Jewish Press of Tampa

18 women will get distinction for leadership


Archie Gottesman will speak about winning back disaffected Jews

Archie Gottesman will speak about winning back disaffected Jews

Archie Gottesman, a woman who co-founded JewBelong, an organization that reaches out to disengaged Jews, will be the guest speaker at an event honoring 18 women who are very engaged in the local Jewish community.

The event is the 2019 Bobbe Karpay Women of Distinction awards program, presented by the Tampa Jewish Federation Women’s

Philanthropy on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at Congregation Kol Ami in Tampa. A dessert reception follows the program.

Gottesman was the voice behind ads that transformed a little known self-storage company in New York City into a well-known brand. Now she wants to re-brand Judaism, believing it is a great product, but poorly marketed. Her non-profit organization, Jew-Belong, aims to help disaffected Jews find the joy and connection that Judaism has to offer.

Area synagogues and Jewish organizations were each invited to honor one woman who exemplifies the mission of the agency through her leadership and commitment.

“This event is designed to bring together Tampa-area Jewish women to learn about what local agencies and organizations are achieving and celebrate the accomplishments of these dedicated women,” said Stacy Leeds, Women’s Philanthropy Chair.

This year’s honorees and the organizations they represent are: Suzie Baylis, Congregation Beth Shalom; Katie Berman, Hillels of the Florida Suncoast; Nina Bernstein, State of Israel Bonds; Karen Birmingham, Weinberg Village Assisted Living Residences; Donna Birnholz, Congregation Schaarai Zedek; Barbara S. Felder, Congregation Mekor Shalom; Marcy Fries, Hillel Academy of Tampa; Jill Hekkanen, Congregation Beth Am; Susan Kessler, TOP Jewish Foundation; Shari Mezrah, Florida Holocaust Museum; Lynn Mollett, Jewish National Fund; Chanita Moore, Tampa Jewish Family Services; Gwendolyn Niehoff, Congregation Kol Ami; Susie Rice, Tampa JCCs & Federation; Livnat Shifman, Bais Menachem Chabad; Marilyn Slater, Tampa Ameet Chapter of Hadassah; Marlene Spiegal, Beth Israel of Sun City Center; Sandy Turkel, Congregation Rodeph Sholom.

Tickets are $25 per person, $36 per patron prior to Nov. 11. Patrons will receive priority seating at the event and special recognition. After Nov. 11, general admission tickets will be available for $36 at the door. Invitations will be mailed soon but reservations may be made now. To RSVP, make a tribute gift in honor of a Woman of Distinction or to place an ad in the program book, visit jewishtampa.com/WOD or contact Loni Lindsay at loni.lindsay@jewishtampa.com or (813) 769-2802.

Event sponsor is Gregory, Sharer & Stuart, certified public accountants and business consultants.

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