lev Shalom, Flagstaff, AZ
Tina Wolfe, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
Flo Bornstein, Temple Emanuel, San Diego, CA
Joann Kotkin, Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada, CA
Evelyn Lever, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Freddie Goldberg, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Northern California:
Melissa Jakubowitz, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Beverly Mendel, Temple Emnanu-El, San Jose, CA
Eve Panush, Congregation B’nai Israel, Sacramento, CA
Pacific Northwest:
Shana Aucsmith, Temple B’nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Carol Stoler, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Pacific Southwest:
Judi Braudy, Congregation Lev Shalom, Flagstaff, AZ
Tina Wolfe, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
Committee Chairs
Affiliations Chair: Cher Krichmar
Budget Chair: Jackie Zev
By-Laws Co-Chairs: Edith Caplan, Nancy Marcus
Chai Line Editor: TBD
DEI/Code of Conduct Representative: Laurie Kassman
District Tributes: Julia Weinstein
Engagement and Planning: Lindie Henderson
Financial Overseer: Robin Plotnik
Hebrew Language Chair: Dina Bedak
Liaisons for URJ Camps: Barbara Merino (URJ Camp Newman), Alisa Delisle (URJ Camp Kalsman)
Merchandise Chair: Sue Meyer
NASHIM Society Co-Chairs: Naomi Glass, Lisa Wise-Wolk
Nominating Chair: Cher Krichmar
Parliamentarian: Janice Brumer
Program Chair: Wendy Black
Scholarships Chair: Ellen Bick
Social Media Chair: Lori Glasky
Speakers Bureau: Lois Fried
Technology (Google/Zoom) Chair: Shoshana Lewin Fischer
Website Administrator & Tech (Donorbox): Julia Weinstein
YES Fund Chair: Deb Lelchuk
2026 Convention Chairs: TBD
2026 Kavod Awards Chair: TBD
Budget Chair: Jackie Zev
By-Laws Co-Chairs: Edith Caplan, Nancy Marcus
Chai Line Editor: TBD
DEI/Code of Conduct Representative: Laurie Kassman
District Tributes: Julia Weinstein
Engagement and Planning: Lindie Henderson
Financial Overseer: Robin Plotnik
Hebrew Language Chair: Dina Bedak
Liaisons for URJ Camps: Barbara Merino (URJ Camp Newman), Alisa Delisle (URJ Camp Kalsman)
Merchandise Chair: Sue Meyer
NASHIM Society Co-Chairs: Naomi Glass, Lisa Wise-Wolk
Nominating Chair: Cher Krichmar
Parliamentarian: Janice Brumer
Program Chair: Wendy Black
Scholarships Chair: Ellen Bick
Social Media Chair: Lori Glasky
Speakers Bureau: Lois Fried
Technology (Google/Zoom) Chair: Shoshana Lewin Fischer
Website Administrator & Tech (Donorbox): Julia Weinstein
YES Fund Chair: Deb Lelchuk
2026 Convention Chairs: TBD
2026 Kavod Awards Chair: TBD
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
2020-2023 Cher Krichmar, La Mirada, CA
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
2020-2023 Cher Krichmar, La Mirada, CA
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
Elizabeth Goertzel, Temple DeHirsch Sinai, Seattle/Bellevue, WA
Karen Goldberg, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA (WRJ Secretary)
Madelyn Katz, WRJ Individual Member, Van Nuys, CA (WRJ Executive Committee)
Alyse Kirshen, Temple Beth Tikvah, Fullerton, CA
Linda Kramer, Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos, CA
Cher Krichmar, Temple Beth Ohr, Anaheim Hills, CA
Deb Lelchuk, Temple Beth David, Westminster, CA
Robin Lilien, Temple Israel of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Eve Panush, Congregation B'nai Israel, Sacramento, CA
Carol Schuster, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Lauren Shapiro-Milana, Temple Adat Shalom, Poway, CA
Dana Spiel, Temple Emanuel of Tempe, Tempe, AZ
Lillian Burkenheim Silver, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA (WRJ VP of Philanthropy)
Gail Spivack, Irvine, CA
Julia Wackenheim, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA (WRJ Executive Committee)
Lisa Wise-Wolk, Congregation Emanu El, Redlands, CA
Tina Wolfe, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
Shari Carruthers, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Elizabeth Goertzel, Temple DeHirsch Sinai, Seattle/Bellevue, WA
Karen Goldberg, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA (WRJ Secretary)
Madelyn Katz, WRJ Individual Member, Van Nuys, CA (WRJ Executive Committee)
Alyse Kirshen, Temple Beth Tikvah, Fullerton, CA
Linda Kramer, Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos, CA
Cher Krichmar, Temple Beth Ohr, Anaheim Hills, CA
Deb Lelchuk, Temple Beth David, Westminster, CA
Robin Lilien, Temple Israel of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Eve Panush, Congregation B'nai Israel, Sacramento, CA
Carol Schuster, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Lauren Shapiro-Milana, Temple Adat Shalom, Poway, CA
Dana Spiel, Temple Emanuel of Tempe, Tempe, AZ
Lillian Burkenheim Silver, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA (WRJ VP of Philanthropy)
Gail Spivack, Irvine, CA
Julia Wackenheim, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA (WRJ Executive Committee)
Lisa Wise-Wolk, Congregation Emanu El, Redlands, CA
Tina Wolfe, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
