NJC BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2022-2023 Board President: Rachel Green Giarraputo Vice President: Gilad Bockman Secretary: Bri Steilberg Treasurer: Mark Wolfe Trustees: Mark Gold Ellen Kaplan Jenny Ziglin |
Please note that the NJC Bylaws are currently under review by committee.
Any member desiring access to Board of Trustee Meeting, Annual, or Special Meeting Minutes, please contact the Business Office and these will be made available. |
2022-2023 Trustees Bios
I care deeply about my family, community, and faith. I want to help keep NJC prosperous and profitable, and to be a home for the Jewish community on the Northshore for generations to come.
In 1999 I was hired by the New Orleans Police Department where I worked until 2001. In 2001 I was hired by the Town of Palm Beach Police in Palm Beach Florida where I worked until 2012. During my time with Palm Beach, I was assigned to the Bomb Squad from 2003-2012 and the Emergency Field Force. I am currently employed at Shell Oil. I also serve as a Sheriff's Deputy in the Reserve Division of the Orleans Parish Sheriff Department.
My family lives in Mandeville and we love it here. I am interested in serving on the board at the NJC because I believe I can draw on my Police training and experience with the goal of helping to provide the safest possible cultural environment for our children and congregation. I currently am on the security committee working to accomplish that goal. I am at Religious School almost every Sunday to help out. I am also interested in helping to expand the services provided by the NJC.
I graduated from LSU and had strongly considered becoming a rabbi. I took Hebrew as my foreign language and multiple entry courses before graduating with a degree in Sociology. I have taught Hebrew school and privately tutored in Hebrew throughout high school and college. The last three years I have taught religious school at NJC as my daughter Gabrielle has started her own spiritual journey.
Professionally I own Kinder Haus Montessori Preschool in Mandeville. At home I am fortunate to have a supportive partner that embraces all my endeavors and helps me try to raise kind human beings. I am honored to serve as a board member and help carry on a future of having a Jewish home on the Northshore.
I taught the NJC Confirmation Class for six years, first with Bonnie Bernstein and then with Stephanie Biller. Along with the help of Dave Simon, I negotiated the NJC Cemetery at Fielding's Funeral Home; Spoke on behalf of the NJC at the Parish wide Ecumenical Memorial after 9/11; chaired six successful annual Fund Raising Galas and cleaned the Synagogue and set it up for Shabbat Services and Religious School. I was always happy to be at the NJC in good times and in bad.
After 10 years on the board, I took a step back for numerous reasons, mostly health, becoming less of a regular at NJC, however, always staying in touch with other members and leadership. With joy, I have watched my Confirmation Students grow to adults and start families of their own. I have also witnessed a decline in Membership over the past few years for a variety of reasons. This saddens me greatly. I am moved to return to the board to help in any way I am needed to help assure continued success of the NJC and share the benefit of my experiences. I ask for your support.
In 2011, I met my now husband, Eric, who was raised Jewish. I had entertained the thought of studying different religions and theology during my upbringing, but really gave my heart to the practice and study of Judaism after Eric and I moved to San Antonio, TX in 2012. I completed my conversion to Judaism in June 2012 under the leadership of Rabbi Leonardo Bitran at Congregation Agudas Achim in San Antonio, TX. In 2014, Eric and I were married, moved to Austin, TX, and later that year welcomed our son, Mason. Our daughter, Bailey, followed in 2016 before we made our move back to Louisiana.
I am delighted to be a member of the NJC Board of Trustees and recently served as a co-Sunday School teacher for the 2nd-4th grade students. It has been a wonderful experience watching NJC's growth during my time on the Board and I look forward to the bright future of the congregation.
- Rachel Giarraputo - President
I care deeply about my family, community, and faith. I want to help keep NJC prosperous and profitable, and to be a home for the Jewish community on the Northshore for generations to come.
- Gil Bockman - Vice President
In 1999 I was hired by the New Orleans Police Department where I worked until 2001. In 2001 I was hired by the Town of Palm Beach Police in Palm Beach Florida where I worked until 2012. During my time with Palm Beach, I was assigned to the Bomb Squad from 2003-2012 and the Emergency Field Force. I am currently employed at Shell Oil. I also serve as a Sheriff's Deputy in the Reserve Division of the Orleans Parish Sheriff Department.
My family lives in Mandeville and we love it here. I am interested in serving on the board at the NJC because I believe I can draw on my Police training and experience with the goal of helping to provide the safest possible cultural environment for our children and congregation. I currently am on the security committee working to accomplish that goal. I am at Religious School almost every Sunday to help out. I am also interested in helping to expand the services provided by the NJC.
- Bri Steilberg - Secretary
I graduated from LSU and had strongly considered becoming a rabbi. I took Hebrew as my foreign language and multiple entry courses before graduating with a degree in Sociology. I have taught Hebrew school and privately tutored in Hebrew throughout high school and college. The last three years I have taught religious school at NJC as my daughter Gabrielle has started her own spiritual journey.
Professionally I own Kinder Haus Montessori Preschool in Mandeville. At home I am fortunate to have a supportive partner that embraces all my endeavors and helps me try to raise kind human beings. I am honored to serve as a board member and help carry on a future of having a Jewish home on the Northshore.
- Mark Wolfe - Treasurer
I taught the NJC Confirmation Class for six years, first with Bonnie Bernstein and then with Stephanie Biller. Along with the help of Dave Simon, I negotiated the NJC Cemetery at Fielding's Funeral Home; Spoke on behalf of the NJC at the Parish wide Ecumenical Memorial after 9/11; chaired six successful annual Fund Raising Galas and cleaned the Synagogue and set it up for Shabbat Services and Religious School. I was always happy to be at the NJC in good times and in bad.
After 10 years on the board, I took a step back for numerous reasons, mostly health, becoming less of a regular at NJC, however, always staying in touch with other members and leadership. With joy, I have watched my Confirmation Students grow to adults and start families of their own. I have also witnessed a decline in Membership over the past few years for a variety of reasons. This saddens me greatly. I am moved to return to the board to help in any way I am needed to help assure continued success of the NJC and share the benefit of my experiences. I ask for your support.
- Mark Gold - Trustee
- Ellen Kaplan - Trustee
- Jenny Ziglin - Trustee
In 2011, I met my now husband, Eric, who was raised Jewish. I had entertained the thought of studying different religions and theology during my upbringing, but really gave my heart to the practice and study of Judaism after Eric and I moved to San Antonio, TX in 2012. I completed my conversion to Judaism in June 2012 under the leadership of Rabbi Leonardo Bitran at Congregation Agudas Achim in San Antonio, TX. In 2014, Eric and I were married, moved to Austin, TX, and later that year welcomed our son, Mason. Our daughter, Bailey, followed in 2016 before we made our move back to Louisiana.
I am delighted to be a member of the NJC Board of Trustees and recently served as a co-Sunday School teacher for the 2nd-4th grade students. It has been a wonderful experience watching NJC's growth during my time on the Board and I look forward to the bright future of the congregation.