Our team is made up of smart, passionate, and dedicated employees. Every day our team strives to strengthen our community and brighten the lives of those we interact with. We create events to foster new relationships, help community members in need, and connect different organizations to maximize their effect. It is a full-time job that we love doing. We would love to share some of our stories and experiences with you.
Meet Our People
Our professional and volunteer leaders bring a wealth of experience and expertise, reflecting the unparalleled diversity and dynamism of Eastern Connecticut’s Jewish community. They work side by side with our professional staff to address today’s most pressing problems and plan for tomorrow.
Our Leadership
Scott Wolfe
Scott Wolfe was recently named the new president of the JFEC Board. Although he has only been a member of the Federation for four years (all as the JFEC campaign coordinator), he brings with him decades of leadership experience. At Temple Emanu-el, he was president from 1994-1998, leading the board and the congregation in the direction of building a religious school and expanding the size of the sanctuary and social hall. He was also the founder of the Brotherhood four years earlier. Professionally, his 35 year career with the Department of Developmental Disabilities culminated as the Assistant Regional Director for Public Programs, responsible for the health, safery, welfare and growth of over 500 adults with intellectual disabilities residing in New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties. Scott has been married to Barbara for a decade, and lives in Waterford. He has two children and two grandchildren.
Sema Stein
CAMPAIGN CHAIR
Tom Smith
CAMPAIGN VICE CHAIR
Dan Bendor
MIDDLE EAST CHAIR
Helen Elperina
ENDOWMENT CHAIR
Rosa Goldblatt
SECRETARY
Barbara Sahagan
TREASURER
Directors at Large
One-year term expires 6/23
Carol Curland
Jo-el Fernandez
Evert Gawendo
Elyse Landesberg
Peter Lewiss
Sarah Rogovin
Two-year term expires 6/24
Leonard Cohen
Ellen DeLeon Allison Glickman
Les Kershnar
Erica McCaffrey
Romana Primus
Helen Sapozhnikov
Jerome Schwell
Cindy Weiner
Three-year term expires 6/25
Steven Daren
Roslyn Etra
Ron Leeser
Caren Linden z’l 12/25/22
Caryn Novick
Martin Rutchik
Sema Stein
Rachel has been working in the Jewish community for more than 25 years. She is a transformational leader who has focused her efforts on fundraising, leadership development, and community building. For the past decade, Rachel has served as the Director of the Network of Independent Communities where she traveled to more than 22 states as a Jewish Federation consultant for the country including Boise, Bloomington and Burlington. Rachel received her Bachelors in Judaic Studies and Psychology from Brown University.
She was awarded a Wexner Graduate Fellowship towards her Masters in Nonprofit Management at Columbia University with the goal of becoming a Jewish Federation Executive. She has served in the roles of Young Leadership, Women’s Division and Major Gifts, Grant Writer and Corporate Sponsorship Director for the Jewish Federations in Boston, New York, and Northern New Jersey.
Rachel’s roots span across four generations in Connecticut and began when her great-grandparents Tessie and Reuben Alexander moved from Poland to Norwich in 1905. Tessie owned the La France Shop in downtown Norwich.
Rachel loves to travel and organized Jewish Federation Missions to Israel, Minsk, Tbilisi, and Cuba over the past few years. She is looking forward to getting involved in our community and meeting everyone. Please reach out and welcome her.
