New Executive Director at Women’s League

Women’s League saw the end of an era in September with the retirement of Bernice Balter after almost three decades as executive director. The new era was ushered in when President Cory Schneider announced that Ann B. Goldman of Red Bank, New Jersey, would take over the reins of the organization.

Ms. Goldman sees herself as a facilitator who will work with the Women’s League leadership and professionals, as well as the leaders of the other organizations within the Conservative movement, to develop an agenda of programs that speak to our women specifically, and to the entire movement in general. “There are many women minimally engaged with their synagogues who are looking to step up and increase their participation; they need a compelling reason to do so and I think that Women’s League is in a position to provide that encouragement,” she said. She already has found that the volunteers with whom she has worked are Jewishly knowledgeable and committed to their tasks for Women’s League.

In reflecting on Women’s League and the Conservative movement, Ms. Goldman said, “This is a very exciting time for all of us as Dr. Arnold Eisen begins his tenure as chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary. I am sure that we will be hearing new ideas and a fresh take on many of the issues surrounding our communities. Jewish women have always played pivotal roles in our families, congregations, and the greater community. Women are especially good at thinking divergently and formulating action plans and I believe that women will be increasingly visible in re-energizing the movement.”

Ms. Goldman has a great deal of experience working within the Jewish communal world and brings a clear understanding of organizational accountability, fiscal responsibility, and programming priorities. For the last 7 years she was director of planning and allocations at the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County in New Jersey. In that capacity she staffed various commissions on Jewish education, chaplaincy, Jewish continuity, and teen leadership. Before moving to New Jersey, she was the director of professional development and school services for the Commission on Jewish Education of Palm Beach County, Florida.

A graduate of Goddard College, where she received a bachelor of science in education, and of the Teachers College of Columbia University, where she earned a masters degree in special education, Ms. Goldman was a participant in the Kaplan Seminar for Emerging Professionals, part of the Hornstein Program for Jewish Professionals at Brandeis University.

President Cory Schneider anticipates that under the new executive director’s dynamic leadership the organization will continue to grow in numbers and in the quality of its services.