Board of Directors

2020-2021 is my second year as President of the congregation. Prior to becoming President, in 2018-2019, I served as Executive Vice President, and before that, for 2 years, I was Vice-President for Religion and Israel Action. I have also been chair of our Ritual Committee, and I have six years’ prior experience as a board member. We at Temple Israel do so many great things, both for our own community and for the communities around us. I am proud to have been involved in a number of these projects. I helped as Temple Israel joined with Jewish Family Services and other congregations to support Syrian refugee families, whom we helped build new lives in our community. I worked on our project of commissioning today’s top Judaica artist to create new covers for our ten Torah scrolls. I chaired our Israel Engagement Task Force, which assessed congregants’ views regarding Israel and Israel programming and which began a community conversation about how we can best hear diverse perspectives while maintaining our unshakable commitment to Israel. Most recently, I have worked with our community to be certain that our needs—social, spiritual and physical—are met during the COVID pandemic. There are so many great things going on in our community, and being involved has in every instance been a personally rewarding experience.

It’s my privilege to currently serve as the Executive Vice President of Temple Israel. Since our family became members 20+ years ago, I have been actively involved in various roles at the Temple, including having been a Temple Board member for a number of years and co-chaired several committees including the Ushering Committee, Caring Committee, and Educational Director Search Committee. In addition, I have co-chaired fundraising events including TI’s annual Cafe Achshav and the new Torah Covers, all of which support the wonderful array of programming offered at TI. Being an educator and committed to the growth of children, I also served on the Youth Committee and Passport to Israel Committee for many years. One can find me in the kitchen, working with others to prepare and serve congregational meals or organizing other TI community-wide events. I take great pride in all that we accomplish together at Temple Israel, providing family, social, and learning opportunities that appeal to the breadth of our congregation. Our family’s closest friends are rooted in the TI community. Professionally, I am an experienced special educator, administrator, and educational consultant with more than 40 years of involvement in the field.

I am the Vice President of Administration at Temple Israel, plus I help out with various events throughout the year like Scotch in the Sukkah and HMV.  From 2018 to 2020 Temple Israel has implemented some great sustainability improvements to reduce our carbon footprint.  We have solar on our roof providing 100% of our electrical needs.  We installed LED lighting.  We implemented a recycling program.  Temple Israel is always looking to do more. My family has been members of Temple Israel for about 15 years.  I am a Mechanical Engineer with a career that has specialized in energy efficiency and sustainability in commercial and industrial facilities.  I spend my free time trying to keep up with my 3 daughters and all of their activities, coming to Temple Israel during Shabbat mornings, axe throwing, and poker.I am excited about Temple Israel’s future.  We have a wonderful group of volunteers and professional staff that I have the privilege of interacting with on a regular basis who bring a high level of energy and quality to Temple Israel every day.  I am excited to see new programs and ideas, like Bridge and Mah Jong.  I am excited about going green with the new rooftop solar.  It’s a pleasure to be a member of a vibrant active Synagogue with so many wonderful groups, education, and religious practice opportunities.

I have been a member, along with my husband Ken, of Temple Israel for 5 years.  I am currently concluding my third year as Sisterhood president and beginning my role as VP of Membership along with new roles in Sisterhood.  We have two grown children, one married and one engaged who both live locally.  The investment and connection of the TI community is breathtaking.  It’s what drew me to TI and it’s what I love to share.

In comparison to others on the board, I am the definite “newbie” having only been a member of the shul for 4 years. But it has been a wonderful 4 years and I am so grateful to be a part of this community. In this time I have tried my best to get involved as much as time allows. I am a part of the Temple Israel singing group, have worked with the religious school by helping the kids learn how to make their unique individualized tallis, helped to facilitate a program for upcoming Bat Mitzvah girls called “Beneath the Surface” through Mayim Hayyim, helped prepare Purim shalach manot packages, and chaired the Sisterhood Shabbat program in 2020, bringing in a new program idea of “One Shul – One Book” where the synagogue joined together to read one book, by author Anita Diamant, and then we brought Anita to speak at the Sisterhood Shabbat service to discuss it. I look forward to working together with the strong lay leadership, the Rabbi, Cantor, and synagogue staff, to address the needs of the membership, in the years to come.

My husband and I moved to the Boston area almost a decade ago, and we chose to buy a home in Natick in large part because of the warm, welcoming community here at Temple Israel. Since then, I’ve participated in several of committees and taken on leadership roles as Chair of the Young Family Taskforce and Chair of the Education Committee. Joining the board as the Education Vice President seemed like the next logical step! My husband and I are thrilled our children are growing up here with their “shul cousins” and that we have found such wonderful friends in the TI community.

I am currently the VP of Finance and have previously served as Treasurer, Financial Secretary and as a member of the board of directors. My wife Elana has been teaching in Temple Israel’s religious school since 1999 and we became members of Temple Israel in 2002. I am a CPA and practice in public accounting. In my spare time I enjoy watching soccer and reading. I am proud to be associated with Temple Israel as it provides a wonderful place of worship as well as opportunities for numerous educational and social activities.

I joined Temple Israel of Natick when I first moved to Framingham in 1991. I quickly became involved in the Chaverim (young couples) club, then Mishpacha (now defunct young families) club, Treasurer of the Judy Gordon Nursery School Parents Association, co-chaired Shabbat morning Kiddush for several years then became a member of the Board of Directors. I am currently serving as Treasurer of Temple Israel. I have made many wonderful friends at Temple Israel and raised my two boys, now 20 and 23, going to Temple Israel regularly. Professionally, I have 30+ years experience in Corporate Finance including roles in accounting, budgeting and financial reporting.

When my wife and I moved to Natick in 2004 we decided to join Temple Israel and I am very thankful that we did so. The TI community is warm and welcoming. Diverse and authentic. It is open and caring, not just to its members but to the larger Metrowest community. When asked to join the board in 2019, I welcomed the opportunity to contribute in whatever way I could. Outside of TI I enjoy cycling (a proud PMC rider since 2003), cooking, and spending time with family & friends.