DC Minyan 2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION
We are excited to announce the candidates for the DC Minyan Board of Directors. Please read the following bios to get to know the candidates.
The election will take place beginning Wednesday, March 20. Members in good standing will receive an email on March 20 containing a personalized link to the ballot. Please check your Shulcloud account to ensure any account balance has been paid and your preferred email address is up to date! To learn more about the Board of Directors, how candidates were selected, and the election process, see below or and email sc@dcminyan.org with any questions.
*Per the bylaws and for only the first year of the new DC Minyan Board, one of the Executive Officer positions and the Immediate Past Executive Officer position will be held without contest by the most recent Steering Committee members, Ariella Bock and Dena Roth.
Candidates for 2024 Board of Directors
EYTAN DEENER-AGUS: CANDIDATE FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Hi! My name is Eytan Deener-Agus. I grew up in Newton, MA, studied at Yeshivat Ma'ale Gilboa and UPenn, and moved to DC in 2020 to volunteer as an Avodah Service Corps Fellow—but I wasn't truly settled until joining DC Minyan in 2021. When not seeking out egalitarian davening across the eastern seaboard, I serve as the Director of Housing, Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, a refugee resettlement agency serving the DMV. Otherwise, you will find me hiking, biking around town, or playing with some-might-say-DC's-second-
MIRIAM CROSS: CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY
Miriam has attended DC Minyan since she moved to DC from Toronto, Canada, 11+ years ago to write about personal finance for a monthly magazine. Now, as a reporter covering bank technology and fintech for a trade publication, she takes detailed notes on a near-daily basis and regularly juggles multiple stories, which feeds her love of meticulous recordkeeping and organization. As a former magazine fact-checker, she also takes great satisfaction in ensuring details are accurate and up-to-date -- all reasons she zeroed in on the Secretary position for DC Minyan's board.
BENJAMIN EPSTEIN: CANDIDATE FOR GABBAI CHAIR
Benjamin has extensive experience over the course of his life as a gabbai of various minyanim, and has been the head of the DC Minyan Gabbai Committee for the last 1.5 years after a couple of years of being on the DC Minyan Gabbai Committee. He has a good feel for our community and its religious needs, both as a whole and on an individual level.
ZACH EPSTEIN: CANDIDATE FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS CHAIR
Since stepping foot at the Sushi Summer Oneg in 2021, I've felt grateful to be a part of this Minyan and relished opportunities to bring us all together, helping organize Simchat Torah, the DC Minyan Annual Farbrengen™, and our upcoming Retreat Shabbaton. I am excited at the prospect of bridging our generations in a more consistent and formal role as Community Relations Chair, reciprocating the warmth provided to me over the last 2.5 years. Outside of DC Minyan, catch me training outside during early mornings for my next marathon, playing softball on the National Mall, or discussing why it's Geshmak to be a Yid with anyone and everyone willing to listen.
ISAAC BROOKS FISHMAN: CANDIDATE FOR FINANCE CHAIR
Isaac Brooks Fishman started attending DC Minyan while living in DC temporarily in 2016, and he became a member when he moved here permanently in 2018. He has served as DC Minyan’s Treasurer since September 2018, during which time he has created the Finance Committee, and he has increased the committee input and collaboration during the budget process, making it easier for new programming ideas to happen. Outside DC Minyan, Isaac works as an administrative law and tax procedure attorney for the IRS, watches a lot of movies, and plays the harp (but is very out of practice). Isaac is privileged to be married to the fabulous Eliana Fishman.
DEENA FOX: CANDIDATE FOR LIFECYLE CHAIR
Deena Fox is a lifelong member of traditional independent minyanim. Originally from Chicago, Deena arrived in DC in 2008 after law school and served on the Steering Committee shortly thereafter. Since rejoining the Leadership Council in 2021, Deena has been focused on strengthening DC Minyan's programs for families, including the establishment of the Judaics Coop, developing a bnai mitzvah guide for families, and engaging our older kids in leading shabbat programs for children. Having experienced both births and losses as a member of the DC Minyan community, Deena is also committed to our work to support new parents, those experiencing other challenges, and mourners. When she is not at DC Minyan, Deena is enforcing civil rights at the Department of Justice, running in Rock Creek, exploring national parks with her family, serving as a persistent advocate for local causes, and baking fabulous one bowl-recipes.
RIVKA FRIEDMAN-CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGIC PLANNING CHAIR
Rivka Friedman is a DMV native and has been a member of the Minyan since 2007. She's served previously on the Gabbai Committee and Steering Committee, and she's excited to be running for the Governance and Strategic Planning board seat because she wants to help the Minyan evolve its policies to meet the community's emerging needs. In her spare time, she runs the health care innovation lab at Morgan Health, JP Morgan Chase's health care unit. She lives in Mount Pleasant with her wife, Dena, and three daughters, Adi (9), Amit, (6), and Alma (3).
HADAR HALIVNI: CANDIDATE FOR PROGRAMMING CHAIR
My name is Hadar, and I am originally from the Chicago suburbs. I grew up in many Conservative organizations (Schechter, Ramah, USY) and participated in both the Conservative and Orthodox communities at Princeton. Now, I am very happy to call DC Minyan my home. The trad egal davening is what brings us all into the same space, but I believe it’s the many opportunities to eat together that allow for the meaningful relationship building that keeps people coming back, and that is what I am most excited to facilitate as Programming Chair.
SARAH KORALNIK: CANDIDATE FOR VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Sarah Koralnik has been attending DC Minyan since 2021, and became a member last year (shout out Membership Drive!). She is excited to throw her hat in the ring for the Volunteer Coordinator role to increase engagement with this wonderful community. Outside of DC Minyan, Sarah is a Consultant for Deloitte's Government & Public Services offering, and enjoys spending her free time reading Stephen King and crocheting sweaters.
Board of Directors Elections
The following DC Minyan Board of Director positions will be part of the 2024 Elections (all positions are for 2-year terms unless otherwise indicated):
- Executive Officer
- Secretary
- Volunteer Engagement Coordinator*
- Finance Committee Chairperson*
- Community Relations Committee Chairperson*
- Programming Committee Chairperson
- Lifecycle Committee Chairperson*
- Governance and Strategic Planning Committee Chairperson
- Gabbai Committee Chairperson
*Indicates a one-year term for the first election cycle, in accordance with the bylaw
For detailed descriptions of these positions, click here
If you have any questions about the nominations and elections process, please email us
Additional Information
When is the election: The first annual election for the DC Minyan Board of Directors will be held on March 20-March 24th.
How does voting work: The election will take place virtually using a web-based voting platform. Each member in good standing will receive an individual voting link to the email address listed on their ShulCloud accounts when the election opens. The link will allow each member in good standing to cast a single vote per board position. While there will be no write-in option, there will be a “None of the Above” option for each position if the voter is unsatisfied with the candidate(s).
Who can be nominated: Any member in good standing may nominate any other member in good standing (including yourself) through completion of THIS FORM (note: if you are nominated by someone else, you will be asked to complete the form to accept the nomination).
Who can vote: Every full DC Minyan “member in good standing” is entitled to one vote per position in the election. Associate members are not considered full members.
What is a “member in good standing”: A member in good standing is someone who is at least 18 years old and up to date on any membership dues billed to your account (other than dues billed in the immediately preceding 90 days). This may not affect those with different payment schedules or excused requirements to pay dues based on financial hardship. If you have any questions about your current membership status, reach out to sc@dcminyan.org or finance@dcminyan.org.
What is the Nomination and Election Committee: This committee is responsible for developing and adopting policies and procedures for the nomination and election of candidates including any factors and qualifications it will consider in evaluating candidates. Committee members will conduct interviews of all nominated candidates. Per the bylaws, this year's Nominations & Elections Committee is comprised of the four current Steering Committee members (Ariella Bock, Benjy Braun, Dena Roth, and Jonathan Warsh) and three Leadership Council representatives (Margarita Bronshteyn, Deena Fox, and Hillel Smith). In future years this committee will include at least one Executive Officer, two Standing Committee chairpersons, and two DC Minyan members in good standing who are not Board members.
How are candidates selected: The Committee will assess candidates’ eligibility based on the factors and qualifications for the position that the Committee will establish, and which will be made available ahead of interviews. The Committee’s selections of candidates for the ballot will be announced two weeks prior to the election.