Meet our 2026 candidates!

This month we will elect a slate of officers and 6 at-large board members. We asked each candidate to share their personal background and how they hope to contribute to the management and growth of the shul.

Members-in-good-standing will receive a unique link by email to vote online. If you have not received a link and believe you should have, please contact .

board member at-large
FOUR 3-year SPOTS, ONE 2-YEAR SPOT, ONE 1-YEAR SPOT

CHANA (ANIA) MILER

I have been a YIB member for about two years. My involvement thus far has been somewhat limited to helping with kiddush and shul events. As a prior member of Shaarei Tefillah, I have been very dedicated to the community. My primary goal was to bring members/families closer together through a mitzva of kiddush participation, which was a great success.

Past volunteering activities: Student Academic Council at Simmons MBA program; ROFEH - respite and fund raising outreach “Walk for Rofeh”; Yachad NE Tu biShevat events. Board Member & Director of Programing at WMCN; Food Pantry; Big Sister educational program.

Current engagement: Member of AZM; APAC; JGSGB; JRI Poland. Supporter of Leket Israel; MDA (blood donor); Zaka Tel Aviv; Israel Cancer Centers; Meir Panim; JCC Krakow.

Based on two decades of experience in banking, I have managed clients financial portfolio of over 300 commercial transactions; interacted with related parties such as clients, attorneys, accountants, appraisers, etc.; structured commercial and nonprofit financing up to $20MM per exposure, in accordance with risk and compliance principals. Analyzed financial statements and budget proposals.

Prior to my MBA from Simmons in Boston, I hold MA in Philology from the University of Wroclaw. By profession I am a rationalist and at heart a humanist. I have a deep commitment to support variety of views and a believe that solving a problem shall be based on an open-ended discussion while maintaining respect for differences.

Goals: As a Board member, upon given directives or independently, I would contribute my energy and enthusiasm in combination with professional and personal experience to enrich the growth and prosperity of the YIB Community. I would be committed to take an active part in resolving challenges and celebrating successes.

OFFICERS (1 year term)

PRESIDENT: Yitzi Ehrenberg (Incumbent)

CHAIR: JUNE GERRIE

Hi! My name is June Alison Gerrie. I am a proud Boston native with strong Brookline roots. I attended Maimonides School K-12, matriculated to Brandeis, and then Boston College for my graduate studies. My husband, David, and I have been part of the YIB community for the last 10 years; now we are raising our 4 girls here in this shul. Over the years I have enjoyed running Tot Shabbat, children’s programming, and helping with the Chanukah raffle each year.

I am also a piano teacher in the Greater Boston Jewish community, where I have been teaching for 21 years.

I am humbled to be nominated for the position of Board Chair. It is my hope that in this role I will continue to strengthen our already vibrant community. I would love to further unite, engage and reinvigorate YIB.

Since 10/7, I have used my role as piano teacher to put on “unity concerts” bringing over 300 people together from across the diverse Jewish Boston community to unite as one. I believe my experience with these concerts will serve me well as Board chair. I truly believe we are “״עם אחד בלב אחד. We are are strengthened when we work together and it would be my privilege to work with you in this role.

TREASURER: BEN FELDMAN (INCUMBENT)

CLERK: ITHAMAR JOTKOWITZ

Ithamar Jotkowitz and his wife Tova, along with their four children, have been members of Young Israel of Brookline for over 15 years. Tova’s family has deep roots at YIB dating back to the shul’s founding. Ithamar grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where he was active in Mizrachi—a Modern Orthodox, Religious Zionist community similar in spirit to YIB.

Ithamar has served on the Board since 2021 and regularly volunteers as a chazan and ba’al tefillah on weekdays, Shabbat, Yom Tov, and Yamim Noraim. Outside of shul, Ithamar owns Outback Physical Therapy, with locations in Brookline and Somerville.

I’m running for Clerk because I care deeply about the future of our shul and want to ensure that our leadership is thoughtful, transparent, and responsive to the needs of our diverse community. Over the past 4 years on the Board, I’ve seen how essential it is to have strong systems in place—clear communication, accurate record-keeping, and efficient follow-through—to support the values and vitality of YIB.

In my professional life, I run a multi-site physical therapy practice where I oversee staff coordination, compliance, and operations. I’m used to handling complex logistics, staying organized under pressure, and making sure things run smoothly behind the scenes—all of which I believe are directly relevant to the role of Clerk.

But beyond systems and structure, I’m guided by a simple conviction: YIB should continue to be a shul with a big heart and open doors. A place where tradition is honored, new voices are welcomed, and every member—from students to seniors—feels seen and valued. I’m honored to contribute to that vision and look forward to helping YIB continue to thrive.

CHIEF GABBAI: ZEV BLECHNER (INCUMBENT)

As native of Brookline, I have been a member of Young Israel for over 50 years and represent the continuum of generations in our community. I attended the shul’s nursery school in the 60’s, was a member of YIB’s children's choir, had my Bar Mitzvah here and, over the years, have become a vital member on the Board. Together with my wife Irene, we have raised our four children, Zehava, Shoshana, Rena and Noach in the YIB community and they always say that Young Israel of Brookline is home, no matter how long they’ve been away. While running my own business, I have volunteered in many shul committees. I am co-chair of the Cemetery association, the Plaque committee and the Yizkor Book committee. I communicate daily with Rabbi Hellman on many different shul items as well as with Carol, YIB’s executive director, on the Kesher, Yahrzeit letters, sponsors for MB learning, the Rabbi’s Friday afternoon Drasha and much more. I was Gabbai Sheni for many years before becoming Gabbai Rishon/Chief Gabbai 10 years ago.

With your support, I look forward to continuing my role as Chief Gabbai in the upcoming year