Annual ‘Women of Distinction’ Program honors exemplary volunteerism, leadership

Women of Distinction honorees More than 300 people gathered at Congregation Rodeph Sholom last month as Tampa Jewish Federation Women’s Philanthropy honored 23 community members at the Bobbe Karpay Women of Distinction Program.

The Federation developed the annual Women of Distinction program to recognize women who exemplify leadership and commitment to their organizations and to the Jewish community. The event was co-chaired by Lori Miller and Carlyn Neuman and was sponsored by Gregory, Sharer & Stuart.

The annual program was named this year in perpetu- ity in memory of Bobbe Karpay, who embodied the ideals of a “woman of distinction” devoting her time and talents to many Tampa Jewish community organizations, including as a longtime leader and supporter of the Federation’s Women’s Phlianthropy.

Participating in the program were three of the female spiritual leaders of the Jewish community: Cantor Riselle Bain of Congregation Schaarai Zedek, Hazzan Jodi Sered-Lever of Congregation Kol Ami, and Rabbi Betsy Torop of Congregation Beth Shalom in Brandon.

Keynote speaker Tampa City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena delighted the crowd with a story about her mother, a quiet leader who she considered a woman of distinction for her civic activism on Davis Islands.

Program co-chair Neuman said “It was so uplifting to see the large number of Jewish organizations joining together to tribute true women of distinction. I look forward to the coming years of this event as we continue to add deserved women to our respected list.”

Women honored and the organization they represented were:
Jillian Boyar, Congregation Beth Shalom
Hana Brem, Chabad House USF
Harriet Chesler, Tampa Ameet Hadassah
Debbi Eisenstadt, Tampa Jewish Community Center
Cecelia Fischer, Bay Horizons ORT
Barbara Freedland, Chavurat Or Ahavah
Janie Friedland, Hillel School of Tampa
Barbara Goldman, Congregation Schaarai Zedek
Lili Kaufmann, Tampa Jewish Federation
Ruth Klein, Congregation Beth Am
Rana Levy, Brandeis University Committee
Stacie Linsky, Tampa Jewish Family Services
Margot Marcadis, Congregation Rodeph Sholom
Marsha Marshall, Beth Israel of Sun City Center
Judith Mish, Weinberg Village Assisted Living Facility
Pauline Quimby, Temple Ohev Shalom
Susie Rice, T.O.P. Jewish Foundation
Chana Rivkin, Bais Menachem Chabad
Lisa Robbins, Hillels of the Florida Suncoast
Rita Schonwetter, Congregation Kol Ami
Judith R. Sobel, Jewish National Fund
Joyce Tawil, Florida Holocaust Museum
Judith Tawil, State of Israel Bonds
FOR THE JEWISH

PRESS. For more information on Tampa Jewish Federation Women’s Philanthropy, contact the Federation at 264.9000 or visit www.jewishtampa.com.