Our School Board
Board chairs
Elisabeth Rosewall, Congregation Ahavas Israel is a native Californian with a BS in Design from the University of California at Davis and has lived in Grand Rapids since 1985. She has taught both 4-7th grades and Hebrew since 1990 both at Temple and Ahavas as well as in South Haven. She currently focuses on Hebrew and tutors b’nei mitzvah students at Temple Emanuel. Elisabeth has a passion for learning and Jewish education and loves teaching Hebrew classes for adults. She especially enjoys those who learn differently and tries to find the spark in each. She feels blessed by her two children, Emily and Eric, (and the presence of cats in their lives).
Sharlena Lovy, Temple Emanuel was born and raised in upstate New York and, after spending time in the Chicago and Detroit areas, moved to Grand Rapids in 2008. She works part-time as a Physician Assistant and full-time as a wife and mother of 3 active boys. When she finds the time, she enjoys reading, watching movies/ tv, traveling, and spending time with her 2 cats.
Board Members
Rebecca Altamirano, Temple Emanuel
Steven Berman, Congregation Ahavas Israel
Jennifer Cohen, Congregation Ahavas Israel — is a native of Grand Rapids and lives with her husband Abe and 3 children. She is a special education teacher and BCBA that works with young children with Autism. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family, explore new places, and read.
Rebecca Charauski, Temple Emanuel
Heather Hefer, Temple Emanuel
Stephanie Jesin, Congregation Ahavas Israel
Olga Sukenik, Temple Emanuel
Amy Winkelman, Congregation Ahavas Israel,
EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS
Rabbi Michael Schadick (Temple Emanuel) has been rabbi of Temple Emanuel since July 2000. He was born in southern New Hampshire and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Connecticut College. He received his rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in May 1994. He has served congregations in Orlando, Florida and Plantation, Florida. Rabbi Schadick lives in Cascade Township with his wife Susan and his daughter Shira.
Rabbi David J.B. Krishef (Congregation Ahavas Israel) received ordination as Rabbi from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1994. Since then, he has served as the rabbi of Congregation Ahavas Israel, a Conservative synagogue in Grand Rapids, Michigan and blogs at EmbodiedTorah.com. He writes the popular weekly “Ethics and Religion Talk” column for therapidian.com and the Grand Rapids Press and serves on the Spectrum Health Bioethics committee. He has also taught Biblical Hebrew at Grand Valley State University, and Introduction to Judaism courses at Kuyper College and Aquinas College. He is a contributing author for the Judaism chapter of a World Religions textbook (published by Teacher Created Materials) and a set of revisions to the URJ CHAI Judaic curriculum for use in a Conservative or joint Reform/Conservative religious school.