.png)
Orthodox Synagogue Presidents
In many Orthodox communities, the status quo prohibits women from becoming synagogue presidents. Sometimes this condition is laid out in synagogue by-laws, and other times it is an implicit and unwritten understanding. For whatever reason, there are many communities that prohibit women from entering the highest ranks in synagogue leadership, despite their authority in the secular world.
Join JOFA in celebrating women who have served and currently serve as presidents of Orthodox synagogues by sharing information about women synagogue presidents you know who are not yet on our list. We are confident that in the future we will see this list grow in length and look forward to many more opportunities to celebrate these women’s achievements.
To learn more about some of the halakhic discussions regarding women serving as communal leaders, read “A King… and Not a Queen” (from JOFA Journal, Winter 2004) here or listen to Why the Rambam was Wrong: Women in Leadership by Daniel Sperber (JOFA Conference, 2010).
Wall of Honor: Celebrating Women Presidents of Orthodox Synagogues
Note: The following information was obtained from members of the listed communities and has not been confirmed by JOFA.
You can help us maintain our “Presidential Wall of Honor” on the JOFA website by sharing information about women who currently serve or have served as synagogue presidents here.
Name
Barbara Budnitz
Rebecca Landes
Lois Marcus
Denise Resnikoff
Irene Resnikoff
Joan Sopher
Katy Tornheim
Leslie Valas
Maxine Winer
Leslie Khan
Elaine Schiller
Dr. Barbara Tuckel
Rachel Infeld
Deborah Spector Klein
Linda Umansky Saiger
Monica Calabrese
Barbara Burry
Dr. Bernice Dinner
Ilene Rosen
Judith Boim
Gail Billig
Estie Agus
Rebecca Tobin
Shira Yoshor
Elise Passy
Myra Weisfeld
Penina Arbit
Tova Avichai-Kremer
Randy Garber
Linda Gradstein
Judith Green
Nadia Kahane Abelman
Pamela Pearlman
Noomi Stahl
Debbie Weissman
Abigail Yasgur
Nancy Abrams, co-President
Sarah Austerlitz
Anne Friedrich (Kappel)
Andrea Smith
Michelle Heilpern and
Linda Mayman,
Co-Presidents
Miriam Munz
Joanne Brumberg
Baila Mandel
Marilyn Katz
Sharon Hasbani
Jackie Gothard
Roselle Ungar
Victoria Feder
Virginia Bayer Hirt
Toby Turkel
Jane Blumenstein
Ann Goldhirsch
Jessica Loeser
Shirley Stark
Shushana Young (Jachobov)
Shlomit Metz-Poolat
Brenda Katz
Nancy Kolodny
Lisa Micley
Susann Codish
Golda Feig Steinman
Susan Marcus
Barbara T. R. Zimet
Maxine Sittsamer
Barbara Feige
Fay Ann Brodie
Jamie Ramsfelder
Linda Klonsky
Jane Sherwin Shapiro
Debbie Eisenstein
Royce Wolfsohn, Esq.
Darona Bernstein
Phyllis Shapiro
Janet Weisberg Haber
Joan Poltenson
Beverly Marmor
Eva Lynn Gans
Pam Scheininger
Simone Sherman
Charlene Arje
Elanit Jakabovics
Debbie Eisenstein
Beth Hurwitz and
Deborah Weinberger, Co-Presidents
Liz Silverman
Caryn Friedman
Alex Jacobsen
Helen Neumann
Orthodox Congregation
Congregation Kol Israel
Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation
Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation
Congregation Brothers of Israel
Kesher, Community Synagogue of Tenafly and Englewood
Kesher, Community Synagogue of Tenafly and Englewood
B'nai David-Judea Congregation
Congregation Ramath Orah
Prospect Heights Shul
Kehilat Ahavat Yisrael
Congregation Beit Tikvah of Ottawa
Congregation Beit Tikvah of Ottawa
Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah
Young Israel-Shaarei Torah of Syracuse
Young Israel-Shaarei Torah of Syracuse
Beth Lida Forest Hill Synagogue
Kesher Israel: The Georgetown Synagogue
Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob Synagogue
Hebrew Institute of White Plains
City, State
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Birmingham, AL
Bridgeport, CT
Bridgeport, CT
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
Columbus, OH
Denver, Co
Denver, Co
Denver, Co
Elberon, NJ
Englewood, NJ
Englewood, NJ
Englewood, NJ
Houston, TX
Houston, TX
Houston, TX
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Melbourne, Australia
Merrick, NY
Morristown, NJ
New Haven, CT
New Haven, CT
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA
New York NY
New York NY
New York NY
New York, NY
New York, NY
New York, NY
New York, NY
Brooklyn, NY
West Hempstead, NY
Newton Centre, MA
Newton Centre, MA
Newton Centre, MA
Oak Park, MI
Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa, Ontario
Palm Beach, FL
Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Potomac, MD
Randolph, NJ
Silver Spring, MD
Skokie, IL
Stamford, CT
Stamford, CT
St. Louis, MO
St Louis, MO
Syracuse, NY
Syracuse, NY
Teaneck , NJ
Teaneck , NJ
Toronto, Onatario
Toronto, Ontario
Washington, D.C.
Skokie, IL
White Plains, NY
Westport, CT
Westport, CT
West Hartford, CT
West Hartford, CT
Term of Service
1988-2000
2010-2012
2012-2014
2002-2004
2014-2016
1975-1978
1973-1974
2006-2008
1986-1988, 1992-1993
2012-
2012-
2012-
2018-present
2003
2004-2008
2013-2017
1987-1989
1988-1990
2007-2009
2014-present
2000-2002, founding President
2014-15
2007-2008
2000-2002
2011-present
2012-
2012-
2012-2014
2012-
1997-1999
2010-2011
2007-2010
1994-1995
1988-1989
1980-2008
2013
2008-2012
2004-2007
2009-2011
2002 to 2004
2010-
1994 – 1998
2013-2017
2017-
2012-
2015-
2019-2020
Dec 2017 to September 2019
1992 – 1994
2001 – 2003
1999 – 2001
1995-1998
June 2011-Sept 2013
2012-Present
1989-1991
2002-2005, 2008-
2009-2011
2011-
2008-2010
1994-1996
2013-
2010-
January 2012 -
2009-2011
2005-2008
2009-2010
2007-2011
2011-2012
June 2008-May 2010
July 1, 2012-June 30, 2014
July 1 2011- June 30 2013, 2018-2020
2014-
2014-