October 2019 • Vol. 102, No.3 TISHRI ~ CHESHVAN 5780 WWW.BETHELNR.ORG
JOIN US FOR SIMCHAT TORAH AS WE HONOR THESE OUTSTANDING MEMBERS OF BETH EL Shayna Klopott, Kallat Maftir
Shayna Klopott, along with her husband Michael (Frankel) and daughter Sophie, 9, has been a Beth El member since 2017. Sophie attends Beth El Religious School and goes to the Thornton Donovan School. The Klopott-Frankel family lives in Pelham. Previously, they were members of the Pelham Jewish Center. Shayna and Michael have also lived in Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Manhattan. Shayna, Michael, and Sophie love to travel, eat good food, see movies and read! One of our daily activities is for Michael to read a bedtime story (currently Lord of the Rings) while Shayna and Sophie work on a puzzle. Shayna grew up in Delmar, N.Y., and learned about synagogue leadership from a young age, as her mother was on the Religious School Board and the Executive Board, eventually serving as president of the congregation. Shayna works in K-12 education research and evaluation and has a Ph.D. in Politics and Education from Teachers College/Columbia University. Prior to attending TC, she worked in federal education policy and earned her masters in teaching social studies. When she has solo free time, Shayna can be found on a hiking trail or curled up with a good novel and a good cup of coffee. On Shabbat morning, you can usually find Shayna in the family Kehillah service with Sophie.
Lisa Mandelker, Kallat Kol HaN’arim Lisa Mandelker was born in the suburbs of Seattle, Washington. After stops in Washington, D.C., where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from The George Washington University, and Phoenix, A.Z., where she graduated as a Doctor of Osteopathy from Midwestern University, she finally settled in New York to complete her residency in Pediatrics at Long Island Jewish Medical Center’s Schneider Children’s Hospital. While in training, she met her husband, Larry, and they married just as residency was ending in 2008. Although they moved to Manhattan's Upper East Side, Lisa started working immediately at Pediatric Associates of Southern Westchester in New Rochelle. From her time spent in New Rochelle and many positive experiences at Beth El, Lisa and Larry decided to move out of the city to New Rochelle and became Beth El members in 2012. Lisa continues to practice Pediatrics full time at PASW and is the proud mother of two children—Charlie (9) and Molly (6). Lisa has found many ways to get involved at Beth El. Both children attended Beth El Day Camp and are now students in the Religious School. She was a member of the continued, page 18
Stephen Silverman, Hatan Breishit
Stephen Silverman was born in New Haven, CT, and raised in New Rochelle, where he and his two sisters attended New Rochelle public schools. His parents, Dr. Jason (a retired pediatrician) and Louise Silverman, have lived in New Rochelle since 1963 and have been Beth El members since 1968. Steve attended Beth El Day Camp and graduated from Beth El’s Community Hebrew High School. In 1991, Steve married Emily Bromberg, the Chief of Staff at the AntiDefamation League, who was also raised in New Rochelle. They have two children—Danielle, 23, a recent graduate of Landmark College, who recently returned from a Birthright trip to Israel, and Sam, 21, a senior at Georgetown University. Steve and Emily have been members of Beth El since 2000. Steve participated in the Journey strategic planning effort and cochairs the community space prototype team with Nina Luban. He also co-chairs, with Fred Wiener, the Bridges to Civility effort to encourage and learn how to have civil discourse across the political spectrum. He serves on the board of the Westchester Jewish Council and as an Ambassador for the American-Israel Joint Distribution Committee. Steve advises former President Bill Clinton and his Foundation on strategic communications and stakeholder continued, page 18
Risë Stern, Kallat Torah Risë Stern grew up in Flushing and attended Temple Gates of Prayer. She saw her father serve on the synagogue Budget and Ritual Committees. She saw her mother chair many Sisterhood committees and also serve as Vice President on the Sisterhood Board. Rise began participating in USY and was lucky to be in a group led by the late Dr. Stephen Wolnek and his wife Elysia. They encouraged her participation and convinced her to attend her first International Convention in Chicago. She served as President of her group and worked with the USY groups at the other Conservative Synagogues in Flushing, Hillcrest Manor and Little Neck. When she was pursuing her Teaching Degree at Queens College, and needed to gain experience working with children, she worked with the cantor at TGP as he did a music program with the children in the Hebrew School. While in college, Risë met Alan and upon completion of her Bachelor’s Degree they married. They lived in Flushing while they both taught in New York City and Risë got her Master’s Degree from Queens College. After starting a family Risë, Alan, and their son Seth moved to White Plains and then joined Temple Israel Center. Risë also joined Elana Hadassah, and was active for several continued, page 18
Looking to Volunteer? We likely have something to match your interest! Contact Abby Wise at awise@bethelnr.org.
Sukkah Walk...................................... page 3 Vision Action Team.......................... page 6 Carrie Fox, Volunteer of the Month.... page 5 #BethElGoesGreener........................ page 7
The Wisdom of Oz Classes................ page 9 Nursery School News...............pages 12, 13