Our Board

In the interests of representing and reaching out to as many individuals as possible in our community, the Board of JCS includes representatives of local organizations as well as independent members of the community.

 

The all volunteer Board meets monthly to establish policy, plan programs, review Service Provider and committee reports, and determine effective fundraising methods. All Board members contribute financially and solicit gifts to JCS. They seek to establish appropriate resources for the JCS Service Provider in order to meet authentic and significant client needs for the Hawaii Jewish community on Oahu and the neighboring Islands. Please help them succeed by donating today.

 

Our current Board members and their positions:

 

Lorraine Gershun, President

 

Lorraine and her husband, David Weisberg, reside in West Oʻahu where they raised two children who are both attending college in California. They attend Aloha Jewish Chapel and are former members of Oʻahu Jewish ʻOhana (OJO) and Temple Emanu-El. She has been active in each congregation, heading the education committee at Temple Emanu-El and serving on the Board for OJO. Currently, at AJC, she sits on the Polskin Trust Committee and is the President of the Jewish Women’s Guild.

 

Lorraine is an educator and is passionate about access to education and student success. She is currently an academic adviser at Leeward Community College Waiʻanae Moku campus.
Lorraine came to Hawaiʻi 30 years ago to teach summer school at Waiʻanae High School, embraced the local culture and never left. In her 18 years at WHS, she taught English Language Arts and built an award winning journalism program. In 2010 she left the DOE and joined the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Kukui Center ʻOhana to operate the Community Partners Program. In 2014 she established an independent educational consulting business “Go to College Hawaii” to advise local high school students on their college search and admissions application process and also worked for Kamehameha Schools community education division.

 

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Aviela Weltman, Vice President
 

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. Before working for the City, Aviela worked at an Israeli non-profit, Tevel b'Tzedek, both in Nepal and their Israel office. She has her Master's in Public Health with a specialization in Emergency and Disaster Management from Tel Aviv University. 

 

Aviela has always been passionate about volunteering, she has participated in volunteer programs in Israel, Nepal, and Uganda and started off her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA. She now volunteers with Our Kupuna and Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawai‘i and is the volunteer leader of a Jewish Young Professional group on O‘ahu called Jewy Hui. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Kersten, Treasurer

 

A Chicago native, Richard Ira Kersten grew up in Los Angeles, the son of a professional musician and educator.  He graduated 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.  He recently celebrated his fiftieth year in the financial services industry.

 

Richard has actively served the Jewish Community of Hawaii as an active Board of Directors of Jewish Community Services for over 3 years, a past President of the Jewish Federation of Hawaii, and a former Director and current member of Temple Emanu El.

 

His hobbies include golf, flying remote control airplanes and fishing in Mexico and Alaska.  Richard is married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

 

Sara Izen, Secretary

 

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 Brown
 

Sue Brown retired from the Department of Health in 2012 where, since 1999 she supervised the statewide Early Intervention Program that provides services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays and their families. She previously worked at the Department of Education and University of Hawaii, teaching and doing research into best practices in the area of special needs. Sue’s educational background includes: 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.  Born in Washington D.C., she grew up in Northern California and moved to Hawaii in 1970.

 

Sue has been an active volunteer with the Jewish community for many years. She was previously on the Board of Directors of Temple Emanu-El, chaired the Jewish Film Festival, was an original member of the O`ahu Jewish `Ohana, and is currently on its Board of Directors and co-chairs its Annual 2nd Night Seder. She has been on the Jewish Community Services Board since 2017 where she chairs the Program Committee and co-chairs the Annual Dinner.  Sue and her husband Bob were honored as JCS Volunteers of the Year in 2014.  They have two children (both on the mainland) and are grandparents to four. Sue also volunteers with Family Promise, is a Docent at the Honolulu Museum of Art and teaches exercise classes at the Nuuanu YMCA.

 

 

Brian Field
 

A 26 Year US Army Veteran and retiree Brian is a Mater Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. Currently still attending college at Hawaii Pacific University. Still periodically contracting for the US Army and US Department of State on Explosive ordnance removal and Security consultation and assistance worldwide.

 

Native of New York City and Long Island his military career took him all over the world culminating with assignment at the US Army Pacific and Schofield barracks where he retired from active duty and remained in Hawaii.

 

Serves at the Jewish Liaison for US Army Hawaii and the JCS board member representing the orthodox and military communities in Hawaii.

 

Brian and his wife Tamara have 6 boys, 3 still at home and 2 are home schooled. Brian and family congregants at Chabad of Hawaii and are very involved in many aspects of Jewish life from building Sukkahs, handy man for Chabad member of the local Chevra. 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 also support the Aloha Jewish Chapel as former members and military retirees.

 

 

 

Mark Fridovich

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Guttman

 

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.

 

Steven is a member of O`ahu Jewish `Ohana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackie Mild Lau

 

Jackie couldn’t say no when our beloved Gail Marcus z’l asked her to fill her seat on the JCS Board years ago. Now she is a member of the Board Development Committee, an Arthur Murray Fund advisory member and tries to lend creativity and an artistic touch to JCS events whenever possible.

 

Jackie served for 5 years as President of the Temple Emanu-El Board of Trustees, and continues as a 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" also for many years.

 

Jackie is a practicing artist, specializing in sculpture. She is an active board member and past president of Hawaii Craftsmen, helped found The Glass Fusion Collective and continues to teach bronze casting and sculpture at her small foundry and workshop in Kaneohe. Examples of her collaborations with students can be seen on the walls of the Weinberg Learning Center, Prince David Kawananakoa Middle School Cafeteria and Roosevelt High School. Samples of her sculptures can be seen at www.sculptureoutofhand.com and on her instagram site: Sculpture Out of Hand.

 

 

Judy Lind
 

Judy was born in N.J.  After graduating from Brandeis University and the Boston University School of Social Work, she and her psychiatrist husband moved to Honolulu in 1970 with their 2 young children. It was meant to be a short term tour during the Vietnam War, but they succumbed to the beauty of Hawaii and its people and never left.

 

Judy comes from a family which dedicated itself to Jewish philanthropy. Her maternal grandfather and uncles committed themselves to the economic preservation of their synagogue during the depression. Her mother, Miriam Adler Earle, was the national vice president of ORT, an organization founded to provide vocational training to Jewish refugees worldwide following WWII.

 

Judy followed in this tradition, founding the 5 Children’s Justice Centers of Hawaii, which deal with abused children, and is currently the Executive Director of the Kukui Children’s Foundation which operates the Kukui Center, a collaboration of 7 social service programs that serve vulnerable children and families. The Lind family belonged to Temple Emanu El for many years where their children received the Jewish education and Judy served on the Board of Trustees. They are currently members of the O’ahu Jewish Ohana where she served on the board and has been a board member of JCS since 2016.

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Robert Nehmad
 

Robert was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and raised in a conservative household (paternal grandfather was a Rabbi).  Moved to New York City in 1967 where he attended college.  Worked as an engineer in Nassau County, NY and then the Federal Highway Administration in Washington DC. 

 

Robert moved to Hawaii in 1987 and held sales positions in Information Technology until 2004 when he was hired by 3M to support their Traffic Safety, Commercial Solutions and Security Systems Divisions.  This new endeavor allowed him to focus on the implementation of safety measures addressing the traffic safety problems we have been experiencing in Honolulu, and to put his M.S. in Transportation Engineering to good use. 

 

Robert has contributed to the Jewish Community as a Board member of Temple Emanu El (where he met Deborah and their son Michael had his Bar Mitzvah). He helped organize social action activities such as Meal on Wheels, Family Promise and has been a Red Cross Volunteer since 1992.

 

Robert joined the JCS Board in 2012 and is currently a member of the O'ahu Jewish 'Ohana Congregation.

 

Eve Shere

 

Eve has been an active real estate Broker in Hawaii and Colorado for over 40 years.  Previously, she worked for Kokua Kalihi Valley raising funds to build a neighborhood medical and dental clinic.   In addition, she has worked in economic development with the State of Hawaii.  She graduated from the Executive MBA program at UH. 

 

A large portion of Eve’s life is based on voluntary service to the community.  Some of her efforts to give back to her community include  serving on the Board of Directors of Jewish Community Services, the Board of Directors of Temple Emanu-El, the Board of Directors of Pilot Club of Honolulu (helping to promote awareness of brain-related disorders), the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood, the Board of Directors of University of Hawaii Alumni Association, and the Board of Directors of the Hokua Condominium.  Additionally, Eve will soon be joining the Rotary Club of Honolulu. 

 

Eve is a member of Oahu Jewish Ohana and Sof Ma’arav.  Living a Jewish life has taken on a dynamic role in her life.  Being part of the Jewish community in Honolulu has truly cultivated the roots of her Jewish faith. Eve Shere is married to Professor Emeritus Reginald Worthley (formerly with the UH Shidler College of Business).  In addition, Eve and Reg have a married physician daughter, Megan Worthley living in Renton, WA (Married to Brandon Sobotik).  Eve has been a resident in Honolulu since the late 1970s.  

 

Bob Sigall

 

Bob Sigall is a semi-retired business consultant who taught marketing at Hawaii Pacific University for 15 years. He's the author of the five The Companies We Keep books and writes the popular Rearview Mirror column in the Honolulu Star Advertiser each Friday.

 

Bob Sigall is a life-long entrepreneur. He had four businesses before graduating from high school. He earned a masters degree from U.H. in 1975 and has been a business consultant since 1978. Since then, he has consulted over 1,000 local companies.

 

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’s been a director of Ending Hunger Hawaii, Small Business Hawaii, and the Hawaii chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

 

 

Sara Silverman

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Ari Wong
 

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