Chair: Stan Hammerman
Stan has been active in the Greater Phoenix Jewish community for over 30 years. He has served in numerous leadership positions, including President of the Board of Beth El Congregation for four years.
Stan and his wife, Cheryl, are a founding family of Congregation Or Chadash. Stan has served on the strategic planning committee for the Pacific Southwest Region of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Stan has always had a passion for Jewish education and has supported Rabbi Kleinberg’s endeavors since the inception of KiDMa – The Southwest Community, in 2005.
Stan believes that Valley Beit Midrash will make the Greater Phoenix Jewish community area a center for serious Jewish education, in an open and pluralistic environment.
Randi Brodsky
Randi Rubenzik B
rodsky is a local dermatologist who grew up in Phoenix in the 1970′s and 1980′s. She and her husband have two sons who will attend Pardes Jewish Day School in the fall. Her interests include adult Jewish education, questions of Jewish identity and community, Jewish and other literature, and Jewish medical ethics.
Judi Gottschalk
Judi and her husband, Robert, have been longtime residents of Phoenix and integral members of the Jewish community. Most recently Judi has been involved in beginning a Second Generation group as part of the Phoenix Holocaust Survivor Association. Judi has a passion for Jewish education. She believes that Jewish education should be available to all residents of the Valley of the Sun and that we should provide many doors to fit the needs of all generations and learning styles. She has a strong belief that dialogue and learning are essential to our Jewish culture. She is a long time educator, having served public education for thirty plus years as a teacher and in educational administrator roles. She is excited to serve on the Board of Trustees of Valley Beit Midrash and widen the scope of Jewish learning for all.
Jeff Packer
Since moving from New Jersey to Arizona in 1985, Jeff Packer has maintained an interest in Jewish education. He has participated in advanced educational seminars and classes and has been privileged to have the opportunity to study with some of the most intriguing teachers from all over. Jeff is thrilled to serve on the Board of Directors, hoping to promote this love of ongoing education to our diverse community. When not occupied in family and a career in healthcare, he has travelled extensively to learn about other cultures and religions pursuing his interest in photography. He also serves on the Board of Directors of a small foundation that serves children with special needs.
Sam Saks
Sam Saks has been involved in the the local Jewish community since he moved here in 2005. Sam has served on the board of Jewish Federation’s Young Jewish Phoenix, is a co-founder of the Arizona Jewish Lawyers Association, and is a member of the State Bar’s Board of Governors. Sam comes from an Orthodox background, having graduated from a modern Orthodox day school in metro Detroit.
Elana Storch
Elana Bernstein Storch was born and raised in NYC. She has lived in Phoenix with her husband Daniel and four children for the past 20 years. Her involvement in the Jewish Community has been diverse, but her main focus has been in our community’s Jewish educational institutions. She is co-founder of the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High school, the New Shul, KiDMa – The Southwest Community, Valley Beit Midrash, and the Women’s Jewish Learning Center. In 1994 through 1997 she was a Wexner Heritage Fellow. Elana has served on the Jewish Federation’s Women’s Division Board, Solomon Schechter and Camp Ramah California. She developed the Shortcuts to Shabbat® seminars and workshops which educate people on how to prepare Shabbat in their homes with easy and elegant tips. Professionally she is a practice administrator for a Scottsdale Cardiology practice.
