2025 Shem Tov Award Recipients

Jacki earned a BA in biochemistry from Smith College and an MBA from the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University. Over her career in research, marketing and business communications in the medical and business technology fields, she developed the skills that help support BHC. As BHC super-volunteer Eileen Regen stepped back, Jacki picked up 2.5 of the shoes Eileen left empty, becoming editor of the fantastic Bethlehem Shul News, co-maintaining the BHC Web site, participating in and occasionally leading the BHC Books of Jewish Interest discussions, hosting White Mountain Jewish Film Festival patio parties and attending all the movies, attending the Sounds in the Sanctuary Series concerts and writing post-concert reviews, hosting a yearly one in honor of her dad, and singing all the prayers she learned by heart attending services with her dad.

“If there’s one thing I miss from my professional career, it’s collaborating on team of brilliant women who get the job done. The BHC community is among the smartest, most curious, and most culturally engaged in the area. I can contribute with things I like to do, working with delightful people without having to go to meetings. Our contributions to the community enrich all. And the potlucks are amazing,” she says.

In addition to her volunteer work with BHC, Jacki makes popcorn at the Colonial Theatre, promotes bands coming to the Loading Dock in Littleton, gardens, swims, skis, and plays bass with a local reggae band.

Chabad is blessed to have Janice Belmont as a valued member of our community. Janice has volunteered many hours over the past two years as a teacher in our Hebrew School. More specifically, Janice is a master Hebrew reading teacher. She radiates warmth, patience and exuberance, which allow our students to develop their Hebrew skills in tremendous ways. She has taken Chabad Hebrew School to new heights!

Janice finds teaching prayer book Hebrew to so many enthusiastic students incredibly rewarding. As a former music teacher, she enjoys applying many similar teaching techniques to enhance the learning process. Hearing young students singing Mrs. Belmont’s version of the Aleph Bet song always makes everyone smile!

Janice lives in Auburn, NH with her husband Judson. She is blessed with 3 beautiful grandchildren.

In 2008, Vivian Prunier moved to Westminster Vermont from the Washington DC area where she had lived for nearly 40 years. During those years, she and her husband raised their children and had careers in the federal government. Vivian worked hard to create a Jewish community in Northern Virginia — her children were among the first students at Keshet Preschool, and she helped start Gesher Jewish Day School. She served on the Boards of the day school and her synagogue, Agudas Achim. Within a year of arriving in Vermont, Vivian was on the Board at her new synagogue, Congregation Ahavas Achim in Keene. She currently serves as Recording Secretary and Chair of the Religious Practice Committee. And she sings in Mak’hela, the Jewish Chorus of Western Massachusetts.

Sarah is a wife and mother of four children ranging in age from 11 to 21. She resides in Chester, NH with her family and various pets. She also teaches kindergarten at Deerfield Community School where she has worked for 25 years. For the last ten years she also has run the Sunday Camp program for children ages four to six years old at Etz Hayim. Sarah has volunteered at Elijah’s Table, serving meals to the community on a regular basis. She also volunteers her time to support the Education Committee at Etz Hayim and will be stepping into the role of co-chair in the Fall. She volunteers on the Chavuarat Ezra committee as well, supporting ill or injured community members with meals or other needs.

Outside of Etz Hayim Sarah volunteers her time as a committee member for the Scouts of America (formerly BSA) supporting Chester and Auburn Troops and will be stepping into the role of treasurer in the Fall. She likes spending time with her family, cooking, baking, crafting, reading and making quilts in her spare time.

Born and raised in New York, Amy Lester began her professional journey as a Hebrew school teacher during college. While teaching wasn’t her calling, it helped her discover where her true strengths lay. She went on to study at Stern College for Women/Yeshiva University, Bar Ilan University, and Queens College majoring in Business. Amy launched a career in software leadership, rising to the role of Senior Vice President and managing global software organizations for over two decades. Her work took her around the world—and to California, where she met her husband, John, a Naval Aviator. The two eventually settled back in New York and raised three children who are now grown and nearly flown.

While in New York, Amy served on her synagogue board for many years, contributing to programs, social action initiatives, and policy development. She also held a board role with Make-A-Wish and volunteered with organizations supporting individuals with special needs.

Ten years ago, Amy and her family moved to Durham, New Hampshire, drawn by their love for the outdoors, the ocean, and open space. She paused her corporate career to reassess her priorities and soon found a meaningful role in hospital operations, where she now oversees volunteer and student learning programs across a regional health system.

Today, Amy continues to work across New Hampshire’s hospitals, remains deeply committed to the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire, and cherishes time spent with family and in nature.

Roberta and her family moved to the area and joined the UVJC in 1998. During her first year here, she worked in the new Roth Center for the Rabbi through the Tucker Foundation/Hillel. She was part of the UVJC’s book group since its formation in 2000 and she chaired the congregation’s Caring and Chesed Committee from 2019- 2023. She recently retired after a 50-year career as a writer and administrator, primarily for nonprofit organizations, including Jewish Federations in Minneapolis, MN and Columbus, OH. In the Upper Valley, she spent 20 years with Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, Inc., including almost 16 years as its Executive Director. Her husband, Richard Abel, served two terms as UVJC President.

Marilyn Cavanaugh grew up on Long Island and earned a BA in English from Hofstra University. Over 50 years ago, she and her husband moved to New Hampshire, where they raised their family and joined the Temple Adath Yeshurun community. Today, she lives in Auburn and is a proud mother, stepmother, grandmother of eleven, and great-grandmother of five.

Her core values—love of family, Jewish spirituality, honest and open communication, and the pursuit of peace and justice—guide her community engagement.

Marilyn is an Auburn Library Trustee, is active in the Granite State Organizing Project and Interfaith Women of New Hampshire and is a participant in Compassionate Listening workshops. At TAY, she serves on the Temple and Sisterhood Boards, chairs the Lifelong Learning Committee, and is the co-founder and co-facilitator of the Current Events Discussion Group.

Patricia “Pat” Kalik has been an active, dedicated member of the Jewish and greater Manchester communities for over four decades. She serves on the Temple Adath Yeshurun Board, chairs the Youth Committee, and co-founded the Current Events Discussion Group.

Pat also serves on the Board of the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire, has been co-chair of the New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival the past 10 years, and has served on several other Federation committees.

A Manchester resident since 1984, Pat raised her children Lisa and Daniel in the city. She served as owner, partner, and manager of Executive Exchange, and in 1993, became a partner in Professional Teledata, until her retirement in 2020. Since retiring, she continues to give back, volunteering for political candidates and serving on the City of Manchester Senior Commission.

We are proud to nominate Leon Goldstein for this year’s Keter Shem Tov Award. Leon has been a dedicated and active member of both the Temple and the greater Nashua community. He and his family have been part of the TBA community since 1978. His late wife, Ronnie—who served as a past president of Women’s American ORT—shared his commitment to Jewish life and learning. All three of their sons, Aaron, Robert, and Harold, celebrated their bar mitzvahs at TBA, marking the family’s deep and enduring connection to our congregation.

Leon chairs the security committee, secures volunteers and books security guards for temple events. He regularly volunteers to make himself available during the Sunday Education program and at other temple events, serving as one of the regular security volunteer monitors.

Leon was co-founder and past president of the Southern New Hampshire Jewish Men’s Club. He completed his tenure as a valuable member of the Board of Directors, as well as being past Board Treasurer. Leon has also chaired the membership committee in the past, remains active on the committee and has helped attract new members by giving them tours of the facilities, describing our programs and making them feel welcome. He is a “regular” at Shabbat services and weekday minyanim, sometimes leading services. He consistently attends shiva minyanim, providing consolation and support to mourners and their families.

Leon has spent many hours helping in the kitchen for all of our temple events. He always says “yes” when asked to help out around TBA, whether it be to support sisterhood events, ritual committee events or s’machot in general.

In addition to his various TBA contributions, he regularly volunteers at the Nashua Soup Kitchen to prepare and serve breakfasts for clients and he coordinates and supervises preparation/serving of Christmas Day dinner by TBA members.

The sheer volume of volunteer work that Leon does each and every week is inspiring. He truly deserves the crown of a good name. Yasher Koach and Mazal Tov to Leon and his family.

Transplants from Brooklyn, Alice and her husband, Norm, joined TBJ in 1985. In 1991, she joined the volunteer faculty and served as Principal from 1998-2013. Alice continues to teach Hebrew today. She is known as the congregation’s calligrapher, in both Hebrew and English.

Alice has served on the Religious Education Committee, including several years as Chair; on the Board of Trustees; the Rabbinic Selection Committee; the Shabbaton and Retreat Planning Committees; special event planning committees; and the new Facilitation Committee. As an active member of the Social Action Committee, Alice has been part of a team dedicated to helping an Afghan refugee family settle in Concord, and volunteers with the TBJ crew at The Friendly Kitchen. She has taught Adult Education classes and has led workshops (Hebrew calligraphy and other topics).

In addition to performing in 23 TBJ Purimshpiels and serving as Art Director, Alice wrote 2017’s “Born to Shpiel: The Megillah according to Bruce Springsteen” and is currently writing the 2026 Purimshpiel with Norm. She joyfully sings in the High Holy Day choir. Alice brings her creative talents and organizational skills to special projects that build community while also raising funds for TBJ. She has been at the center of the Tree of Life project since its inception in 2002, lovingly inscribing each simchah on a leaf. She now co-coordinates the Artisan Fundraiser, which has grown from a group knitting project to a multi-faceted raffle involving a suite of prizes created by TBJ members and friends.

Alice strives to make TBJ a spiritual home where all members, especially our youngest, find a warm and loving Jewish community.

Temple B’nai Israel proudly selects Gloria and Irving Fox for the 2025 Shem Tov award.

Born in Montreal, Gloria graduated from McGill University with a degree in psychology and sociology. She received her MEd in Special Education from UNC, Chapel Hill and taught for several years. Upon arriving in Boston in 1990, Gloria focused on art history at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where she spent 34 years as a Gallery Instructor and School Group Guide.

Irving was also born in Montreal and graduated from McGill Medical School. His academic career, from 1972-2008, included the University of Toronto, University of Michigan, and Harvard Medical School, where he held appointments at Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. His industry work at Biogen and Millennium/Takeda resulted in product approvals that have improved thousands of lives. Irving held volunteer positions within CJP and Health Professions Network, including Co-chair of the Maimonides Society, CJP’s Board of Directors, and a valued community campaigner. He was honored as “CJP Superstar” in 2005 and 2011.

Gloria and Irving are longtime, active members of Temple B’nai Israel (TBI), volunteering for many committees, cooking & serving at the New Hampshire Jewish Food Festival. Irv has served as Financial Secretary and Trustee of the Reserve Funds and Gloria, the co-chair of the Adult Ed Committee. If there is a potluck, we can always count on them for something delicious. With humility and generosity, Irving and Gloria have always supported TBI, recently sponsoring a delicious Israeli dinner during TBI’s Israeli Independence Day celebration.

Irving and Gloria live in Meredith and Dedham MA, and have three adult daughters, three sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren.

Linda Kropp Sinkow is an enthusiastic Jewish community leader, healthcare consultant, and proud Brandeis University alum. At Brandeis, she competed on the track and field team and was an active member of the Waltham Group, a volunteer organization that ignited her lifelong commitment to service.

Professionally, Linda has dedicated her career to healthcare administration, currently serving as a management consultant for BDO. Prior to consulting, she spent 14 years in leadership roles at a major Boston healthcare system, including Director of Surgery and Chief of Staff—a resume that earned her the affectionate nickname “line leader” from her husband, Lee.

The Sinkows moved to Londonderry and joined Temple Israel in late 2020. Since then, she has embraced her Jewish identity with passion, and she lives that commitment every day. As Temple Israel’s Membership Director and Vice President, she plays a vital role in strengthening community connections, she has organized PJ Library events to support young families and spearheads our annual Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, bringing together our congregation in joyous observance. Most notably, Linda chaired this year’s Schmooze and Booze Fundraiser—an evening that displayed not only her leadership but also her heart, dedication, and remarkable talent for bringing people together.

At home, Linda stays on her toes with her two young children: six-year-old Dustin and two-year-old Danica. When not chasing her kids or leading synagogue initiatives, Linda enjoys running and gardening. Relaxation may not be in her vocabulary, but purpose and passion certainly are.

If you’ve ever stepped foot in Temple Israel and felt a mysterious wave of warmth, competence, and sarcastic wit wrap around you like a freshly heated knish—chances are, Joyce Meenes was behind it.

Let’s start with the obvious: Joyce is everywhere. Working in the office? Joyce. Active in the Chesed Committee? Joyce. Someone mention event organizer, Shabbat dinner, or a Social Hall closet organizer? You guessed it, Joyce. At this point, we’re not entirely sure she doesn’t live in the building. We checked the pews once, just to be safe.

Joyce brings a rare blend of sharp intelligence and quiet mischief. She has the ability to organize chaos with the flick of a pen; while smiling like she didn’t just rework your entire committee’s plan in her head before you finished your coffee. She has been a member here since 1786 and remembers every. single. person who has come through our doors. Her calendar is likely powered by an ancient Jewish algorithm that predicts when you'll need her…before you do.

This award nomination is long overdue. Joyce has done the work of three people, all while pretending she’s “just helping out.” Classic Joyce.

So yes, give her the Shem Tov award. But also consider cloning her. Or at least naming a hallway after her. Better yet, make her the official temple GPS—because no matter what you’re looking for at Temple Israel, Joyce Meenes will help you find it, fix it, and probably make you laugh along the way.