NCJW-Milwaukee teamed up with Tikkun Ha-Ir (THI) and Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign (WIVEC) at the 4th Annual Future Voters Fest/Festival de Futuros Votantes with the goal of promoting interest in voting. Over 120 youth and adults attended the August 19th event on Milwaukee’s south side. NCJW and the 12 other event sponsors provided hands-on bilingual (Spanish-English) activities for teens, children and their families to learn about the voting process and to promote voting as a key responsibility in supporting our democracy. NCJW-MKE’s Barb Levin and Barbara Beckert joined THI/WIVEC’s Rhonda Lindner on the planning committee. A great time was had by all!
Thank you to all who joined us at the delicious event at Amilinda on June 30, celebrating our 2025-2026 year.
“We live in a moment when fear is often louder than empathy. When people are encouraged to retreat into groups that look like them, think like them, or vote like them. It’s easy to build walls. It’s much harder to build bridges. But every day I watch people do exactly that. I see it in my staff, who come from different countries, backgrounds, faiths, and identities, yet work together toward a common purpose. I see it in my guests, who arrive as strangers and often leave having shared conversations with the table next to them. I see it in organizations like NCJW that remind us that justice isn’t something we inherit—it’s something we practice.”
Excerpt from Chef Greg León’s Speech for the Barbara Stein Building Bridges Award
Chef Greg León and Kai Gardner-Mishlove
Alisa Wasserman, center in white, with her fan club
This year’s NCJW-MKE end of year membership celebration and installation of officers was a recipe for success.
Start with two amazing co-chairs, Chris Gould and Cathy Nemerovski, who worked tirelessly to create an event filled with great food, wonderful people, and a welcoming atmosphere.
Add in flexibility and generosity: When the heat tried to de-rail the event, Jamie Levine and The Box offered us a last minute space to which Chef Greg and the amazing Amilinda team quickly pivoted and adapted.
Sprinkle in two well-deserved awards: the Barbara Stein Building Bridges award to Chef Greg León, for his work in building bridges across diverse Milwaukee communities, and the historic Hannah G. Solomon award to Alisa Wasserman, for her behind the scenes support and leadership of NCJW’s Milwaukee Section.
Stir in the installation of officers: Amanda Ruppenthal Stein, PhD, as Senior Co-President and Rabbi Shari Shamah, as Junior Co-President, and the Recognition of Leigh Wallace Tabak, PhD, as outgoing Senior Co-President, who will become Immediate Past President and Section Advisor, and new exec board members Randi Shaw and Maggie Gorchoff.
Mix in new Section Board members Hallie Loeb, Aviva Herman, Chris Gould, and Rabbi Abby Phelps.
Finish the dish with incredible Jewish foods from around the world that were quickly devoured and enjoyed by the full house crowd in attendance!
And Voilà! A wonderful end to the 25-26 NCJW MKE year and a great start to the 26-27 new year.
Jr. President, Rabbi Shari Shamah; new board members Hallie Loeb and Aviva Herman; Recording Secretary, Maggie Gorcoff; Sr. President, Amanda Ruppenthal Stein; Immediate Past President, Leigh Wallace Taback
Our 2025-2027 board installation and awards ceremony on June 17 featured keynote speaker Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez, professional nurse and advocate for health care access. We installed our co-presidents, Leigh Wallace Tabak and Amanda Ruppenthal Stein, and honored Nikki Levine and Rhonda Lindner as our 2025 Emerging Leader and Barbara Stein Building Bridges Award winners. Thanks to our event planners Maggie Gorchoff and Eileen Graves!
Co-Presidents, Amanda Ruppenthal Stein and Leigh Wallace Taback
Maggie Gorchoff and Eileen Graves kick of the evening
