WRJ Pacific District Board of Directors 2026-2029
Co-President:
Flo Cohen, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA
Flo Cohen, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA
Co-President:
Lillian Silver, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Lillian Silver, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Co-1st Vice President:
Shari Carruthers, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Shari Carruthers, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Co-1st Vice President:
Deawn Herrmann, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Deawn Herrmann, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Vice President Action & Advocacy:
Judy Carney, Women of Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Judy Carney, Women of Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Vice President Engagement:
Tracey Pomerance-Poirier, Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA
Tracey Pomerance-Poirier, Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA
Vice President Marketing & Communications:
Naomi Estrada, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
Naomi Estrada, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
Vice President Philanthropy:
Margie Meadow, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Margie Meadow, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Vice President Spirituality:
Dr. Madelyn M. Katz, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Dr. Madelyn M. Katz, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Area Vice President:
Rhonda Daniels, Congregation Beth Israel, Portland, OR
Rhonda Daniels, Congregation Beth Israel, Portland, OR
Area Vice President:
Joanne Kotkin, Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada, CA
Joanne Kotkin, Temple Beth Ohr, La Mirada, CA
Area Vice President:
Dana Spiel, Temple Emanuel, Tempe, AZ
Dana Spiel, Temple Emanuel, Tempe, AZ
Treasurer:
Stacy Nagel, Temple Sinai, Las Vegas, NV
Stacy Nagel, Temple Sinai, Las Vegas, NV
Recording Secretary:
Carol Stoler, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Carol Stoler, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA
Corresponding Secretary:
Melissa Director, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Melissa Director, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Immediate Past President:
Carol Schuster, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Carol Schuster, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue, WA
Area Directors
Thirteen 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:
Evelyn Bell, Temple Beth Tikvah, Fullerton, CA
Robyn Blachman, Temple Ahavat Shalom, Northridge, CA
Flo Bornstein, Temple Emanuel, San Diego, CA
Karen Gilman, Temple Israel of Hollywood, Hollywood, CA
Deb Lelchuk, Women of Beth David, Westminster CA
Rhonda Schwartz, Temple Emanuel, San Diego, CA
Northern California:
Arlynn Bitter Peavey, Women of Temple Beth Torah, Fremont, CA
Beverly Mendel, Temple Emanu-El, San Jose, CA
Karen Peterson, Congregation Shir Hadash, Los Gatos, CA
Pacific Northwest:
Marlene Motola, Temple Beth El, Tacoma, WA
Ellen Zellinger, Beth Israel, Portland WA
Pacific Southwest:
Donna Baar, Congregation Albert Albuquerque, NM
Cindy Weschrob, Temple Emanuel of Tempe, Tempe, AZ
Evelyn Bell, Temple Beth Tikvah, Fullerton, CA
Robyn Blachman, Temple Ahavat Shalom, Northridge, CA
Flo Bornstein, Temple Emanuel, San Diego, CA
Karen Gilman, Temple Israel of Hollywood, Hollywood, CA
Deb Lelchuk, Women of Beth David, Westminster CA
Rhonda Schwartz, Temple Emanuel, San Diego, CA
Northern California:
Arlynn Bitter Peavey, Women of Temple Beth Torah, Fremont, CA
Beverly Mendel, Temple Emanu-El, San Jose, CA
Karen Peterson, Congregation Shir Hadash, Los Gatos, CA
Pacific Northwest:
Marlene Motola, Temple Beth El, Tacoma, WA
Ellen Zellinger, Beth Israel, Portland WA
Pacific Southwest:
Donna Baar, Congregation Albert Albuquerque, NM
Cindy Weschrob, Temple Emanuel of Tempe, Tempe, AZ
Committee Chairs
Affiliations Chair: Carol Schuster
Belonging: Shari Kotzen Shelton
Budget Chair: Jackie Zev
By-Laws Co-Chairs: Edith Caplan, Nancy Marcus
Chai Line Editor: Naomi Estrada
District Tributes: Julia Weinstein
Financial Overseer: Robin Plotnik
Hebrew Language Chair:
Liaisons for URJ Camps:
Merchandise Chair: Sue Meyer
Past Presidents Council: Cher Krichmar
NASHIM Society Co-Chairs:
Nominating Chair: Carol Schuster
Parliamentarian:
Program Chair:
Scholarships Chair: Ellen Bick
Speakers Bureau: Lois Fried
Special Programming Director: Wendy Black
Technology Coordinator (Calendar/Google/Zoom): Shoshana Lewin Fischer
Technology Manager: Julia Weinstein
YES Fund Chair:
2029 Convention Chairs:
Belonging: Shari Kotzen Shelton
Budget Chair: Jackie Zev
By-Laws Co-Chairs: Edith Caplan, Nancy Marcus
Chai Line Editor: Naomi Estrada
District Tributes: Julia Weinstein
Financial Overseer: Robin Plotnik
Hebrew Language Chair:
Liaisons for URJ Camps:
Merchandise Chair: Sue Meyer
Past Presidents Council: Cher Krichmar
NASHIM Society Co-Chairs:
Nominating Chair: Carol Schuster
Parliamentarian:
Program Chair:
Scholarships Chair: Ellen Bick
Speakers Bureau: Lois Fried
Special Programming Director: Wendy Black
Technology Coordinator (Calendar/Google/Zoom): Shoshana Lewin Fischer
Technology Manager: Julia Weinstein
YES Fund Chair:
2029 Convention Chairs:
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, Mesa, AZ
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
2023-2026 Carol Schuster, Bellevue, WA
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, Mesa, AZ
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
2023-2026 Carol Schuster, Bellevue, WA
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
Elizabeth Goertzel, Temple DeHirsch Sinai, Seattle/Bellevue, WA
Karen Goldberg, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Madelyn Katz, WRJ Individual Member, Van Nuys, CA
Ally Karpel-Pomerance, Los Angeles, CA
Alyse Kirschen, 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
Gail Spivack, Irvine, CA
Julia Wackenheim, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Lisa Wise-Wolk, Congregation Emanu El, Redlands, CA
Tina Wolfe, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
Shari Carruthers, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Flo Cohen, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA
Elizabeth Goertzel, Temple DeHirsch Sinai, Seattle/Bellevue, WA
Karen Goldberg, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA
Madelyn Katz, WRJ Individual Member, Van Nuys, CA
Ally Karpel-Pomerance, Los Angeles, CA
Alyse Kirschen, 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
Gail Spivack, Irvine, CA
Julia Wackenheim, Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CA
Lisa Wise-Wolk, Congregation Emanu El, Redlands, CA
Tina Wolfe, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX
