Jewish Community Associationhires Maria Wolfe as CMO
Maria Wolfe recently moved from Nashville, TN, to north scottsdale and joined the Jewish Community association of greater Phoenix as chief marketing officer. for the past 12 years, she worked within the YMCA of Middle Tennessee Association and built a successful marketing consulting business – assisting health and wellness, nonprofit, real estate and financial services organizations. in each of these industries, she brought increased engagement, membership, donations and brand awareness. Maria received her bachelor of fine arts from auburn University and started her career as a graphic designer. while working for Sunbeam-Oster, she transitioned into a marketing role as a product manager. After a variety of roles in consumer product goods and publishing, she found her niche in nonprofit management with the YMCA. she received her MBa from the University of north Carolina while working at the Y in nashville – flying back and forth for two years. Maria brings a variety of experience in strategic planning, nonprofit management, marketing, communication and sales. all of this experience will drive an increase in membership, engagement, contributions and brand awareness for the JCC and the Jewish federation of greater Phoenix – at the Jewish Community Association. it has long been a dream of hers to live in Arizona, where she spends her free time climbing mountains. [email protected]
New foundation board includes two teens, JoeyLernor and Scott Rubenstein
The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix elected nine new board members in October; they include, for the first time, two members from its B’nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy Board.
New board members, elected for a three-year term, are: community volunteer Francine Coles; Bradley Dimond, CPA and Partner with Henry & Horne, LLP; Lory Fischler, Senior Associate with Leadership Development services; Joey Lernor, B’nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy Board; Attorney Deborah A. Miller, Deborah A. Miller PLLC; Attorney Robert Hagle, owner and managing partner at Nagle Law Group; Sandy Rife, General Manager at Mt. Sinai; Scott Rubenstein, B’nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy Board; and Lee Weiss, Retired Investment Broker. W. David weiner will continue as chair of the board. Beth Jo Zeitzer was elected vice chair. Nora Mandel will continue as treasurer. Board members re-elected are Neil Hiller, bylaws committee chair, and Berry Sweet, secretary. Retiring from the board after several years of dedicated service are Adrien Herzberg and Nancy Moffitt. The Jewish Community Foundation’s mission is to build a permanent source of financial support for a vibrant, enduring Jewish community. 480-699-1717 | jcfphoenix.org.
Rabbi Sadie Reuben joins Or Tzion as education director
Rabbi Sadie Reuben recently returned to the Valley of the sun, the place where her Jewish journey began, when she was named director of education for Congregation or Tzion in Scottsdale.
Raised in Phoenix, Rabbi Reuben attended the Phoenix Hebrew Academy, spent countless Shabbats at Beth el Congregation, attended Chabad of Phoenix’s Camp Gan Israel, was a leader in Congregation Beth Israel’s NFTY youth group and more. All of these experiences led Rabbi Reuben to her bachelor of science in Judaic Studies from the University of Arizona and then to Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where she received her rabbinic ordination and master of arts in religious education. Her most recent position was as assistant rabbi and educator at Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson, NV. Prior to that, she had extensive experience in teaching and curriculum development for various age groups at synagogues in New York and Los Angeles. She also taught at Pardes Jewish Day School.
Rabbi Reuben is excited to become part of the Or Tzion family. She considers religious school training to be “one’s personal laboratory for Jewish living.” She is busily establishing “an active and inclusive learning environment, with warm and inspiring teachers as well as a partnership with parents.” Or Tzion is a Conservative congregation in Scottsdale that was created through the merger of Har Zion and Or Chadash. [email protected] | 480-342-8858
Masada Siegel Wins Journalism Award
Masada Siegel, a regular contributor to Arizona Jewish Life, is a winner in the prestigious 2014 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition, taking the silver in the personal comment category for her story “World Opens Up Solo.” Siegel has previously won awards for her photography, but she says, “It’s exciting to win such a prestigious journalism award. It’s the first writing competition i’ve ever entered. The story was about traveling solo in israel, and my takeaway was ‘Call it fate, destiny, whatever you like, but one of the greatest lessons I have learned is to call your own shots.’ ” The awards, named for acclaimed broadcast journalist Lowell Thomas, were announced Sept. 16 at the SATW convention held in Iceland. masadasiegel.com | masadasiegelauthor.com
Philanthropists Steve and Meri Friedman to be Honored Nov. 13
Meri and Steve Friedman will receive the Association of Fundraising Professional’s Spirit of Philanthropy award from Jewish Family & Children’s service at the 30th annual Philanthropy Leadership awards Dinner on Nov. 13 at the Fairmount Scottsdale Princess.
The Friedmans are the longest consistent donors to JFCs having contributed gifts every year since 1980. Steve’s earliest service on the board started in the
1980s, serving as chairman in 1985 and 1986. He was a volunteer of the year and chaired a number of committees. steve recently completed another six years on the board in 2014. Steve and Meri’s daughter, Jennifer, is now involved and volunteering for JfCs as their legacy continues. Tickets for the dinner are $150 and are available at afpgreateraz.afpnet.org.
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