The MLJC’s mission is to provide opportunities and events
that nurture a vibrant and enduring Jewish identity,
culture and community in the Mother Lode.
THE MOTHER LODE JEWISH COMMUNITY
YOUR JEWISH CONNECTION
IN CALIFORNIA'S GOLD COUNTRY
Serving
Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa
and Tuolumne Counties
2020-2021 Board of Directors
as of 7/3/20
Officers
Bill Wittmer, President
Rodger Orman, Vice President
Emily Orr, Treasurer
Cindy Lavagetto, Secretary
Rick Singer, Immediate Past President
Board Members "at large"
Teri Broleman
Megan Greenberg
Gunther Hsue
Ruth Perrine
Gat Slor
Georgie Spira
Tom Spira
Theda Wagner
Rabbi Andra Greenwald
We are a 100% volunteer run membership organization.
Our Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is elected annually each June at the annual member meeting, serving from July through June. The board, along with other volunteers drawn from our membership, organizes and hosts about 12 events each year.
President’s Message
"Let your house be wide open' Pirkei Avot 1:5
(Ethics of our fathers)
I have the privilege of currently serving as president of the Mother Lode Jewish Community's Board of Directors. The Mother Lode Jewish Community is a “family” bound by traditions, culture and history, a “family” that comes together to share the joys of our Jewish heritage. We are a small, but growing, community celebrating many holidays and events such as Passover, Chanukah, Simchat Torah and Shabbat, with services and dinners primarily at members' homes. Our strength is our relationship with one another, exemplified by support, caring and concern for our members. As a small group, we are participatory, with all events organized by our members willingly, joyfully and voluntarily. Our events are thus intimate and personal, with these Jewish experiences a meaningful aspect of our lives.
...Bill Wittmer
Rabbi Andra Greenwald
Rabbi Andra Greenwald is a licensed clinical social worker and ordained rabbi who feels "that adding the spiritual component to the physical, psychological and emotional dimensions of our lives would make touching those lives more complete."
Rabbi Greenwald, along with her husband, Loren Gonella joined the Mother Lode Jewish Community in 2014 and has been involved in leading the spirutual portions of our gatherings since 2013. She also contributes a thoughtful and educational note to this website each month. Rabbi Andra (as she prefers to be called) also has been called upon by both our members and others in the 4 county region to officiate at life cycle events, with the goal of "making these moments meaningful" and notes, "I have made so many friends in the process."
Rabbi Andra also serves as the second vice president of Modesto's InterFaith Ministries and believes "we are blessed in the process of helping others". She and her husband have three young adult daughters, the youngest of whom is a cantorial student at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Rabbi Andra’s rich knowledge of our Jewish traditions, coupled with her warmth, sincerity and caring manner enhance and facilitate our mission to provide opportunities and events that nurture an enduring Jewish identity and community in the Motherlode.