Our People
Our board, composed of members from different backgrounds and with diverse perspectives, provides vision, guidance, and passion for our work, goals, and journey.
Debbie Hochberg
Momentum’s Board PresidentHelen Zalik
Immediate Past Board PresidentRachel Chafetz
Vice PresidentManette Mayberg
VP Institutional Advancement,Trustee, Past President of the Board, Co-Founder
Connie Lindenauer
Treasurer, Board MemberRivka Kidron
SecretaryCindy Zitelman
Past Board President, Co-FounderAndrea Shlipak Mail
Past Board PresidentLori Palatnik
Ex officio member,Founding Director
Michelle Leader
Trustee, Co-FounderBetty Grinstein
Board MemberCheryl Leon
Board MemberJeff Singer
Board MemberSheryl Hartman
Ex Officio Board Member (Canada Liaison)Charlie Harary
Ex Officio Board Member (Men’s Council Liaison)Past Board Members
Betsy Friedlander
BOARD MEMBERDana Sicherman
BOARD MEMBER, CO-FOUNDEREllen B. Kagen Waghelstein
BOARD MEMBERJeanie Milbauer
FOUNDING PRESIDENT, CO-FOUNDERMahra Pailet
BOARD MEMBERIn 2008, eight Jewish women from different walks of life, affiliations, observance, and ages – the “Utah 8” – came together to make a difference. They agreed that it was time to empower and inspire women with the rich beauty of their Jewish heritage, and Momentum was born. “All eight of us had a sense that living and transmitting Jewish values was the key to realizing each human being’s greatest potential in all of her gorgeous singularity. Since then, ‘unity without uniformity’ has been a pillar of this impactful movement.” - Momentum Co-Founder Manette Mayberg.
Back Row (left to right):
Dana Sicherman, Lori Palatnik, Rebecca Dorfman, Cindy Zitelman
Front Row (left to right):
Manette Mayberg, Michelle Leader, Lara Novack, Jeanie Milbauer
In 2017, Momentum formed its Public Council in Israel. Composed of distinguished Israeli women of all religious, political and professional backgrounds, the council supports Momentum’s efforts in promoting ‘Unity, Not Uniformity’ in Israeli society and in the Jewish world.
Miriam Peretz
Israeli EducatorMehereta Baruch Ron
Deputy Mayor of Tel AvivRachelle Sprecher Fraenkel
Torah Educator and Director of Matan’s Hilkhata InstituteLihi Lapid
Author and JournalistProf. Rivka Carmi
President of Ben-Gurion UniversityRivka Ravitz
Chief of Staff to the President of the State of IsraelSonia Gomes De Mesquita
Senior Deputy CEO - Spero Impact Solutions and CEO of the Centre for Jewish ImpactMichal Cohen
CEO of the Rashi FoundationOrna Hozman-Bechor
Chairwoman of Ashdod PortAdi Altschuler
Social EntrepreneurBatsheva Moshe
CEO of UnistreamRacheli Ebenboim
Entrepreneur and ActivistAdina Bar-Shalom
Educator, Recipient of the Israel PrizeYochi Brandes
Author and EducatorAliza Lavie
Former MK, Chair of Mt. HerzlFrom the very beginning, Momentum has been blessed with a fantastic team. As we grow, we continue to be inspired by the impact of our work and the mark we are leaving on the Jewish world.
Lori Palatnik
Founding DirectorBen Pery
Chief Executive OfficerAdrienne Gold Davis
Director of Experience & EngagementAllison Kent
Creative Services ManagerAmy Cantor
Chief Financial OfficerAnna Vainer
Associate Director CIS/EuropeAndrea Gottlieb
Regional Development DirectorAnne Tishkoff
Associate Director to North AmericaCarmi Gold
Salesforce & Systems AdministratorChaya Baruch
Executive AssistantDana Sender-Mulla
Director of Leadership DevelopmentDori Botts
Regional Engagement DirectorDorina Zindel
Sr Manager Executive OfficeGabrielle Jacobs
Partnership and Programs CoordinatorGalia Rubinstein
Associate Director of Latin AmericaGila H. Madjar
Partnership Relationship ManagerIlene Rosen
Digital Communications ManagerIvonne Bengio
Project ManagerPartnerships & Programs
Janel Herman
Staff AccountantJenna Neulander
Foundations Relations ManagerJennifer Fechter
Education & Leadership Development CoordinatorJennifer Jalowiec Carrocci
Senior Systems & Salesforce ManagerJessica Berkowitz
Senior Education SpecialistJody Portnoff Braunig
Development Relationship ManagerJudy Victor
Senior Marketing ManagerKatelyn Vaughan
HR CoordinatorKayla Frankel
Project ManagerPartnerships & Programs