About
Welcome
Welcome to the Jewish Grandparents Network. We are delighted you have dropped in.
Join us as we explore new ways for grandparents to play joyful and meaningful roles in our families, to cherish our time together, and to share our Jewish stories, heritage, and traditions.
Who We Are
Richard N. Bernstein
President
Richard is the managing partner of BernsteinMarshall PLLC and has practiced law for over 40 years specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate and international law, private and public finance, and not-for-profit governance. Rich was listed in the prestigious The Best Lawyers in America, 2005-2025. He is a past Chair of the boards of the Jewish Agency for Israel North American Council (JAFINA), the ICenter, United Israel Appeal (UIA), the Dave and Mary Alper JCC in Miami, and the One Laptop Per Child project. Currently, he serves as a member of the Board of Directors/Trustees of World ORT, ORT America, the Jewish Agency, the Jewish Federations of North America, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Federation of the Palm Beaches. Rich and his wife Barbara have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Debra Silberman Weinberg
Executive Director
Debra Silberman Weinberg is Executive Director at the Jewish Grandparents Network. Debs has served as both a volunteer and professional leader in the Jewish community for the last thirty years. In the last ten years she honed her skills as a certified leadership coach and facilitator, while serving on boards and in leadership roles nationally. Highlights include Chair of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore board and Co-chair of the Global Planning Committee of the JDC. Professionally, Debra served as the founding Executive Director of ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin Leadership Development Institute. Before that, Debs was for ten years the Director of The Darrell Friedman Institute for Professional Development, which trained professionals to work in the Jewish community. Debs and her husband Joe Weinberg have successfully raised three children, Jenna, Dani, and Ben to be upstanders. Her greatest pleasure is watching her four grandchildren grow. Contact Debs at in**@***********************rk.org
Terry Kaye
Associate Director and Director of Creative Content
Terry Kaye is Associate Director and Director of Creative Content at the Jewish Grandparents Network. She collaborates with Jewish organizations and expert individuals to create Jewish experiences, resources, and live events for grandparents. Terry manages many of JGN’s operations and moderates JGN’s private Facebook group of 17,800 members. She has worked in the field of Jewish education for 36 years, including 31 years at Behrman House Publishers where she worked closely with educators nationwide in her role as Director of Educational Services. She also wrote, edited, or project-managed over seventy Jewish education publications for children and adults. Terry is “Gran” to five grandchildren. Contact Terry at in**@***********************rk.org
Sarah Reid
Senior Operations Manager
Sarah Reid is JGN’s “Swiss Army Knife”: her responsibilities include support for marketing and communications, programs and content, development, and financial administration. Sarah is deeply committed to playing a valuable role in advancing JGN’s mission, vision, and goals. Behind the scenes, Sarah enjoys photography, exploring the beauty of nature, an array of artistic hobbies through different mediums, and spending time with her sweet canine companions, Daisy Mae and Dallas. Sarah is a sixth-generation Atlanta native and recently moved to South Carolina to be closer to her family. Contact Sarah at in**@***********************rk.org
Devorah Fuchs
Marketing & Communications Manager
Devorah Fuchs is the Marketing & Communications Manager at the Jewish Grandparents Network, shaping how JGN communicates its mission and engages Jewish grandparents nationwide. She leads JGN’s email communications, website content, and social media, creating clear and inviting ways for grandparents to connect around the real questions and moments of their lives. Devorah brings a deep commitment to Jewish community and storytelling and volunteers in the Jewish and Israeli community in Austin. She lives in Austin with her husband and three children. Contact Devorah at in**@***********************rk.org
Tracy Newman
Community Impact Manager
Tracy Newman is the Community Impact Manager at the Jewish Grandparents Network, where she partners with Jewish organizations to help them better understand, reach, and engage grandparents as vital contributors to Jewish life. With more than 30 years of experience in Jewish communal leadership, Tracy has dedicated her career to building meaningful connections—between individuals, to Jewish life, and within Jewish communities. She brings deep expertise in strategic planning, program design, and relationship-building. Tracy is inspired by the powerful role grandparents play in family life and is committed to elevating their voices and supporting communities in creating opportunities for connection, learning, and shared Jewish experience. You can contact Tracy at in**@***********************rk.org
David Raphael
Co-Founder
David Raphael is the co-founder and inaugural Executive Director of the Jewish Grandparents Network with Lee M. Hendler. A graduate of Albany University and the Columbia University School of Social Work, David spent 30 years in Hillel including roles as Assistant International Director, Executive Director of Hillel of Greater Baltimore and Senior Campus Liaison for Hillel International. David was also the founding Executive Director of the Floortime Foundation and the Executive Director of the Maryland Teen Initiative. David and his wife Jo live in Atlanta, have three grown children and two grandchildren.
Lee M. Hendler
Co-Founder
Beyond decades of involvement with her family’s charitable foundations and leadership roles in a number of Jewish and communal organizations, Lee is the creator of Freedom’s Feast, a civics initiative that helps to raise the next generation of citizens through the celebration of our national holidays. She is the past president of her congregation, Chizuk Amuno and author of The Year Mom Got Religion: One Woman’s Mid-life Journey into Judaism. Lee lives in Baltimore and is the proud “Gromzy” to six grandchildren. She loves the company of her adult children, their partners, and a very big, red dog named Clifford. Read tributes to Lee.
Board of Directors
Larry Appel: Larry is the Chairman of the Board and interim Chief Executive Officer of Flagstone Foods, the leading U.S. manufacturer of private label snacks. He is the former Chief Executive Officer and President of The Fresh Market, a leading specialty grocer with approximately 160 stores operating in over 20 states. Appel also serves as an advisory board member to private equity and venture firms, including Atlas Holdings LLC and 25 Madison. Appel graduated with a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with his wife, Caren. They have three children, Molly, 34; Becca, 32; and Michael, 28. Appel is also active with the Joint Distribution Committee and AIPAC.
Richard N. Bernstein, President: Richard is the managing partner of BernsteinMarshall PLLC and has practiced law for over 40 years specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate and international law, private and public finance, and not-for-profit governance. Rich was listed in the prestigious The Best Lawyers in America, 2005-2025. He is a past Chair of the boards of the Jewish Agency for Israel North American Council (JAFINA), the ICenter, United Israel Appeal (UIA), the Dave and Mary Alper JCC in Miami, and the One Laptop Per Child project. Currently, he serves as a member of the Board of Directors/Trustees of World ORT, ORT America, the Jewish Agency, the Jewish Federations of North America, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Federation of the Palm Beaches. Rich and his wife Barbara have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Lisa Feldman Brill: Lisa is an active philanthropist who has been deeply involved in the Jewish community since high school. She is Vice Chair of the Brill Family Charitable Trust, a long-time Board and executive committee member of the JCC Association, Chair of the JCC Maccabi Games, and past president and trustee of the Marcus JCC in Atlanta. Lisa and Ron live in Atlanta and have been lovingly married for 52 years. Her greatest joy is being “Grandma” to her two grandchildren!
Fred Claar: Fred has served on the board of the Jewish Education Project, My Jewish Learning, and Jewish Student Connection. He and his wife Joyce are the authors of Values and Ethics: Torah Topics for Today published by Behrman House. They live in Westchester County, NY near their children and grandchildren.
Chip Edelsberg, Ph.D.: Chip has devoted three decades of professional service to synagogue, federation, and Jewish foundation leadership as well as to Board advisory and communal organization consulting roles. He was the founding Executive Director of the Jim Joseph Foundation. A graduate of Brown and The Ohio State University, Chip has a Masters in Teaching and a PhD in Education. Chip and Leslie reside in Scottsdale, proud parents of two sons and four grandchildren.
Rosalind Franklin: Rosalind is Principal of Rosalind Franklin Group and a Leadership Consultant Partner at Boyden, a global recruitment firm. She provides executive coaching for both corporate and nonprofits and consults with organizations and individuals on issues of board governance and leadership development. She is past President of the SF Bay Area Chapter of the International Coaching Federation and a trustee emeritus of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago, as well as a Former President of the Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council in addition to other organizational board roles over the years. She is named after her aunt, whose ground-breaking scientific work contributed to the discovery of DNA. A harpist, Rosalind co-founded the California Symphony, which won national and international awards and recognition. Rosalind lives in Marin and is an avid hiker who also enjoys, cooking, and spending time with her 3 kids and 4 grandchildren.
Sophie Hearne: Sophie is the Executive Director of Togethering, a new initiative that brings mixed-heritage couples (with at least one Jewish partner) on awe-inspiring immersive trips to explore how Jewish wisdom, practices, and stories can add meaning to the lives they are building together. Prior to leading Togethering, Sophie served as Senior Director of Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives at the Jewish Federations of North America, where she spearheaded research and program innovation for midlife adults (55+). She has also held roles with the City of Boston, JCC Greater Boston, and Combined Jewish Philanthropies. Sophie currently serves on the Board of Directors of Jewish Family Services of Metrowest in Boston and on the Ralph I. Goldman Fellowship Committee at JDC. She loves spending time with her husband, Chris, and their son, Max, as well as gardening.
Lee M. Hendler, Co-Founder: Beyond decades of involvement with her family’s charitable foundations and leadership roles in a number of Jewish and communal organizations, Lee is the creator of Freedom’s Feast, a civics initiative that helps to raise the next generation of citizens through the celebration of our national holidays. She is the past president of her congregation, Chizuk Amuno, Baltimore, and author of The Year Mom Got Religion: One Woman’s Mid-life Journey into Judaism. Lee lives in Baltimore and is the proud “Gromzy” to six grandchildren. She loves the company of her adult children, their partners, and a very big, red dog named Clifford.
Bruce Jakubovitz: Bruce enjoyed a fulfilling career in business development and marketing in the corporate world before acquiring and turning around a failing Caribbean hotel property and focusing his efforts on helping not-for-profit organizations. Bruce lives in Westchester County, NY with his wife Julie. They are the proud Grandpa and Juju of two delightful grandchildren.
Rabbi Paul Kipnes: Paul serves as spiritual leader of Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas, California. He is co-author, with his wife Michelle November, of Jewish Spiritual Parenting: Wisdom, Activities, Rituals and Prayers for Raising Children with Spiritual Balance and Emotional Wholeness, and recent author of The Secret Life of the Mourner: A Poetic Journey Through a Year of Mourning. Under his leadership, Or Ami has received national awards for family education, interfaith inclusion, and innovative community building. A mentor to future rabbis and educators, he brings a spiritual lens to the joys and challenges of family life. Now a proud Papa, he delights in discovering how the values of Jewish Spiritual Parenting continue l’dor vador—from generation to generation—in the sacred work of Jewish grandparenting. He finds inspiration in hiking, Star Trek, and poetry. His writings appear at paulkipnes.com.
Lori Klinghoffer: Lori has served in numerous capacities at both the Greater MetroWest Federation and JFNA. In Greater MetroWest, she has served as Federation President, General Campaign Chair, and Israel and Overseas Chair, as well as Women’s Philanthropy President and Campaign Chair. She is the immediate past Chair of the United Israel Appeal (UIA). She has also served as Chair and President of JFNA’s National Women’s Philanthropy, Vice Chair of JFNA’s Board and Chair of its Nominating Committee. Currently, she is a member of the Nominating committee and sits on the Israel & Overseas committee. She has been a member of the Jewish Agency for Israel Board of Governors since 2009. In addition, she has served on the Shlichut and Marketing Committees. Lori is a member of the NJ Israel Commission where she serves on the Education Committee. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Valcor Engineering Corporation in Springfield, NJ. She lives in Short Hills, NJ with her husband Steven. They have two daughters and five grandchildren.
Ilene C. Vogelstein: Ilene has extensive professional and volunteer experience in the Jewish community. Ilene conducted the first survey on the state of Jewish preschools in America (2000). She was the Coordinator of the Early Childhood Education Department at Baltimore Hebrew University and currently is adjunct faculty at Hebrew College and Baltimore Hebrew Institute. Ilene was the Director of the Early Childhood Programs at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. In addition, Ilene served as President of the Board of Jewish Education and President of the Pearlstone Conference & Retreat Center. She is the author of several publications about early childhood education. Ilene is called Bubba, sometimes Medium Monster, to five awesome grandchildren.
Ellen B. Kagen Waghelstein, MSW, PCC: Ellen is a seasoned leader in leadership development and coaching, with over 30 years of experience. As the former Director of the Georgetown Leadership Program and a Founding Partner at Coach Approach Partners and Kagen Leadership Group, she specializes in empowering professionals and civic activists to lead change effectively. Ellen’s work includes: founding Board Member of BBYO, past chair of the National Young Leadership Cabinet of JFNA, past national board chair of PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, President of Women’s Philanthropy for the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and a trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation. Ellen holds an MSW from the University of Maryland Baltimore, with additional certifications in Leadership from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and Executive Coaching from Georgetown University. She has received awards from The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, BBYO, JFNA, and the Republic of Afghanistan. She is a loving Bubbe to three long-distance (Seattle) and local grandchildren. She and her husband David live in Annapolis, Maryland.
Rabbi Dr. Ron Wolfson: Ron is the Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, author of twenty-four books on Jewish life, and Zaydie Ronnie to two delicious grandchildren, Ellie and Gabe.
National Advisory Council
Rabbi Richard Camras: Rabbi Camras is co-senior rabbi of Hamakom in Los Angeles, a new synagogue formed by the merger of Temple Aliyah and his previous synagogue Shomrei Torah where he served for 25 years. He is the past President of the Pacific Southwest Rabbinical Assembly and served for three years as the Chair of the West Valley Rabbinic Task Force at the Valley Alliance Federation. He has been a lecturer of Practical Rabbinics at the Zeigler School of Rabbinic Studies for 25 years. Rabbi Camras was ordained from JTS in 1992. He and his wife, Carolyn, have two adult children Talya and Noah.
Dr. Renée Cherow-O’Leary: Renée is a former professor of Arts, Culture, and Media at Rutgers University and of English Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a current Scholar at the Center for Scholars and Storytellers at UCLA. She teaches Creative Aging at the Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan. Renée is also a designer of GENerate, a Covenant Award-winning program for older members of the congregation of Lab/Shul in New York. She is “Noni” to three beloved grandchildren.
Dr. Marshall Duke: Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Emory University and a faculty member with The Emory Center for Myth and Ritual in American Life. Marshall is Grandpa to nine grandchildren (“I am blessed, for real.”)
Jane Isay: Author of four books, most recently Unconditional Love: A Guide to Navigating the Joys and Challenges of being a Grandparent Today. Learn more at janeisay.com. Jane lives in New York, close to her four grandchildren.
Tracey Labgold (she/her): Tracey is the Florida Education & Training Manager at Keshet, where she works for the full equality of LGBTQ+ Jews in Jewish life. Tracey has a Masters of Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. She is a proud member of the Wexner Heritage Cohort 2023. Tracey and her wife, Michelle, have 5 children about whom they love to kvell!
Dr. Larry Moneta: Former Vice President for Student Affairs at Duke University; adjunct faculty appointments at Duke in the Sanford School of Public Policy and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. Larry has five grandchildren, all of whom call him Grandpa.
Dr. Ruth Nemzoff: Ruth is the author of Don’t Bite Your Tongue: How to Foster Rewarding Relationships with Your Adult Children, and Don’t Roll Your Eyes: Making In-Laws Into Family. She is currently an affiliated scholar at Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center. She was the Assistant Minority Leader, New Hampshire House of Representatives. She holds a BA from Barnard College, an MA from Columbia University, and an EdD Harvard Graduate School of Education. Ruth and her late husband have four children and four in-law children and 11 grand children ages 22 to 5.
Esther Netter: Founder of the Cayton Children’s Museum (formerly the Zimmer) and the California social justice/arts initiative, youTHink, Esther is Savta (Hebrew for grandmother) to eight grandchildren.
Dr. Nancy Parkes: Founder and principal of JTeachNOW, an organization that supports education directors and leaders of Jewish organizations seeking to redefine Jewish education in their setting. Nancy is currently pursuing her EdD in JTS’s Executive Doctoral Program. Nothing brings Nancy greater joy than being the Savti of her three grandsons, Harrison, Ollie, Isaac, and granddaughter, Joey.
Terry Rosenberg: Terry is the immediate past president of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. She has a distinguished career as an executive coach and organizational consultant, specializing in leadership development and communication. She and Elliot have eight grandchildren and it is this role of grandparent of which she is perhaps the proudest.
Gary Rosenblatt: Gary served as editor and publisher of The Jewish Week of New York for 26 years. Prior to that he was editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times for 19 years. A Pulitzer Prize finalist, he continues to write his “Between The Lines” column at garyrosenblatt.substack.com
Dr. Jane Shapiro: A founder of Orot: Center for New Jewish Learning where she teaches a variety of classes and workshops blending text study with other intentional practices. Jane is a graduate of the Mandel Teachers Institute and Vision Projects. Growing up in a family of four girls, Jane wondered what it would like to have a brother. As the mother of four sons and as Bubbie to six grandsons she now knows the answer: it is full of commotion and fun.
Rev. Roger Talbott: A retired Methodist Minister, Roger lives in Jackson Heights with his wife Jacquie. Their son Matt and his wife Melissa live with their two children in Portland, Oregon. Their son Jim has two children and is married to Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg, who leads Malkhut, a progressive Jewish spiritual community in Queens, New York.
What We Believe
We envision a Jewish world that embraces grandparents as vital to our families, our communities, and our future.
Grandparents have deep Jewish aspirations for our grandchildren and families.
Therefore: We provide the how and why of Jewish grandparenting through a safe, welcoming gateway for grandparents to enter and explore.
Grandparents play a unique and influential role in our families.
Therefore: We engage grandparents as our primary audience.
Grandparents’ investments will increase when Jewish organizations and communities engage and embrace them.
Therefore: We build highly collaborative partnerships with other organizations and communities.
Home is the place where most grandparent – grandchild interactions occur.
Therefore: We focus on the home as the center of family engagement.
The most rewarding grandparent-grandchild relationships are infused with joy and meaning and benefit both grandparents and grandchildren.
Therefore: We seek to infuse our initiatives and experiences with joy and meaning—and fun and silliness—to surprise and delight grandparents and grandchildren.
Grandparents embrace and support the diversity of our Jewish families.
Therefore: We welcome grandparents from a broad array of backgrounds, cultures, faiths, and traditions and celebrate the diversity of today’s Jewish families.
Grandparents become better grandparents when they learn from one another.
Therefore: We build communities of grandparents to support one another and to share and learn together.
Our Diverse Community
The Jewish Grandparents Network proudly welcomes, respects, and values the participation of all including interfaith families, people of all abilities, religious practices, backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and socio-economic status. We believe that diversity in our families makes us stronger, enriches the Jewish community, and enables us to be better Jewish and world citizens.
Inclusivity is at the core of our mission as a community. We embrace inclusion as a mindset, a way of thinking that opens doors to opportunities for meaningful engagement, connection, and belonging. Together, we can cultivate a more inclusive Jewish community that recognizes the value, dignity, and capabilities of every individual.
History
As a nationally recognized community leader and educator, and a mother and grandmother, Lee M. Hendler has long been aware of the under-recognized roles grandparents play as essential members of today’s changing families and as vital links to Jewish traditions and values.
In 2017, Lee shared her thoughts with David Raphael, who was soon to become a first-time grandfather. The Jewish Grandparents Network (JGN) emerged from this conversation.
Through our research, focus groups, and one-on-one conversations we heard of the opportunity to engage grandparents in innovative experiences to help them pursue their complex and essential roles with confidence and joy.
We also heard stories from others that reflected a major gap in the Jewish community. The Jewish communal world had a clear focus on young families but had not yet expanded that focus to include grandparents in meaningful ways. In that gap we saw the need for the Jewish Grandparents Network.
In eight years, the Jewish Grandparents Network has become the leading authority on today’s Jewish grandparents.
We conducted the first National Study of Jewish Grandparents in 2019 in collaboration with 17 Jewish partner organizations. We have engaged grandparents, family members, professionals, and community leaders in a broad array of workshops, initiatives, seminars, and consultations. We see the impact of our efforts not only in our organization’s initiatives but also in the growing number of organizations in the Jewish community that now actively seek to include grandparents in their work.
We believe that Jewish grandparents are major assets for our communities, our families, and the future.
We welcome your partnership.
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