Mikdash Ami Resumes

Liz Mayeri and her husband David live in White Plains and are the parents of two college-aged sons. Members of Kol Ami for more than 15 years, they have enjoyed a range of activities – initially from the parents’ perspective – watching their sons grow in Religious School up through Confirmation and beyond.

Liz’s first term on the Board of Trustees started in 2017 where she served as the Board liaison to the Youth Group. Following that, she was selected to serve on the Nominating Committee, along with being elected as Secretary for the Executive Committee for the past two years. In addition, she participated in the Search Committee for the new Early Childhood Program Director in 2020. Among the many experiences and programs she has enjoyed at Kol Ami, the Coachman Thanksgiving Dinner has been particularly meaningful for her and her family. She is keenly invested in ensuring a smooth Rabbinic transition and maintaining the warm sense of community she and her family love at Kol Ami.

In her professional life, Liz is the Director of International PR for Orange Business Services, a global digital services company.

Jen Josephs has been a member of Congregation Kol Ami for 10 years. She lives in Tarrytown with her three teenagers, Samuel 15, Mia 13, and Sophie 13, who have attended Kol Ami’s Religious School since kindergarten and proudly think of Kol Ami as their home away from home.  Jen is a former Board Trustee and has co-chaired the Religious School Committee and the Retreat Committee. She has also participated in over 15 other committees and projects including the Board Nominating Committee, Reopening Task Force, Annual Benefit Committee, and Kol Ami Vision Committee.

Jen is deeply involved with the Jewish community in her professional life as well. She is a Human-Centered Designer and Brand Strategist who specializes in building lasting relationships between organizations and their audiences, or companies and their stakeholders.  She spent several years as the Chief Marketing Officer of the Shames JCC on the Hudson, and now consults with several Jewish organizations across the country. This past summer, Jen was selected as a Fellow in the Senior Executive Cohort of Hadar’s Jewish Wisdom Fellowship.

Jen relishes in the diversity of Kol Ami’s warm and loving community— diversity in generation, culture, background, beliefs, interests, and ideas. She is honored to co-Chair the Assistant Rabbi Search Committee and is dedicated to ensuring that the needs of all congregants are considered when paving the way forward. Jen is motivated by a deeply rooted belief that together, in community, everything is possible.

Scott Musoff and his family have been members of Congregation Kol Ami for over 20 years when their oldest of three daughters started in the Kol Ami Early Childhood Program.  Before Scott joined the board, his wife Cindy was a long time board member and served as a Vice President. Most recently Cindy volunteered to serve as acting Director of the ECP during its transition to a permanent director.  Their three daughters — Dani, Jamie and Jenna — all attended the ECP and Religious School.

Scott is an Immediate Past Co-President of the Congregation, having served as Co-President alongside Susan Kohn Arovas from July 2017 through June 2021. In that time they, among other things, managed the Congregation’s early response to the COVID pandemic, reviewed security measures in light of the aftermath of the Tree of Life massacre, finalized Rabbinic contracts, and ensured cantorial continuity by hiring Danny Mendelson as Interim Cantor upon the departure of Cantor Rosen in 2020.  Scott has also been actively involved in other aspects of the Kol Ami community including having played the role as the lead prosecutor in Kol Ami’s biblical trials over the last 10 years.

Scott is looking forward to this opportunity to assist the Congregation in selecting its next Rabbi to continue the best of what our wonderful and holy community has to offer.  Scott is grateful for the confidence the community continues to place in him and Susan and is excited to partner again with Susan on this sacred mission to lead the Senior Rabbi Search Committee.

I have been a member of Congregation Kol Ami since 1989. From 2003 to 2007 I served as President of the Congregation. During my tenure, we hired a cantor, ECP Director, completed a capital project, redesigned the religious school, and consolidated Friday Shabbat worship services. Prior to being president, I served as Vice President, Secretary and Member of the Board of Trustees. I served on the rabbinic search committee when we hired Rabbi Weiner, chaired the music committee, was chair of the Synagogue 2000 team, chair of the Nominating Committee for three years after being president, organized the community break-the-fast, adult Chanukah party and several times have led Kol Ami’s second Seder. I also sing in the volunteer choir.
I am an alumnus of the North American Board of the URJ (Union for Reform Judaism). Currently, I am a facilitator for URJ sponsored Synagogue Board Leadership Development Workshops, a Presidents’ Network Coach and have led sessions with synagogue boards on URJ The Impact of Covid-19 Workshops.
For 28 years, I have been the executive assistant to the vice chair of an investment bank. I am the proud aunt to five nieces and nephews, delighted Grantie to 2 great-nephews and 1 great-niece and the daughter of the late Rabbi Eugene B. Borowitz z’l and Dr. Estelle Borowitz z’l.

Hank Rouda is the current President of Congregation Kol Ami and is chairing the Mikdash Ami Task Force. Hank and Jean have been members of Kol Ami since 2003. He has spent much of this time at Kol Ami focused on finding ways to engage congregants and strengthen the bonds of our community. Hank has been a Vice President and Trustee and he has served on a variety of committees, including Worship Committee, L’dor va Dor Building Committee and the last two Cantor Search Committees. Hank is a member of the North American Board of the URJ and he and Jean have been active in the FIDF. They have two children, Jessica (Brian) and Ben, and one grandchild, Julia. When not working for Kol Ami or the URJ, Hank is the General Counsel of Giorgio Armani Corporation.