Lay Leadership

The Board

The board of Kamatz [קמצ] meets on a monthly basis to discuss issues on the congregation’s agenda.

Our Chairman – Dr. Ronen Beeri

Born in Israel, Dr. Beeri is a senior cardiologist at Hadassah Medical Center Ein Karem, and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Center. He is a senior lecturer at the Hebrew University School of Medicine and a guest lecturer at Harvard University Medical School, Boston, MA. He is a Major in the reserves serving in the armored corps.

Dr. Beeri joined Kamatz in 2002, when his son Omri celebrated his Bar Mitzva, and his son Nitai attended the Kamatz nursery program; a time when he and his family were seeking to add Jewish and Israeli content to their lives. Kamatz provided him with a group of like minded people, dedicated to ensuring an open community allowing each individual to find his place in a non-pressured fashion.

Ronen is married to Maurit, a pediatrician who is Director of Alyn Hospital, Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center. They are the parents of Omri, Yoav and Nitai.

Members of the Board - in alphabetical order

Dan Canaan: born in 1944, married to Shlomit, father to Ido, Roi and Nadav, grandfather to Dolev, Lilach and Na’ama. Dan holds degrees in economics, sociology and business administration. For the last 11 years, Dan has been the Administrative Director of Hebrew Union College, Jerusalem. He is addicted to long hikes, and interested in history, geography and archaeology. Dan is the congregation treasurer, having served in the past as Chair of the Audit Committee.

Kay Elkayam: Long time resident of Mevasseret Zion and member of Kamatz.

Dr. Bob Goldwasser: a resident of Mevasseret Zion, is married to Orit, and father to Mia and Dafna. A New Orleans, LA native, Bob made aliyah in 1981, and today is a university lecturer in marketing and business management. He is involved in the internet committee and the “spring fair” and represents Kamatz at the BNI meetings in Mevasseret Zion.

George Greenwald: Electrical engineer and a founding member of the congregation. George is the gabbai and soul of Kamatz.

Ofer Lichtig: born in 1968, married to educator Michal, father to Shai and Roni. Director of the Israel Offices of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. Member of the Directorate of KKL as a representative of the Reform Movement.

Rabbi Alona Lisitsa: lecturer for literature and our sages, and responsible for practical work and rabbinical mentoring at Hebrew Union College, Jerusalem. Wife of Sasha and mother of Yakov and Fira.

Dalia Mendelsson: born in Uruguay, made aliyah in 1982, has lived in Mevasseret Z|ion since 1994. Married to David, a lecturer at Hebrew Union College, mother to Galit, Yael and Itai. Dalia works as an information technology projects manager and is active in the internet committee.

Stefan Rokem: resident of Mevasseret Zion for the last 27 years. One of the founders of the congregation, volunteer chazzan, served as Chairman of the Board from 1998-2004.

Yaron Shavit: born in Israel, married to Michal, father of Yochai, Yiftach and Ya’ara. Managing partner of a law firm. Senior reserve officer. Has lived in Mevasseret Zion since 1996 and has been a member of Kamatz since 1998. Yaron is the recent past Chairman of the Board and is now Chairperson of the Israel Reform Movement.

Iris Meiri Snir: married to Hagai Agmon Shnir and mother of Ramon and Kedem. Trained as a lawyer, Iris is a faculty member of the Israeli High School for Arts and Sciences in Jerusalem.

Aviva Shwartzfeld: Aviva was born in Canada and has lived in Israel over 40 years. She has lived in Mevasseret Zion since 1990 and was among the founding members of the congregation. She has 4 children, three ages 20-29 and a 17 year old foster child.

Doron Tamir: has lived in Mevasseret Zion for 5 years, married to Ayelet, father of three – Rotem, Inbar and Ido. Doron, a member of a leading law firm specializes in representing public entities and private bodies in infrastructure projects and international tenders. He is the Chair of the Ethics Committee for the Jerusalem Region of the Israel Bar Association, a member of the board of Bizchut, an organization protecting the rights of the disabled, and is very involved in pro-bono law work for the needy. He is a member of the Kamatz Organization and Finance Committee.

Arie Tzvetler: married with three children. An accountant, Arie works at KPMG Somekh Chaikin, where he is responsible for finances having previously worked as Director of Finance for Israel Chemicals.

פעילות הקהילה מתקיימת בתמיכת הסוכנות היהודית לא"י, המגבית היהודית מטרו-וסט, התנועה ליהדות מתקדמת בישראל, WRJ , האיגוד העולמי ליהדות מתקדמת ותורמים פרטיים.