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Mark and his family have been members of TOS since 2014. They regularly attend Shabbat B’yachads, and both children have now graduated ARS, celebrating their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs in the sanctuary. Mark managed technology teams for large computer companies and start-ups in Chicago, and consulted for Scient Corp., before moving to Cambridge and joining Akamai Technologies. Seeking a change, Mark turned to the food service industry and now works part-time as a personal chef, hosting cooking classes and catering small events. Mark joined the Board of Trustees two years ago, providing business operations support as part of the finance committee. As president-elect he continued his work supporting operations and working with the treasurers on budgeting and fundraising.
Richard Stern grew up in Charleston SC, attending Sunday School at the US’s oldest Reform Temple, followed by attending middle school at Addlestone Hebrew Academy. He remains involved with his Southern Jewish roots via participation in The Jewish Historical Society of SC and the College of Charleston’s Jewish Studies program.
After graduating from the University of Florida, Richard moved to Atlanta to begin his accounting career with the largest regional CPA firm in Atlanta. Nearly a decade later, he founded Richard H Stern CPA PC, a tax and consulting firm, which recently celebrated 20 years of service.
In 2013, Richard and his Partner, Dr. Lance Goodman relocated to the South End section of Boston, where Richard quickly became involved in several non-profit organizations, including United South End Settlements (USES) and South End Business Alliance (SEBA). Lance and Richard became a members of TOS in 2014, followed by Richard joining the TOS Board of Directors in 2017.
TOS is the first temple Elliott and his wife, Linda have ever belonged to, although their three kids have previously become b’nei mitzvahs. They have been TOS members for about 4 years and enjoy the Temple activities, services and members.
Elliott is a retired Associate Professor of accounting from Merrimack College in Andover where he taught accounting and taxation for over 40 years. He is a licensed CPA and has an MBA from Boston University. Elliott maintains a small accounting practice servicing small businesses, individuals and not-for-profits.
Elliott looks forward to helping the Temple to achieve its financial goals working with Richard and the Temple staff.
Sarah Esterquest (she/her) has been part of the TOS community since Rosh Hashanah 5779 and is enthusiastic about improving TOS’s visibility as a welcoming and inclusive Jewish resource in the greater Boston area.
Sarah is a mechanical engineer by education and has spent the last decade working in the medical device and pharmaceutical fields. She is currently the Associate Director of Design Assurance at a California-based in vitro diagnostics startup, where she aims to implement “healing the world” through a novel technology related to sepsis detection. In addition to her work, Sarah is a rabid fan of all things motorsport, including Formula 1, IndyCar, World Endurance Championship, Dakar, and multiple other series. She is an alumna of the FIRST Robotics Competition and an impassioned advocate for girls and women in STE(A)M fields.
Term Ending 2023
Hillary, along with her daughter, have been a part of the TOS community for many years. They came to TOS by way of TCEE then ARS and HomeBASE.
Originally from New Orleans, Hillary moved to Brookline in 2006 when she decided to switch careers and become an elementary school teacher. They’ve always felt like TOS was more of a family than just a temple or preschool. It is that sense of community that sets TOS apart from other temples.
Term Ending 2023
Denise J. Karlin is an attorney who is Senior Legal Counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, who is eagerly looking forward to retirement in the winter of 2022 after working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for 35 years. Denise and her husband Bill Jarosz have been members of Temple Ohabei Shalom since 2010. Denise has served on the Temple’s Board of Trustees since 2012 and has served as President of the TOS Sisterhood since 2016. Denise has also served on numerous Temple committees over the years and currently serves on Ritual Worship, Inclusion, and Kayla’s Caring Community. Denise and Bill live in Brookline with their miniature poodle Luna, and their cat Tony.
Term Ending 2023
Jessica has been a member of Temple Ohabei Shalom since 2013 and has co-chaired the Social Action committee since 2019. Her children attended the Trust Center for Early Education as toddlers and are now Hebrew-school students at ARS. Jessica is a writer and editor specializing in nonprofit communications, and lives with her family in Brookline.
Term Ending 2024
Originally from Maine, Sarah moved to Boston after high school to attend Emerson College. She works in digital marketing/analytics, and loves traveling and dog-sitting. Sarah has been a Jamaica Plain resident for the past 10 years where she now lives with her wife and turtle. She has volunteered for organizations such as GLAD, Community Servings, and IFF Boston, and is excited to serve the TOS community.
Term Ending 2024
With 24 year of experience in Marketing and Business Development for local architectural firms, Alisa currently works at studioMLA Architects in Brookline Village. A Brookline resident for 16 years and mother of a 9-year-old son, she is active on the Runkle School PTO helping with the Annual Fund and popular events such as the Halloween Fair. Other former longtime volunteer positions include serving on the alumni boards of The Winsor School and Wesleyan University among others. She and her family enjoy biking, skiing, sailing, cooking, volunteering and hosting parties!
Term Ending 2024
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rachel moved to Boston, where her roots were, in the mid 90’s. During the day Rachel works in the restaurant business. At night she comes home to Brookline where she live with her husband Alon and their two daughters Mira and Golda. They joined TOS in 2011, introduced by the Trust Center, and are so thankful to have this community in their lives.
Term Ending 2024
Michelle Simon grew up in the Southwest and moved to Boston to attend Boston University. Subsequently she attended Simmons College and earned a Masters Degree in Behavior Analysis and Assistive Technology. Michelle is a preschool special education teacher at Newton Public Schools. She has been a member of Temple Ohabei Shalom since 2018. Michelle is a mother to two boys, Judah and Jack.
Term Ending 2025
Jeff Berry and his wife Lori, residents of Brookline, have been members of Temple Ohabei Shalom since 2015. An avid traveler, Jeff had hosted the planning team for the synagogue’s trip to Israel before the COVID pandemic caused the trip to be cancelled. Jeff is a Professor at Tufts with a distinguished career of research, writing, and teaching in the university’s Political Science Department. His research has focused on policymaking in Washington, interest groups, Massachusetts politics, nonprofits, and urban government. Jeff’s non-profit board experience includes having been Treasurer and Chairman of the Massachusetts/New England chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Term Ending 2025
Natasha Goldman and her family, including her husband Joachim Homann and sons Tobias (16) and Adam (12), moved to Brookline in 2019 and joined Temple Ohabei Shalom in 2020. Adam is a student in the synagogue’s religious school. Natasha’s family had lived in Brunswick, ME for nine years, where they were active in the local Brunswick Havurah and members of Congregation Bet Ha’am in South Portland. On the professional front, Natasha is an art historian and president of WISSEN, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in securing grants for institutions of higher education. She has been affiliated with Bowdoin College as an art historian for more than 11 years, where her research and teaching focus has been on visual responses to the Holocaust, art and the environment, and public art. Her book, Memory Passages: Holocaust Memorials in the United States and Germany, was published by Temple University Press in 2020.
Term Ending 2025
Joshua lives in Brookline with his wife, Masha Kogan and their son, Toby. They have been members of Ohabei Shalom since Toby started pre-school at the Trust Center in 2012. Professionally, Joshua is a consultant, strategist, and investment analyst in sustainability and renewable energy.
