Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees oversees the general direction of the Synagogue. Working as a team with the staff and elected by the membership in accordance with the By Laws, the Board decides the critical issues for the congregation, including finance and staffing.


The current Board of Trustees comprises: 


Carol Mills (President), employed licensed clinical social worker.
Elie Aharon, insurance agent.
Beth Alberts (Sisterhood President), mother and educator.
Kathy Chaikin Bernstein (Past President), employed by a major bank.
Francis Cappel (Trustee for Life), retired.
Kate Favetti (Secretary), retired human resource/labor relations specialist.
John Fuchs-Chesney, employed by a semiconductor manufacturer.
Joshua Goodman, an attorney specializing in liability.
Stacey Herrera, employed as a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Blair Horst, employed by a national laboratory.
Harold Kahn, employed as a judge.
Steve Kolm, employed as an architect.
Andy Safford, employed as an engineering consultant.
Michele Siegel, benefits consultant.
Ronnie Zuckerberg, employed as an interior designer.



Past President Kathy Chaikin Bernstein

Welcome to Congregation Beth Israel-Judea's online presence. I hope to see you at services or at an event in person. I am pleased to be starting the second year of serving our community as president of our Board of Trustees. 


Here's a bit about my Jewish background.


BIJ Kathynew200
My mother was born Jewish but non-observant.  My father’s family was more traditional and my most positive religious memories and associations came from them. My grandfather was a very learned man who served as cantor for the overflow service at his synagogue in Manhattan (Ansche Chesed) and was also a talmudic scholar who emigrated from Russia and became a dentist in New York.  Even when he moved 40 blocks away from his shul at the age of 70 or so, he continued to walk to services.  My paternal grandmother was the Jewish mother role model in my life, in the best sense of the word.  My commitment to Judaism came from those very special grandparents. 

In my hometown very few girls became bat mitzvah but it was something I really wanted to do when I got older.  I finally got my chance in 1997 thanks to prodding from Rabbi Morris and coaching from Cantor Greenberg, both of blessed memory.  It certainly has deepened my level of understanding and helped me understand what my kids went through a few years later.  

My commitment to BIJ has deepened over the years as I have chaired a number of committees and participated in the rabbi search.  I am both pleased and proud to be able to lead the synagogue in its transition under Rabbi Glazer and look forward to many bright years under her spiritual leadership.

Copyright Congregation Beth Israel-Judea 2008