Presidential Wall of Honor | Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance

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 Beth Israel

Knesseth Israel Congregation

Ahavath Achim

Congregation Kol Israel

Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation

Congregation Torat Emet

BMH-BJ: The Denver Synagogue

Congregation Brothers of Israel

Ahavat Torah

Kesher, Community Synagogue of Tenafly and Englewood

United Orthodox Synagogues

Meyerland Minyan

Kehillat Yedidya

B'nai David-Judea Congregation

Westwood Village Synagogue

Westwood Kehilla

Westwood Village Synagogue

Beit Aharon Congregation

Congregation Ohav Sholom

Congregation Ahavath Yisrael

Westville Synagogue

Beth Israel

Synagogue For The Arts

The Jewish Center

Synagogue For the Arts

Congregation Ramath Orah

The Stanton Street Shul

Lincoln Square Synagogue

Prospect Heights Shul

Kehilat Ahavat Yisrael

Congregation Shaarei Tefillah

Or Chadash

Congregation Beit Tikvah of Ottawa

Palm Beach Synagogue

B'nai Emunoh

Shaare Torah

Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah

Mt Freedom Jewish Center

Kemp Mill Synagogue

Congregation Kol Sasson

Congregation Agudath Sholom

Bais Abraham Congregation

Nusach Hari B’nai Zion

Young Israel-Shaarei Torah of Syracuse

Jewish Center of Teaneck

Netivot Shalom

Beth Lida Forest Hill Synagogue

Shaarei Shomayim Congregation

Kesher Israel: The Georgetown Synagogue

Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob Synagogue

Hebrew Institute of White Plains

Beit Chaverim Synagogue

Beth David

City, State

Berkeley, CA

Birmingham, AL

Bridgeport, CT

Brooklyn, NY

Chicago, IL

Columbus, OH

Denver, Co

Elberon, NJ

Englewood, NJ

Houston, TX

Jerusalem, Israel

Los Angeles, CA

Melbourne, Australia

Merrick, NY

Morristown, NJ

New Haven, CT

New Orleans, LA

New York NY

New York, NY

Brooklyn, NY

West Hempstead, NY

Newton Centre, MA

Oak Park, MI

Ottawa, Ontario

Palm Beach, FL

Pittsburgh, PA

Potomac, MD

Randolph, NJ

Silver Spring, MD

Skokie, IL

Stamford, CT

St. Louis, MO

St Louis, MO

Syracuse, NY

Teaneck , NJ

Toronto, Onatario

Toronto, Ontario

Washington, D.C.

Skokie, IL

White Plains, NY

Westport, 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-

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-

2012-2014

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-