July - August 2019 • Vol. 102, No.1 SIVAN ~ TAMUZ ~ AV 5779 WWW.BETHELNR.ORG
MEET BETH EL'S NEW OFFICERS DAVID SHECHTER, Vice President DEBBIE YOUNG, Vice President
David Shechter grew up on Long Island, where his family was active at Midway Jewish Center. He spent ten summers as both a camper and counselor at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, which provided the foundation for his Jewish education and Kavannah. David—a member of AEPi and Hillel—graduated Cornell University in 1995. He met his future wife, Carrie Fox, at Cornell when she recruited him to study abroad for a semester at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheva, Israel. They started dating when David returned to Cornell in 1994 and were married in 1999. David earned a Ph.D. at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and did post-doctoral training at The Rockefeller University. Since 2009, David has been Assistant and Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. David’s lab studies chromatin biology, dissecting how the packaging of the genome regulates the usage of DNA. David and Carrie moved to New Rochelle in 2010 and quickly immersed themselves into the Beth El community. David serves on the Board of Trustees, the Ritual Committee, a Vision Action Team, and is chair of the Kasakove High Holiday Service. He previously participated in two Assistant Rabbi Search Committees. Carrie and David’s children—Ilana, Jacob, and Naomi—consider Beth El their second home. You can find them at the Religious School, youth services, and USY. David’s parents, Cindy and Ira, recently moved to Westchester and are now active members of Beth El. David enthusiastically embraces the new spiritual, singing, and educational directions of our community.
ELLEN BARLIS, Financial Secretary
Ellen Barlis was born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts, where she and her two siblings attended the Newton public school system. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in General Science from Brandeis University, followed by a Masters in Public Health in Hospital Administration from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. She married her husband, Rick, in 2002 and they have two children—Anna (14) and Aaron (10). They moved to New Rochelle from New York City in 2007, and joined Beth El where they have been active members for twelve years. Their children attended the Nursery School, the camp and Beth El Religious School. Ellen’s professional background includes over twenty years working for the City of New York in various capacities. Ellen’s current continued, page 6 role is Chief Financial Officer at
Debbie Nutkis Young grew up in New Jersey and attended the Jewish Educational Center in Elizabeth from Kindergarten through High School. She graduated from Douglass College, Rutgers University with a double major in Sociology and Hebraic Studies as well as a Criminology Certificate. Debbie is chair of the Ushering Committee, a member of the Ritual Committee and is working on the Pillars that developed from Journey. She is currently on the UJA Westchester Women Cabinet. She was a chair of the Membership Committee and the December 25th Holiday Program, served on the Youth Activities Committee, was a parent facilitator for Teen Congregation, and is known to a generation of Beth El Religious School students and their parents as “Morah Debbie.” She was Beth El’s first Simchat Torah Kallat Maftir, volunteered for Hadassah, and was an officer of the Schechter Westchester PTA. She and husband, Steve, a past Beth El President, were honored by JTS and were Beth El Gala honorees. Before retiring, Debbie negotiated publishing contracts at Harper & Row and Budget Book Service, headed a sales force of Christian booksellers, was the first professional of the New Rochelle Jewish Coalition, and was a Corporate Paralegal at both Starwood Hotels and Thomson Reuters. Steve and Debbie met as teenagers at Camp Massad Beth, and the Jewish camping and living experience made a lasting impression that has guided them ever since. They joined Beth El in 1990, shortly after moving to New Rochelle. The Youngs have celebrated their s'machot, including Youth Plays, three Bnei Mitzvah, a baby naming, and a wedding at Beth El. Their children attended Schechter Westchester, Westchester Hebrew High School, Camp Monroe, and Ramah. Debbie and Steve are the proud parents (and grandparents) of Jake and his fiancée, Marie; Gavi and her husband, Rabbi Jason Fenster, and their son, Benjamin; and Becky. Debbie is thrilled to serve once again, as a Vice President of Beth El. She has also served as Financial Secretary.
Looking to Volunteer? We likely have something to match your interest! Contact Abby Wise at awise@bethelnr.org.
Summer Israeli Film Series............... page 2 Framework for Strategic Action....... page 5 Volunteer Recognition....................... page 3 Bikkor Cholim................................... page 7
Holsten Joins Tot Shabbat Team..... page 12 Youth & Family Engagement.......... page 15