Board of Trustees
Officers
President: Elizabeth Lacher
president@nvhcreston.org
Executive Vice President: Lisa Folb
vpadmin@nvhcreston.org
Vice President for Development: Jeff Dlott
vpdevelopment@nvhcreston.org
Vice President for Programming and Committees: Ruth Ann Whalen
vpprograms@nvhcreston.org
Vice President for Engagement: Open
vpengagement@nvhcreston.org
Treasurer: Ben Galison
treasurer@nvhcreston.org
Secretary: Deb Smith-Cohen
secretary@nvhcreston.org
Trustees
Bob Fenster
Mort Goldstrom
Bert Katz
Valerie Kerns
Kevin Luman
Peggy Nelson
Frank Newman
Jim Rose
Joanne Schamest
Joe Scholnick
Alexy Sleeper
Jay Silverberg
Rebecca Trager
Lauryn Watanabe
Risa May – Immediate Past President
Committees at NVHC
Want to get involved? Click on any of the Committees listed below for more information; the person to contact is listed and would be happy to hear from you! Click here for a downloadable list of all of our committees and groups.
Unsure where to start? Click here to fill out a simple form that will tell us more about you and someone will reach out to you with more information.
Community
Brotherhood
Dedicated to serving the needs of our congregation, supporting our temple youth, and supporting the Jewish community. Sponsors monthly Sunday Family Breakfasts, supports periodic Mitzvah Days, acts as ushers during the High Holy Days, and sponsors the annual Purim Carnival.
Contact: Bob Fenster, brotherhood@nvhcreston.org
NVHC Cares (Caring Committee)
NVHC Cares (Caring Committee). Helps celebrate joyful beginnings when a congregant has a new baby and other simchas, and offers solace and support through difficult times such as illness, surgery or a death in the family by providing cards, meals, challah and supportive calls. NVHC Cares has several active teams who provide specific types of support to members in need (see below). If you are interested in helping or need support, contact the chair.
- Calls. This team is made up of volunteers, each taking 2-week rotations throughout the year, to make calls to congregants who have a celebration or needs support.
- Cards. Congregants are sent a card when experiencing short- or long- term illness, bereavement, or celebrating a life-event like a birth, adoption, or conversion.
- Challah. We have a team of volunteers ready to deliver a challah so that congregants can observe Shabbat even when experiencing short-term illness, bereavement, or the addition of a family member.
- Chaverim. Volunteers who provide more extended companionship to members of our community who need visits from an occasional friendly face.
- Chevrah Kadisha. Helps families in mourning arrange funerals, Shiva Minyans, and follow-up.
- Meals. This team of volunteers responds to a request to provide meals to congregants who need help making sure that their family is fed during short- or long-term illness.
- Rides. We have volunteers at the ready to help our community get to events at the Synagogue
Contact:Lisa Folb, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information
NVHC Change (Social Action Committee)
Supports NVHC’s commitment to make our community and the world a better place (tikkun olam) by enabling and enhancing NVHC participation in social justice, service, advocacy and learning, and facilitates partnerships with other community organizations such as Cornerstones, VOICE, and the JCRC. NVHC Change has several active teams working on specific initiatives (see below). If you are interested in joining the NVHC Change mailing list to receive updates on our Social Action initiatives, contact the chair.
Contact: Ellen Ranard, Chair, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information
- Afghan Refugee Team
- Ukrainian Refugee Team
- Green Team
- Racial Justice Team
- Food Insecurity/Shelter Meal Team
Afghan Refugee Team
Supports an extended Afghan family (three households) resettling in Northern Virginia.
Contact: Ken and Kathy Laskey
Ukrainian Refugee Team
Supports two Ukrainian families resettling in Northern Virginia.
Contact: Ellyn Krause Pontell and Dave Pontell
Green Team
Identifies and implements specific solutions to reduce NVHC’s carbon footprint, promote sustainability initiatives and solutions throughout the different aspects of congregational life and educate members of all ages on what they can do at NVHC, their homes, and businesses to enhance sustainability.
Contact: Ken Gubin, Chair, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information
Racial Justice Team
Engages with NVHC members and the broader community to promote racial justice and equity.
Contact: Andy Lacher
Reproductive Rights Team
Explores ways to support reproductive rights.
Contact: Ellyn Krause Pontell and Dominique Cytryn
Food Insecurity/Shelter Meal Team
Organizes meals and volunteers for Cornerstones Hypothermia Shelter and Embry Rucker Shelter and works with Helping Hungry Kids to support food packs for local elementary schools.
Contact: Bess Eisenstadt
College Outreach
College Outreach Committee Prepares and sends packages to college students to celebrate the Jewish holidays, and to continue their connections with the NVHC community.
Contact: Judy Naiman, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information
Silver Line
Provides activities for congregants aged 55+. Monthly dinners and activities are planned.
Contact: Marsha Sheinman, Chair, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information
Women of NVHC
Supports and furthers the highest ideals of Judaism and the goals of NVHC by promoting camaraderie, esprit de corps, spirituality and participation in tikkun olam – repairing the world – within our Congregation and the greater community.
Contact: Peggy Nelson ShowClick Here to View Contact Information
Rebuilding Democracy Project
Seeks to engage NVHC members and others to rebuild democracy by creating a space for open and honest conversation, inviting engaging and relevant speakers, and inspiring action.
Contact: Rabbi Michael G. Holzman, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information
Photography Club
For those members interested in photography this club offers a monthly opportunity to develop skills and to utilize them while sharing work, getting advice on all sorts of photography.
Contact: Mort Goldstrom, PhotoClub@nvhcreston.org
Golf League
Organizes golf outings in a league format.
Contact: Sy Sherman, GolfLeague@nvhcreston.org
Worship & Music
Adult Choir - Kol Shirah
Sings at High Holy Days and other times during the year at services and in concert.
Contact: Cantor Susan Caro, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information
Worship Committee
Works with the clergy on matters related to worship services. Sponsors clergy-led classes that explore Jewish prayer and worship.
Contact: Susan Trivers, Chair, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information
Education
Distinguished Speaker Series
Arranges for scholars, journalists, and public figures to speak at NVHC’s Speaker Series Program.
Contact: Eric Forman, speakerseries@nvhcreston.org
Kehilat Limmud & Tamid
(Religious School) Judaics and Hebrew instruction for grades K-12, including Torah Corps (B’nai Mitzvah preparation) and Confirmation classes. Sunday mornings, mid-week late-afternoon and early-evening classes.
Contact: Rabbi Ashley Barrett, RabbiBarrett@nvhcreston.org
Lifelong Learning (Adult Education)
NVHC offers classes and discussion groups on a wide variety of topics, Torah Study, and Hebrew and Judaica classes for adults.
Contact: Rabbi Michael Holzman RabbiHolzman@nvhcreston.org
Youth Engagement & Education Committee
Supports all youth programs for any child 0-18 and the adults that come with them. This includes early childhood programming, Kehillat Limmud, and Tamid; collaborates with the Youth Engagement Professional; recommends religious school policies.
Contact: Kevin Luman, YEEC@nvhcreston.org
Administration
The Boutique at NVHC
Offers an array of Judaica, including ritual objects, jewelry, mezzuzot, b’nai mitzvah gifts, items for Chanukah and Passover. Operated by Women of NVHC volunteers. Open some Sunday mornings or by appointment.
Contact: Fay Gubin and Lisa Folb, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information. Online store at https://boutiqueatnvhc.square.site
Technology Committee
Proposes policy, sets priorities, and develops plans for the management and evolution of the congregation’s technology infrastructure.
Contact: Bruce Johnson and Stu Williger, NVHC-tech@nvhcreston.org
Finance Committee
Submits yearly operating budget to the Board of Trustees, reviews monthly financial performance, and prepares long-range financial planning for the congregation. Oversees allocation of financial assets and investments.
Contact: Judith Naiman, finance@nvhcreston.org
Strategic Development Committee
Assures NVHC’s long-term financial sustainability and growth by providing leadership and governance for successful development activities.
Contact: Jeff Dlott, vpdevelopment@nvhceston.org
Governance
Governance Committee
Reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees on procedures and policies regarding governance of NVHC.
Contact: Ellen Ranard, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information
Pulpit Committee
The Pulpit Committee serves as liaison between the clergy and members of the congregation in instances where congregants prefer to communicate with clergy via an intermediary. It also provides the Personnel Task Force with feedback about clergy from randomly chosen members of the congregation as part of regularly scheduled performance reviews. The objective in both instances is to help strengthen the sacred partnership between the congregation and the clergy, in support of congregational goals.
Contact: Eric Eisenstadt, pulpit@nvhcreston.org
Personnel Committee
Supports the performance review process for professional staff and maintains the Personnel Handbook.
Contact: Hana Newcomb, PersonnelComm@nvhcreston.org