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TI member, Board Trustee and Shofar Society co-chair, wife, mom, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and health advocate, and member of Temple Israel for 21 years

I have always felt I was spiritual, but I did not grow up in a spiritual (or religious) household, so Reform Judaism resonated with me for a lot of reasons, especially Tikkun Olam (repair the world). As a Jew by choice, my journey has included my own adult Bat Mitzvah, planning Bat Mitzvahs for my two daughters, and mastering the art of latkes and challah! The perfection of challah is actually a result of working from home for 10 months – it’s one of the good things that happened in 2020 that otherwise likely would not have occurred had we not been living in a pandemic.

I’ve also had the opportunity to visit Israel 4 times: Once with just my husband, twice with my family as part of Bat Mitzvah celebrations, and most recently, with Rabbi Amy & Rabbi Michael, which was my last international trip before COVID. As my girls have grown, I’ve come to appreciate Shabbat more and more – it’s the one time we always know we get to spend together as a family.

What is something your TI community may not know about you?
“In 1997, I rode my bike across the country, from Seattle, WA to Asbury Park, NJ. It was a great way to see the country and a good time in my life to go after just finishing my first master’s degree and before I had a real job!”

What’s your favorite book and movie?
“So many favorite books! I like psychological thrillers, but The Time Traveler’s Wife is one of my favorite books outside of this genre. Favorite movies include my family favorites: Toy Story 3, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo. Even though my kids are 19 and 16, we still enjoy watching these together when we have some time.”

Favorite music genre?
“I always say I was born in the wrong decade. I have lots of favorites from the 60s and 70s, such as The Beetles, Rolling Stones, MoTown, and Led Zepplin…to name a few.”

Photo of Amy in Israel (Amy on left)