Movers and shakers

Our Jewish community federations — the one in the East Bay and the one based in San Francisco — are honoring their female movers and shakers.

In the East Bay, Betsy Pottruck turned over her gavel as the Women’s Philanthropy Board president to the incoming head, Peggy Shapiro. Betsy will co-chair next year’s general campaign with a guy, Jay Koppelman, and Jill Smith will head the new women’s philanthropy campaign. E.B. federation President Eileen Ruby offered kudos to the group for their excellent model of teamwork.

The S.F.-based federation’s Women’s Alliance will recognize the extraordinary work of new leadership with “Rookie of the Year” awards at its annual meeting Tuesday, June 8. Rookie winners are Barbara Engler, Susan Sims, Lisa Kornfeld and Alanna Zrimsek. The dynamic duo of Liki Abrams and Lea Noher will be installed for another year as president and campaign chair of the Women’s Alliance, and Adele Corvin, JCF president (and another woman at the top) will be on hand to congratulate all.

Teens talk Israel

As director of the S.F.-based federation’s Israel Center, Shlomi Ravid, along with his wife, Linda, are unofficial ambassadors from Israel to the Bay Area. Now their daughter Maayan has followed suit. After graduating from high school earlier this year, she joined the Jewish Community Relations Council’s Yitzhak Santis for a talk to high school students, and according to reports, her personal observations resonated beautifully with her fellow teens. Debbie Cohn, who was the first chair of the Israel Center, knows a good opportunity when she hears it. At her suggestion, Maayan has had follow-up gigs at other local high schools and is giving these teens a look at an Israel they won’t see on TV or online. About the success of her work, Maayan says, “I feel that this is truly making a difference, young minds are being exposed, challenged and changed … “

Tea with the mayor

Not that one … NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg was joined by Harold Zlot, Susan and Alan Rothenberg, Nancy Grand and Sam Salkin at Gracie Mansion in the Big Apple as part of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Joint Distribution Committee.

Short shorts

Arthur Shartsis and Steven Cozza received the Distinguished Jurisprudence award and the Pearlstein Civil Rights Award (respectively) at ADL’s award dinner on Tuesday, June 1. Attorney General Bill Lockyer gave the keynote address. … Maya Paley, Devora Liss and Matar Davis know how to celebrate a birthday. The U.C. Berkeley students and members of the Israel Action Committee of Berkeley Hillel planned Studio 56, for Israel’s 56th. Some 400 students danced the night away at Luna Lounge among large photos depicting the many years of Israel’s lifesaving humanitarian work around the world. … Annelise Jacobsen Gaaserud graduated from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Faculty of Health Science M.D. program, a collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center.

Get a (volunteer) job

The Jewish Community Free Clinic of Sonoma County is looking for volunteers in fund-raising, medicine, nursing, social work, reception, language interpreting and more. To learn more about this and other volunteer opportunities, contact the JCF’s Volunteer Placement Project at (415) 777-4545.

Suzan Berns, a freelance writer, was associate director of communications for the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation. She can be reached at [email protected].