Robin Berman
Treasurer
Robin was an active member of Congregation B’nai Torah for over 20 years and looks forward to following a similar path at BTM. Robin was CBT’s Executive Director and Administrator for seven years and a member of the congregation for approximately 25 years. As the Temple’s Executive Director, Robin wore many hats—overseeing all of CBT’s daily operations, Member Services, Facilities and Maintenance, Human Resources, Finance and Accounting, and Events and Operations. She plans to use the knowledge and experience gained from her tenure as Executive Director to help BTM become an established and vibrant community. When she isn’t working on temple-related matters, Robin works as the Business Office Director at the Carriage House at Lee’s Farm in Wayland.
Dale Donchin
Member at large
Dale and his wife Nancy, daughter Jamie, and son Matthew joined CBT in 2005. Both children were Bar/Bat-Mitzvahed at CBT. Their granddaughter, Lucy, was named there. Dale served as President for 3 years and has been a consistent Board and Ritual Committee member. Nancy is the longtime co-chair of the Caring Community. The family was thrilled to contribute to the temple’s relocation to its own building and later a shared space with Congregation Or Atid. The friendships established at CBT continue at BTM.
John Ehrmann
VP Ritual
Jon Ehrmann is a life-long New Englander and longtime member of the B’nai Torah community, having previously served as a Board member and Chair of the Ritual Committee for many years. Professionally, Jon is an optical system design specialist for medical and commercial laser-based systems. An avid photographer, Jon’s nature and wildlife work provides the opportunity for mindful reflection and appreciation of our world.
Elissa Nystedt
Member-at-large
Elissa is a 20-year continuing member of B’nai Torah. Her daughter attended Hebrew School and celebrated her Bat Mitzvah in 2009. At the temple, Elissa served on the Rabbi Selection Committee and has participated in the Sisterhood and other adult education activities. Elissa lives in Wayland, MA, with her husband, Barry. You can often find them enjoying weekends at their condo in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Amy Siegel
Member-at-large
Amy Siegel brings many years of temple leadership experience to her role on the Board, having served for three years as the first President of B’nai Torah MetroWest. Amy also served as co-president of Congregation B’nai Torah with her husband Matt, as Co-Chair of the Membership Committee, and as President of the Sisterhood for ten years. She received the prestigious Louisa Munzer Humanitarian Award in recognition of her efforts to build community in her numerous roles, including coordination of the Children’s High Holiday Services, the temple’s annual Chanukah celebration, the temple’s annual Adult Social, numerous Social Action initiatives, and weekly Mah Jongg and Canasta games, which engaged numerous temple members for many years.
Terri Smith
VP Programming
Terri and her husband Jay, live in Natick and were members of Congregation B’nai Torah for over 25 years. Terri is retired after working more than 40 years as a Human Resources professional. In her spare time, Terri enjoys taking care of her grandson, traveling, reading, and playing golf, and she is learning how to play pickleball! Terri is known to her friends and co-workers as “the organizer” and is always planning something fun to do! Terri participated in and helped organize many Sisterhood activities with CBT and looks forward to planning events and leading the BTM Women’s Network in the years to come.
Leslie Stern
Member-at-large
Leslie was an active member of Congregation B’nai Torah for over 20 years and continues to be active at BTM. Having held several board positions, Leslie continues to focus on Social Action and currently co-chairs the Immigration Support Initiative with COA through JFS. Having recently retired, Leslie consults part time and is focused on exercise, volunteering at the Wayland Conservation Committee, and watching her granddaughter.
Stephanie Strachman
Secretary
Stephanie and her husband, Jeff, live in Sudbury, have two children in college—Alex and Elana—and a dog, Brody. During the school year, she teaches Pre-K at the Gan Elohim Early Learning Center in Wellesley. Stephanie and her family were members of Congregation B’nai Torah for 12 years, and she served on the Board for 11 of those years, first as the VP of Education and then as the Secretary. She also taught Kindergarten and first grade at the CBT religious school for several years.