Community Connectors
Our Community Connector program unites Jewish individuals with similar interests and life stages, offering meaningful conversations and programs that build networks of friends and introduce you to the richness of Jewish life
Meet Our Connectors
Our Community Connector program is at the heart of our mission, building bridges of friendship and engagement. Through our Connectors, we unite Jewish individuals with similar interests and life stages, offering meaningful conversations and programs that build networks of friends and introduce you to the richness of Jewish life.
Briana Arnold (she/her)
Carroll County Parent Connector
- Multi-faith family
- Grew up in Owings Mills
- Lives in Westminster with her husband and their two boys
- Immigration Attorney, practicing in Pikesville for over a decade
- Owns a CrossFit gym in Eldersburg with her husband
FUN FACT:
Briana is a first generation American, both of her parents were refugees from Ukraine.
Brooke Berman (she/her)
Pikesville Parent Connector
- Grew up in Pikesville and lives there with her husband, daughter, and labradoodle
- Former elementary school teacher
- Currently teaching ballet and jazz part time and choreographing for high school musicals
FUN FACT:
Brooke is passionate about organizing and color-coding
Alana Brookfield (she/her)
North Roland Park And Towson Parent Connector
- Multi-faith family
- Baltimore native currently living near Lake Roland with her husband, Eric, and sons Judah and Amitai
FUN FACT:
Farmer Florist with her own micro-flower farm
Timoth Copney (he/him)
Connector For Arts And Culture
- Former dancer, still a singer, choreographer, and director
- Lives in historic Original Northwood with his husband of 25 years and 10-year-old fur-kid, Wolfie
- Born and raised in Ohio, previously lived in New York City, Montreal, San Francisco, and Reykjavik, Iceland
FUN FACT:
Timoth is the Chair of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival
Adam Drutz-Hannahs (he/him)
LGBTQ+ Family Connector
- Born and raised Baltimore County
- Lives in Owings Mills with his husband Paul, their foster daughter, two dogs and a lizard
FUN FACT:
Adam is a former Disney cast member
Carmen Ezaoui (she/her)
Timonium Parent Connector
- Multi-faith Family
- Sephardic
- Grew up near Ocean City, MD
- Lives with husband and two children
FUN FACT:
Picked up running in my early 30s and getting back into it now after having kids. Training for a half marathon.
Rob Goldstein (he/him)
Connector For Parents And Families Impacted By Disabilities
- Certified Public Accountant
- Lives in Owings Mills with wife Rebecca and children – Sammy (24) and Sofia (22)
- Served as co-chair of Baltimore Jewish Abilities Alliance Task Force
FUN FACT:
Rob comes from a family of musicians and has won 2 singing competitions!
Stephanie Helfman (she/her)
30+ Singles and Thriving
- Born and raised in Pikesville
- Currently lives in Reisterstown (first time home owner!) with her two cats, Cheddar & Mozzarella
- Supervises case managers who provide in-home services to those on Medicaid
FUN FACT:
Stephanie loves building stuff - furniture, Legos, model wood kits, anything and everything!
Stephanie Imanwelof (she/her)
Krieger Schechter Parent Connector
- Jewish/Israeli Family
- Born and raised in Owings Mills, currently lives in Owings Mills.
- Married with two girls.
- Works as Admissions assistant for Krieger Schechter Day School.
FUN FACT:
Since Stephanie lived in Israel for ten years, she loves cooking Israeli food and making big Shabbat meals.
Corinne Janet (she/her)
Family Connector
- Young Widow(er)
- Originally a Southern California native, but has called Baltimore County home since 2016
- A widow raising a funny, compassionate, and quick-witted 5-year-old daughter
- A Higher Education professional, who has worked at Johns Hopkins, UMBC, and UMD
FUN FACT:
Loves to hike and explore the beauty of the mountains by day and needlepoint by the TV with a glass of wine by night
KeSean (Sean) Johnson (he/him)
Jews of Color Connector
- Grew up in Chicago, IL
- Lives in Homeland with his wife, daughter and father-in-law.
- American Descendant of Slavery (Black American)
- Retired from the U.S. Army 2014
FUN FACT:
KeSean is an Emmy-Award winning Film Producer/ Civil Rights Activist
Irine Loybman (she/her)
Russian Speaking Jewish Connector
- Grew up in Latvia, Riga.
- Happy wife and mom of two
FUN FACT:
Irene enjoys traveling, listening to music, sports and tasty, good food.
Leia Neft (she/her)
PJ Our Way Connector (for families with children 8-12 years old)
- Lives in the Falls/Summit Park area with her husband and 2 sons
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Loves reading, tennis, and hanging out with family
FUN FACT:
Leia’s favorite Jewish holiday is Sukkot because she loves having friends and family over and building a sukkah
Heather Ralston (she/her)
Carroll County Parent Connector
- Multifaith Family
- Born and raised in Owings Mills, currently lives in Westminster
- Now lives in Westminster with her husband, 2 sons, a daughter, and a crazy dog.
- Stay-at-home parent, but formerly a preschool teacher
FUN FACT:
If Heather's birthday falls on Passover, she loves the tradition of her family giving her an ice cream cake
Rona Rubin (she/her)
Beth Tfiloh Partner Connector
- Lives in Baltimore with her husband Mickey and her two children (2 and 6 years old). Her son is in Kindergarten at Beth Tfiloh.
- Spent the last 15 years as a development professional raising money and organizing events for nonprofits such as Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF).
- Passionate football fan of the great Philadelphia Eagles
FUN FACT:
Spent most of her childhood living in Texas, wearing cowboy boots and listening to country music
Stan Scherr (he/him)
Connector for the Next Chapter (55+)
- Born and raised in Baltimore, lives in Mt. Washington with his partner, Bill
- Graduate of Talmudical Academy, Baltimore City College and University of Baltimore
- Bolton Street Synagogue congregant
- Former CCBC Special Needs Adjunct professor
FUN FACT:
Stan is a music and art lover
Sam Kahn Strakes (she/her)
Reistertown/Finksburg And Multi Faith Family Parent Connector
- Grew up in Reisterstown
- Lives in Finksburg (Reisterstown) with husband and two kids, Zoey and Ezri
- Worked professionally in the Jewish community for over 10 years before deciding to take some time to stay at home with her two girls
FUN FACT:
Sam is an escape room enthusiast and has even created her own escape rooms for events
Marina Vurgaftman (she/her)
Russian Speaking Jewish Connector
- Lives in Pikesville with her husband and her two sons
- Grew up in Kiev, Ukraine
- Completed her teacher’s education in Moscow
- Works as a special education teacher
FUN FACT:
Marina has her own travel agency
Dr. Harriette Wimms (she/her)
Jews of Color Connector
- She is a proud Black, queer, disabled, Jew by choice, and is most proud of being a mother to her neurodiverse 19-year-old
- Founder and executive director of the Jews of Color Mishpacha Project
- the inaugural Jews of Color Engagement Fellow at The Associated, Baltimore Jewish Federation
- a prayer leader in both the Kohenet community and at Hinenu: The Baltimore Justice Shtiebl
FUN FACT:
Harriette is a Maryland licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in providing compassion-infused mental health care to people of color, queer people, and neurodivergent children, adolescents, adults, and families.
Jacob Wolf (he/him)
Parent Connector
- Lawyer and Mediator in Lutherville, MD
- Lives in Pikesville and has 3 boys, Hirsh, Judah, and Shai
- Loves to coach kids sports and cook for friends!
FUN FACT:
Received Varsity Letters in Cheerleading for being the school mascot (Go Vikings!)
Debbie Wolff (she/her)
Lutherville Parent Connector
- Multifaith Family
- Lives with her two sons, her partner, and 2 dogs
- She grew up in Pikesville then lived in Texas for 16 years
- Teaches at KSDS
FUN FACT:
Every year for Chanukah Debbie makes eight different types of cookies, one for each night, all with a holiday theme
Jennifer Wolff (she/her)
Parkville Family Connector
- Multifaith Family
- Lives in Parkville with her husband and son
- Is not Jewish, but married into a Jewish family.
- Loves the diversity of her family and learning new things about Judaism
- Works for non-profit organization in Baltimore City that educates families on how to prevent child abuse and neglect.
FUN FACT:
Jennifer loves to read, garden, crochet, craft, travel, explore, see new places, and meet new people!
Julie Altman Wolff (she/her)
4Front Partner Connector for parents of teens
- Lives in Pikesville with her husband, five children, and two dogs.
- Licensed psychotherapist and parenting coach
- Grew up in Buffalo, NY (Go Bills!) and has lived in Baltimore for the past 23 years
- Has worked in the Baltimore Jewish Community for the past 16 years
FUN FACT:
Julie is an avid music fan, festival-goer, and spontaneous road trip aficionado, and loves roping her teens, tween, toddlers, and husband into lots of new adventures!
Erica Zippert (she/her)
JCC Partner Connector
- Grew up in Reisterstown
- Lives in Owings Mills with her husband Alon and 2 kids, Talia and Judan
- Education Researcher, Consultant, and Trainer
- Lived in Nashville for 6 years
FUN FACT:
Erica still misses the southern sweet tea, banana pudding, and hot chicken from living in Nashville
Connector for Israelis
Hebrew Speaking & Israeli Famlies
- Originally from Israel
- Lives in Baltimore County with her family
FUN FACT:
Loves to read, hike and travel