Our Board

Lorraine is an educator and passionate advocate for student success and access to education. After coming to Hawaiʻi 30 years ago to teach at Waiʻanae High School, she has taught English Language Arts, built an award winning journalism program, and is currently an academic advisor at Leeward Community College Waiʻanae Moku campus. She and her husband David are members of Aloha Jewish Chapel, and Lorraine has been active in the Oʻahu Jewish ʻOhana (OJO), Temple Emanu-El, the Polskin Trust Committee, and the Jewish Women’s Guild.

Aviela is a Mass Care Planner at the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management, where she plans for and responds to all types of disasters. After getting her Master’s in Public Health with a specialization in Emergency and Disaster Management from Tel Aviv University, she worked for nonprofit Tevel b'Tzedek, both in Nepal and in their Israel office. . Always passionate about volunteering, Aviela started off her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA, and has participated in volunteer programs in Israel, Nepal, and Uganda. She now volunteers with Our Kupuna and Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawai‘i and is the volunteer leader of Jewy Hui.

A Chicago native, Richard Kersten grew up in Los Angeles, the son of a professional musician and an educator.  After graduating from USC with a degree in finance and real estate, he moved to Hawaii in 1972 to continue his career as an insurance agent, dividing his practice between personal insurance planning and employee benefits. Richard is a member of the National and Hawaii Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, and a Certified Long-Term Care Specialist. Richard is also a past President of the Jewish Federation of Hawaii and a former Director and current member of Temple Emanu El.

Sara Izen is an educator with a Master's Degree in Public Health from the University of Hawaii. During her career promoting healthy communities, she worked for the Cancer Society, promoted the use of car seats for children in the Keiki Auto Restraint Program, offered classes and workshops in mental health with the Department of Health, and provided essential services with Parents And Children Together. She cares deeply about families and creating environments where each person has the opportunity to achieve their potential. As a member of the inter-congregational Chevra Kadisha Kavod, she is privileged to play a part in helping ease the pain of families who have suffered a recent loss. 

Sue moved to Hawaii in 1970, and has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, a Teaching Certificate from San Diego State University, and a M.A. in Special Education from the University of Hawaii. She supervised the statewide Early Intervention Program at the Department of Health and researched best practices in special needs at the Department of Education and University of Hawaii. Sue has been on the Board of Directors of Temple Emanu-El, chaired the Jewish Film Festival, and was an original member of the O`ahu Jewish `Ohana (OJO). On the JCSH Board since 2017, Sue and her husband Bob were honored as JCSH Volunteers of the Year in 2014. 

A 26 Year US Army Veteran and retiree, he is a native of New York City and Long Island, Brian’s military career took him all over the world he now serves as the Jewish Liaison for US Army Hawaii. Brian and his family belong to Chabad of Hawaii where he also lends a hand with his  handyman skills. Brian and his family personally sponsor an annual Chanukah celebration at the US Army Schofield Barracks with the support of Chabad of Hawaii and at the invitation of the US Army chaplaincy. They are also connected to the Aloha Jewish Chapel as former members and military retirees.

Prior to living in Hawaii, Mark lived and worked in Massachusetts, where he raised family with his wife. Mark is a member of Congregation Sof Ma’Arav, and he and his family were members of a conservative congregation in Massachusetts. Mark is a Psychologist and has been a Psychotherapist, Supervisor, Manager, Clinical Director and Administrator. He has also served in the private and public sectors as the administrator and executive of large and very large mental health and human services programs.

Steven was the board president of Jewish Community Services of Hawaii for over 20 years. Steven has been licensed as an attorney in Hawaii since 1973.  He is a partner with the Honolulu law firm of Kessner Umebayashi Bain & Matsunaga.  Steven is married to Deloris Guttman, who supports the Obama Hawaii Africana Museum, and is a member of O`ahu Jewish `Ohana.

Jackie couldn’t say no when our beloved Gail Marcus z’l asked her to fill her seat on the JCSH Board. Jackie served for 5 years as President of the Temple Emanu-El Board of Trustees and is a current Member-at-Large. She is a familiar face at Temple Emanu-El's School of Jewish Studies, where she has taught art enrichment and visual culture for many years. Jackie is a practicing artist specializing in sculpture and her work can be seen throughout Hawaii.

A New Jersey native and graduate of Brandeis University and the Boston University School of Social Work, Judy moved to Honolulu in 1970 with her young family.  Judy comes from a long line of Jewish human service professionals including her mother who was a supporting founder of ORT. Judy founded the five Children’s Justice Centers of Hawaii and the Kukui Children’s Foundation. She is a member of both Temple Emanu-El and the O’ahu Jewish Ohana.

Robert was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and raised in a conservative household (his paternal grandfather was a Rabbi). After New York and Washington DC, Robert moved to Hawaii in 1987 and eventually retired from 3M in their Traffic Safety, Commercial Solutions, and Security Systems Divisions.   Robert was a Board member of Temple Emanu El, where he met his wife Deborah, and has been a Red Cross Volunteer since 1992. Robert joined the JCSH Board in 2012 and is currently a member of the O'ahu Jewish 'Ohana.

Eve has been an active real estate Broker in Hawaii and Colorado for over 40 years, and has worked for Kokua Kalihi Valley raising funds to build a neighborhood clinic and for the State of Hawaii in economic development. She graduated from the Executive MBA program at UH. Committed to  volunteer service to the community, Eve has served on the Boards of Directors of JCSH, Temple Emanu-El, Planned Parenthood, the University of Hawaii Alumni Association, Hokua Condominium, and the Pilot Club of Honolulu, which promotes awareness of brain-related disorders. Cultivating the roots of her Jewish faith as part of the Jewish community in Honolulu, Eve is a member of the Oahu Jewish Oahan and Sof Ma’arav.

A lifelong entrepreneur, Bob Sigall is a semi-retired business consultant who earned a Master’s degree from UH and taught marketing at Hawaii Pacific University for 15 years. He is the author of the five The Companies We Keep books and writes the popular Rearview Mirror column in the Honolulu Star Advertiser each Friday. In the late 1970’s, Bob was the community coordinator for the Hunger Project, and played a role in founding the Hawaii Food Bank. He has been Director of Ending Hunger Hawaii, Small Business Hawaii, and the Hawaii chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Living on Kauai since 1989, Sara has degrees in Law and Social Work, and operates her own law practice specializing in family law. Sara has served as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the Fifth Circuit, was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Kauai, and founding Program Director of the Children’s Justice Center of Kauai. Sara has been an active member of the Jewish Community of Kauai for many years, serving previously  as president currently on its board of directors. Sara has also served on many statewide and local boards including the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaii, Kauai Concert Association, and the Kauai Interfaith Council.

Born and raised on Oahu, Ari moved to Maui to become Chief Ranger at Haleakala National Park in 2016. He has worked for the government in many positions, including Hostage Negotiator. He has been involved in the Jewish community on both Oahu and Maui, and has a family connection to JCSH for many years through his parents. He has a wonderful wife and children and enjoys being with his family whenever he has a rare moment off of work.