Learn more about Kol Isha, an OFJCC Women's Leadership Program, here.
Amber Rosen
Amber is a judge on the Superior Court of Santa Clara County. Prior to that she was a federal prosecutor. She lives in Los Altos with her husband Jeff. They have two daughters, both of whom are in college. Both girls are alumnae of Hausner Jewish Day School.
Andi Frenkel
When Andi Frenkel moved from Santa Monica to Palo Alto 14 years ago, she knew the way to make friends and build connections would be by volunteering where her children are. Finding community at the JCC, Hausner, Kehillah, Federation and Camp Tawonga, she enjoys serving on various development, event and engagement committees. The JCC's Chai Giving Circle reawakened her passion for social justice. Prior to having children, Andi worked as a professional at various Federations, Young Judaea in Israel, UCLA Hillel and the New Israel Fund. Originally from Detroit, she attended the University of Michigan, where she received a BA in psychology and Jewish studies, and has an MSW from the University of Maryland and a Masters in Jewish history from Baltimore Hebrew University. She loves cooking, reading, hiking, traveling, especially to Israel, and re-discovered her love of swimming and water aerobics in the amazing JCC pool this past year.
Bonnie Rosenberg
Bonnie Rosenberg is an internist in private practice in Menlo Park. She is married to Isaac Winer and is the mother of two amazing children— Ben is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania/Wharton and Gabi is a junior at Palo Alto High School. Bonnie enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with her family.
Cheryl Bader
Cheryl is a Bay Area native, though she did sneak away for a few years. She attended college in Philadelphia, then spent some time in Washington, DC before heading back to California for medical school. She is an OB-Gyn at Kaiser Permanente in Mountain View. Cheryl married a high school friend from USY and they have two children in college. She has long been engaged in the local Jewish community. Her favorite involvements have been Yavneh Day School, the Wexner Foundation, and Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom.
Cora Ross
Originally from the East Coast (Brookline, MA), Cora spent fifteen years in New York City before moving to the West Coast almost eight years ago with her husband and daughter. She and her husband work in Bay Area high schools. Their daughter Eden is a third grader at Gideon Hausner Elementary. They reside in San Jose with their multipoo, Rosie.
Efi Engel
Born in Israel, Efi holds an MA in organizational psychology and worked as a recruiter and a psychologist who evaluates candidates for various positions in the Israeli industry. Previously, Efi worked as a docent at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, where she guided tours in Hebrew about the Jewish story in San Francisco. Efi is a mother of four and lives in Sunnyvale.
Hillary Frank
Hillary has been building community, both personally and professionally, in the Bay Area for over 20 yrs. She's a mom of three and has always made Jewish community and philanthropy a priority in her life. Hillary has been a part of the Federation Impact Grants Initiative, was a founding member of the ICON (Israeli Collaboration Network) Board, a pre-seed stage incubator connecting Israeli startups to Silicon Valley and is an active investor in J-Ventures.
Jackie Schneider
Jackie is an executive coach, international business executive and change agent. She helps CEOs and senior executives in the for-profit and non-profit sectors to become more effective leaders and achieve business results. Jackie received her MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She has an abiding interest in the non-profit sector and has put her skills to work as a board member of distinguished organizations in healthcare and the performing arts. Her board work has focused on issues of non-profit governance and executive leadership, particularly in response to external crises or major organizational transitions.
Mallary Alcheck
Mallary is a former corporate media and marketing director turned stay-at-home mom. While focusing on raising her three kids she became a serial volunteer at her children's school and several community organizations. Mallary holds a degree in communications from Syracuse University and has been dipping her toe back into the workforce with consulting projects. In her spare time, she loves live music, travel and shaking it with her mom's hip hop dance group.
Mariko Kawaguchi
Mariko works as a security officer for an Israeli security company with a counter-terrorism focus. She also works part-time as a veterinary technician and volunteers for a mobile vet clinic serving San Francisco's homeless. She was introduced to Judaism through her security work—what a great way to learn about Israeli politics and Jewish holidays! Mariko was the Security Supervisor on the OFJCC campus the first year it opened so it will always hold a special place in her heart. She has been to Israel three times since then. She converted in 2017 and had her adult bat mitzvah in February 2020. She is a member of Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco and lives in Pacifica with three cats.
Michelle Tandowsky
Michelle's passions are family, community, learning and personal growth. She has been active in community involvement for the past 30 years, primarily in two main areas: leadership roles in the Jewish community (local/national, large/boutique non-profits) and education (both Jewish and public schools and their foundations). Michelle currently serves on several Jewish non-profit boards, provides end-of-life companionship and spiritual care to Jewish elderly, and is studying religion and spirituality. Originally from Detroit, Michelle got her business degree from the University of Michigan and moved to California to work in the consumer products industry. She never fully adjusted to her testosterone-filled household with her husband, Keith, and their three (now-adult and living elsewhere) sons and so was over-the-moon to finally get a daughter when their oldest son married. Her married son and daughter-in-law live in Amsterdam and are expecting their first child. Her younger two sons live in Los Angeles and are both single (hint, hint to any Jewish mothers with single daughters in SoCal).
Mykenzie Busser
Mykenzie began her Jewish Journey 25 years ago as an Early Childhood Educator at the OFJCC Leslie Family Preschool (then known as T'enna Preschool). Throughout her years at the school, as an educator and now the Assistant Director, Mykenzie’s interest in Judaism turned into a passion and deep personal connection. This passion and connection has inspired her to embark on the next leg of her Jewish journey of conversion. As part of this continued journey, Mykenzie is excited and honored to be able to participate in Kol Isha and looks forward to the partnerships, inquiry and knowledge to be shared.
Riki (Tavi) Alcheck
Riki (Tavi) Alcheck is a proud Bay Area native and a huge fan of the OFJCC. She attended Brandeis University, spent her junior year abroad at Hebrew University, and received her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine. Riki met her husband, Bill, at a (SJ) Federation event; their children (ages 14 and 16) are alumna of the OFJCC preschool and Hausner Jewish Day School. Riki is currently serving as the Chair of the SF Federation Teen Engagement Steering Committee and is a past Board member. She is also currently advising local schools and camps regarding their COVID policies. Riki volunteers with the Clean Slate Program at Valley Medical Center providing laser tattoo removal to ex-gang members so that they can join the workforce. Riki's day job is as a family physician providing full-spectrum primary care for the Facebook community at the Facebook Health Center, which she helped found in 2012. She is thrilled to be participating in Kol Isha this year.
Rina Barouch-Bentov
Rina Barouch-Bentov lives with her family in Palo Alto. Over the last 20 years she worked in academic and research institutes in Israel and the US, and currently works as a consultant scientist at Rimon Research. She has been studying immunology and microbiology, focusing on interactions between host and pathogens. Experiencing the nature of interconnections between all creatures and objects has been her favorite topic in life. Love for the creation and care for the harmony between humans and nature motivate Rina to volunteer for various environmental and social justice organizations including the Parvati Foundation and Bend the Arc.