NJC BOARD OF TRUSTEES

     President: Mark Wolfe
Vice President: ​Rachel Green Giarraputo
Secretary: Shannon Noonan
Treasurer: Craig Bialy
Trustees:
Ellen Kaplan
Marc Florman
Bri Steilberg
​

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.​

• ​​Mark Wolfe

NJC has long been a part of my heart. My involvement began at its inception and in fact, my wife Rosalie and I hosted the first Exploratory Committee meeting at our home in 1996. I became a member of the first Board of Directors and the first, First Vice President to our then President, Joan Cox. I became the second President of the NJC and served four terms (two years 1998 - 2000 and two years 2004 - 2006). I was President when Katrina hit New Orleans which was a great time of uncertainty and stress for our Congregation. I chaired the Reform Movement's National Mission to New Orleans, post Katrina, to insure inclusion of the NJC on the Mission tours. I attended the Houston National Reform Conference representing NJC and as a member of the New Orleans Reform Synagogue President's Committee, helped craft National Support for our synagogue. 

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.

• Rachel Giarraputo

I grew up in Metairie, LA, and attended Gates of Prayer Congregation in my youth. I moved to Mandeville in 2000, and continued to attend NJC services with my father, Robert Morris Green. I graduated Mandeville High School with honors in 2006. My father passed away in 2010, with services led by Rabbi Nimon from NJC. I graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Art History in 2011, and was married to my husband, Leonardo in 2012 in Sicily. My son, Robert, was born in FL in 2014. We were able to move back to Mandeville in 2016 with a promotion from my company, Zales to be the District Manager over 16 stores in the Gulf coast area from Pensacola to central MS. My husband opened an Italian restaurant in Mandeville in 2017, and I've helped manage the IT and social media aspects of the business. It has recently expanded to include a cafe with gelato made fresh in house. I rejoined NJC to attend services for my faith, and for my son to attend Sunday school. Last year, I volunteered to teach the youngest Sunday School class of 4 students. It was a blessing to give my time, while watching the children learn the stories from the Torah. 
 
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. 

• Shannon Noonan

I am a 1981 graduate of Loyola University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and minor in Social Work. I obtained a Master's Degree in Social Work From Tulane University School of Social Work in December of 1982, with a concentration in Medical Social Work.  I practiced in the areas of pediatrics, geriatrics, and rehabilitation for 16 years.  I am currently in my 23rd year with the St. Tammany Parish School Board, as a School Social Worker.  I maintain a private practice in the area of adoptions.  I have been a Civil Law Notary for 25 years.
 
I converted in March of 2017, with Rabbi Deborah Zecher, after studying and attending services for over 15 years. I am honored to be a member of the Board of Trustees for Northshore Jewish Congregation as I feel this warmth of our congregation was a driving force in my conversion.

At home, I am privileged to help raise my 15-year old niece who became a Bat Mitzvah in October 2019.

• Craig Bialy

I am a native of Alexandria, Louisiana where my family was active in both the conservative and reform congregations. I graduated from LSU and have lived most of my adult life in New Orleans, where I was affiliated with Congregation Gates of Prayer.  I served on the board and executive boards at Gates of Prayer during and after Hurricane Katrina. Nine years ago, I moved to Covington from the Marigny and have been affiliated with Northshore Jewish Congregation since this time. I am enjoying life on the Northshore and am happy that I made the move. I have worked in IT services, operations, and education and look forward to serving on the NJC board to bring innovative ideas with the new board.
​

• Ellen Kaplan

I was born and raised in Baton Rouge Louisiana so, of course, I attended LSU to complete my bachelor’s degree. Geaux Tigers!!! I had thought about converting to Judaism prior to meeting my husband but the notion became a reality when my husband proposed. I completed my conversion with Rabbi Natan Trief with Beth Shalom Synagogue. I most recently worked for the legal department of a large insurance agency but I am currently staying home to raise my son. As a relatively new convert, wife and mother, I welcome the opportunity to serve as a board member and to grow as a leader and a Jew in our congregation.

• Marc Florman

I live in Hammond with my spouse and two daughters, where we relocated several years ago after about a decade in New Orleans.  We joined NJC to become better connected with the Jewish community on the Northshore, and my eldest daughter began religious school last year.  I am a graduate of Yale University (B.A.) and Loyola Law School (J.D.), and currently work as a consultant for health care providers throughout the country.  I enjoy hiking, cooking, and dad jokes.  I am excited and honored to serve this congregation and our community.

• Bri Steilberg

Northshore Jewish Congregation holds a particularly special importance to me as a place to have for my three children to experience the calls of their Jewish faith. I personally grew up with my family as active members of the congregation; my dad has served on the board, my mom converted to Judaism with the same NJC community that prepared me to become a B’nai Mitzvah. When my mom passed away in 2018, NJC hosted her celebration of life in the same walls that housed our family my entire life. 

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.