P e o p l e Meet Our Members


Tell us about some of your other activi- ties at Kol Ami. Barbara has been involved with almost every committee at one time or another. She tells us, “I’ve been on the Board. I’m presently on the Worship Committee and co-chair of


the Interfaith BARBARA BLOCK


How long have you been at Kol Ami? “Next spring, I will have been at Kol Ami for 45 years. I joined Kol Ami in 1967. I had three small children and Kol Ami— then the JCC—was a wonderful fit.” Barbara got involved immediately, attending a Wednesday afternoon bible class with Rabbi Davis and enrolling her daughter Paula in a newly started Junior Youth Group. Cantor Smolover noticed that Paula lovedmusic and was happy to give her voice lessons. Paula is now a rabbi in Santa Cruz, California and she also serves themusical needs of her con- gregation. Barbara’s son Steven also lives in Santa Cruz and son Andrew lives in Washington D.C.


Tell us a little about yourself? “I was born and raised in the Bronx. Two of my children, Paula and Steven, were born in the Bronx and my son Andrew was born after we moved to Yonkers.” Then the family moved to White Plains where Barbara has lived for 44 years. Barbara first worked as a bookkeeper and then as an officemanager. After retir- ing she was asked to help a young cou- ple and became their children’s nanny. She continued as a nanny for three dif- ferent families for a total of twelve years.


Do you have any hobbies you would like to tell us about? “Music, for sure. I was a member of the first Kol Ami volunteer choir and I am still a choir member. I have gotten more and more interested in opera.”


T h e C o n n e c t i o n MATTHEW AND LISA SIGLAG


Matthew and Lisa and their two boys, seven year old Jason and five year old Ryan, have beenmembers of Kol Ami for three years. Lisa grew up in Edgemont, where her parents still live and Matthew


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Committee. I’ve always been a regular at Friday night services and the Saturday Lift.” She also studies Torah Friday mornings with the Torah Study group and attends Rabbi Tom’s Tuesday’s class, Wisdom of the Sages. She attends Carol Diamond’s class on Jewish writers which is held at Kol Ami and she attends classes at Temple Israel as well.


What advice can you give to newer congregants “Give the temple a chance. Get involved. Find something that speaks to you. Remember that our clergy team is terrific and is receptive to new ideas. Tell us what you would like to do if it is not presently available.”


Any last thoughts? “Kol Ami has been a tremendous source of strength forme. It can be the same for you.”


was raised in New City. Matthew’s mother still resides in Rockland County. Jason is a second grader in the Ardsley schools and Ryan is in preschool in Ardsley.


Matthew is head of account mainte- nance for HSBC. He is a SUNY Albany graduate and has an MBA from Boston University. Lisa graduated from Cornell and works as a freelance writer and edi- tor with expertise in home design. She has been editor of several magazines, having been editor of House Beautiful Kitchens and Bath for about six years. She has written four books, the last being Your Dream Home.


What brought you to Kol Ami? Both Jason and Ryan were in the Kol Ami preschool. We got to know other families, the rabbis and other staff mem- bers. We felt their warmth and commit- ment. The clergy’s welcoming qualities set Kol Ami apart. They, and other staff members, are quite approachable.


Tell us about your involvement at Kol Ami Lisa was asked to write and edit the Meet Our Members column of the Connection. She happily took on that responsibility and continues to be involved. Holiday celebrations are always fun for the family - Sukkot at Shira and David’s home or something as simple as candy for the boys after Rosh Hashanah services. There are always wonderful stories for the kids and won- derful music.


Any other Kol Ami activities that you would like to talk about? The boys really enjoy Sundays at Kol Ami. There is a lesson, a craft activity, snacks, Israeli dancing and a service. The kids learn letters through dance. What a wonderful idea.


If you’d like to be a part of our “Meet the Members,” section and tell your story, please contact Janet Hershey, the Director of Membership and Development at 914-949- 4717, x115.


J a n u a r y , 2 0 1 2


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