Albert Israel is a Seattle native, a Rainier Beach High School and University of Washington graduate. Albert's involvement in the Jewish Community began in the early 1990s when he was asked to serve on the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle board. It was a very rewarding experience, and was the catalyst for future leadership positions.

Albert's next venture into the Jewish organizational world was serving as vice president and then president of this Washington State Jewish Historical Society. He enjoyed five productive years in those roles, during which time our cookbook and sports books were published. Immediately following that experience, Albert was elected and honored to serve as president of congregation Ezra Bessaroth. Serving from 2019 to 2021, Albert was involved in many synagogue activities including the hiring of EB's new, dynamic Rabbi.

With so much past history along with unparalleled history being made today still left to capture, Albert enjoyed his recent singel-year presidency, and looks forward to assisting the society through direct involvement of with its board members, who will no doubt prove to be the most involved and effective board Seattle has ever experienced.

Mimi Rosen is excited to be President of the Washington State Jewish Historical Society. She believes strongly that knowing your past helps to illuminate the future and is critical in preserving stories from the past. The WSJHS’s mission is very close to Mimi’s heart.

Mimi was born and raised in the Seattle area. She attended Jewish Day School, Garfield High School and then earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Michigan. Afterwards, she returned to Seattle to begin her career as a Property Assistant with the real estate company, Trammel Crow. She then gained valuable experience as a Financial Analyst with a local mortgage brokerage company. She is now an owner/principal of Rosen Harbottle Commercial Real Estate, where she works along side her father, Stan Rosen, her sister, Leslie Rosen, and her brother, Jack Rosen. Mimi is actively involved in overseeing the Property Management and Accounting Divisions, and she works closely with the other principals on acquisitions, sales, financing and asset management.

Mimi is involved in many local charitable organizations and has served on multple local boards and committees including: the Women’s Endowment Foundation, Hillel at the University of Washington, the Stroum Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Day School. She is also currently a board member of Seattle Academy. The Rosen family has always been very involved in the community, and giving back was taught to Mimi at a very young age. Mimi and her husband, Nathan Goldberg, are continuing the tradition by teaching their three children about the importance of supporting their community.

Dean Altaras was raised in Seattle/Bellevue as an active member of both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jewish communities. He graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Urban Planning. Dean has been an active broker in the greater Puget Sound commercial real estate community for over 34 years. 29 of those years were spent with his friend and mentor, Morris Piha. His broad scope practice includes retail, office and industrial leasing in addition to investment sales in both commercial and multi-family properties. Dean has enjoyed long-standing relationships with his many clients and has a well-known reputation in the industry. This comes through creating effective results, putting his client’s interests first, providing exceptional service, and maintaining the highest level of professionalism and integrity. He has also been an active commercial real estate investor for many years. This experience gives him a deep understanding of the dynamic relationship between landlord/tenant and buyer/seller, which provides added value for his varied clientele.

Joel Arensberg has been a WSJHS board member since June 2019. Joel was born in Seattle on September 30, 1964, and was raised in Bellevue. His parents, Dick and Dianne, have lived in the house he and his sister, Jodeen, grew up in for over 55 years. Joel currently lives in Newcastle with his wife, Amy, and twin children, Ethan and Marisa.

While attending Washington State University (WSU) Joel was involved with the Jewish Students Organization. The JSO was a small group, but gathered to observe various Jewish holidays and meet socially. It was nice to have a Jewish community 300 miles from home.

After graduating with a broadcast journalism degree from WSU, Joel went to work for his father and Uncle Bill at Arensberg Sons Company which was founded by his grandfather, Joseph, in 1917. Located on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Arensberg Sons Company was a wholesale distributor of shoe "findings", servicing shoe repair and shoe stores across the Pacific Northwest. In October 2002, Arensberg Sons Company was sold.

A month later, Joel joined Rosen Supply Company in Tacoma which was founded by his maternal grandparents, Max and Sara Rosen, in 1946. Rosen Supply Company is a wholesale plumbing distributor still proudly serving Western Washington.

The Arensberg family have been members of Temple De Hirsch Sinai for over a century. Joel's grandmother, Anna Arensberg, was in the TDHS confirmation class of 1914! Joel's bar mitzvah in 1977 and wedding in 2002 were held in the TDHS Seattle sanctuary. Joel has volunteered in the Sisterhood gift shops for 10 years and has been a co-manager of the Sisterhood gift shops for the last two years.

Joel's hobbies include telling really bad Dad jokes, watching any type of comedy, listening to classic rock and R&B, following local sports teams, and when the weather is decent, riding his bicycle. Go Cougs!

Ronald Waldbaum, born in Seattle to Ken and Sue Waldbaum, is a fifth generation at Temple De Hirsch Sinai and has been a member at the Jewish Community Center since his childhood. He attended the University of Washington and was an active member in Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and Hillel. Ron met his wife, Toni Calvo Waldbaum, while at the University. Upon graduation Ron went to work in the family business, Direct Buying Service Discount House, started by his grandparents and the business grew in size under his fathers leadership. Ron eventually took over the company and after running the business for several years, Ron sold the company and joined Leibsohn & Company as a commercial real estate broker and is now currently CEO. Ron has been a Temple De Hirsch Sinai board member for six years. Previous treasurer at the Washington State Jewish Historical Society, he is now a vice president. 

Nance Morris Adler loves history and using the lessons of history to inspire her students to know that they can make a difference in the world. The power of stories to engage and teach is key in how she teaches history. Nance teaches at JDS where she has been since 2005. She is an internationally recognized Holocaust educator and has traveled to Australia and Germany as a guest scholar, as well as being involved in the work to memorialize the Bielski Partisans in Belarus. She received a grant from the US State Department for her lecture tour in Australia on how she creates Upstanders. Nance has a Master’s in Jewish Studies from The Jewish Theological Seminary and a BA in European History/Russian Studies from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. She is a Museum Teacher Fellow and Lesson Reviewer at the USHMM, an ambassador for the Defiant Requiem Foundation, and a Powell Fellow at the Holocaust Center for Humanity. She received the Rabbi Dr. William H. Greenberg Z”L Master Teacher Award from the SAMIS Foundation in 2020. In addition to teaching all of Middle School Judaics at JDS, she is the Mashgiah Ruhani – Custodian of Values –and MS Co-coordinator. Nance lives in N. Seattle with Steve, who is a Seattle native. They are members of Beth Shalom. 

A Colorado native who grew up in Austin, Texas, David holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a master's degree in management from the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business. 

David spent 25 years honing his expertise in leadership development, youth development, risk management, and love of camping while working at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). He held positions for URJ Camps in Texas and Pennsylvania, as the Associate Director of Camping and Israel Programs, and as the inaugural director of URJ Camp Kalsman in Arlington, WA.  David served with distinction as the project manager for Jacobs' Ladder, a distribution center for hurricane relief supplies established by the Union for Reform Judaism in response to Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, David served as the head of safety and security for major URJ events since 2003.

Most recently, David managed the URJ's COVID-19 response and positioned the system's programs for a successful opening for the 2021 season.

A former firefighter and EMT, David spends most of his free time with his wife (Keely), two children (Naava and Samuel), and Labrador Retriever enjoying everything the Pacific Northwest offers.

Andrée Aelion Brooks is a journalist, author and lecturer specializing in Jewish history. Formerly a contributing columnist for the New York Times, she is an Associate Fellow, Yale University, and founder of the Women’s (political) Campaign School at Yale. Her award-winning books include a comprehensive biography of Dona Gracia Nasi, a Jewish leader who was the richest woman in Renaissance Europe; Russian Dance, about a Jewish Bolshevik spy; Out of Spain, a children’s program in Sephardic history. She was honored in 2013 by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. More info at her website: andreeaelionbrooks.com 

Dennis Goldstein was born in Spokane, WA. Dennis moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington and was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity (one of the predominately Jewish houses). Upon graduation, he began a career in accounting and currently owns a CPA practice in Bellevue. Dennis has been involved in the Greater Seattle Jewish community, first with B'nai B'rith, Greater Seattle chapter, serving as Treasurer and later it's President, followed by his involvement with the Washington State Jewish Historical Society, again first as Treasurer and then as it's President. Dennis married Robin Rogel in 1981, has two children, Briana ( Jeff Roberts) & Seth, and two wonderful grandchildren Gabriel and Jemma.

Brad Lowenstein was a Seattle resident of 4 years. He grew up in a reform community in Westchester, NY as the grandson of a Holocaust survivor. He attended the University of Pennsylvania studying economics and computer science. Brad spent 3 years working in finance in NYC before moving to Seattle where his connection to Judaism was reinvigorated. Brad was a participant in the Advanced Leadership Development Program and the Courageous Leadership Incubator programs run by the Seattle Jewish Federation. Brad is also a leader of the Nowgen Giving Circle, a philanthropic initiative that develops young adult community leaders. Brad works for Amazon as a data engineer in the AWS Finance organization. Brad is an avid skier, spending most winter weekends skiing at Crystal resort or in the backcountry, and a loyal New York Jets fan. Now back New York, Brad continues to support the WSJHS. 

Jacquelyn's Savta had extensive roots in her community of Vancouver, BC. She was a great mentor and showed Jacquelyn the joy of community involvement. For this board member it began with BBYO and USY and NCSY. She has worked with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, with Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University and with Jewish classes in remoter areas of Vancouver. Over the recent years, she was a regular participant in the planning and execution of events at The Jewish Day School in Bellevue, volunteered in various outlets in the community and is currently a long-standing Board Member of The Bellevue Youth Theatre Foundation. Jacquelyn's passion for history and the love of her heritage, equates to an energizing bond which she enjoys being part of with the WSJHS.

Neil Weinstein is excited to join the WSJHS board in 2023.

Neil has a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting/Music from Claremont McKenna College and is a licensed CPA in Washington State. Following several years of public accounting, he joined Puget Sound Pipe and Supply Company, a family-owned business founded in 1917, as its Controller in 2000, where he has served since.

Neil was born in Seattle and raised at Temple de Hirsch Sinai, where he has served for 14 years on their board. Neil is the fifth generation of his family at TDHS, with his ancestors being founding members of the congregation. He also provides musical services as a cantorial soloist since 2000 at TDHS as well as other congregations in Washington and Oregon, and has been the High Holiday Cantor for Congregation Bet Chaverim in Des Moines, WA and Temple Emanuel of the South Hills in Pittsburgh, PA. Neil continues to teach in the TDHS Religion School, with 2023 being his 33rd year teaching as well as training young song leaders.

A lover of baseball, music, and a self-proclaimed "foodie," Neil has been married to Denise Weinstein, an early-childhood specialist, since 1993 and is the father to Madeline and Noah, both of whom live and work in the greater-Seattle area.

Coming soon!

Janet has practiced law for 43 years. She is a member of Ogden Murphy Wallace PLLC and practices in its Bellevue office, where she exclusively represents clients in the areas of estate planning, probate administration, taxation and planned charitable giving. Janet works with clients to find innovative solutions to reduce their estate and gift tax liability, while taking into consideration the clients' personal wishes, family needs and philanthropic goals.

Janet finds her passion through philanthropic work and is a founding member of the Ripple Giving Fund, a U.S. based donor advised fund that partners with NGOs throughout India which support at risk young women and children, with the goal of ending human trafficking, child marriage and forced labor. She, along with her fellow Ripple members, will take her 6th trip to India in late 2024 to visit the various projects that Ripple supports.

Janet’s former Board service for Jewish organizations includes:

• Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Former Board Member, and Former Chair of Endowment Committee
• Founding Member, Women’s Endowment Foundation of Jewish Federation
• Jewish Family Service, Former Board Member
• Kline Galland Center, Former Board Member
• Hillel at University of Washington, Former Board Member and Member of Endowment Committee
• Stroum Jewish Community Center, Former Board Member

In her free time, you can find Janet with her husband, Brad Rind, her growing family, and, especially, playing with her five grandsons.

Yuval was raised in Spokane, WA to an Israeli family and attended Lewis and Clark High School. Growing up, he was very active in the Jewish community, both in the synagogue and in USY. He moved out to Seattle to attend the University of Washington where he received a BA in Philosophy and Education. During his time at UW, he was the President of Hillel UW's Student Board where he led student programing through the COVID pandemic, as well as many different interfaith dialogues.

Following graduation in 2021, he worked for WSJHS as the first Engagement and Education Coordinator. During his time, he was involved in various projects such as the launch of the Sephardic Tour, helping the WSJHS Board in developing a new mission statement and refocus for the organization, creating education programs, and supported fundraising.

He now works for State Representative Tana Senn as her Legislative Assistant, and actively works in Jewish political groups around the country.

In his spare time he plays with his dog Jax, goes on hikes, camps, skis, plays games, travels, and teaches Sunday school at Congregation Beth Shalom.

Seth Goldstein was born in Seattle, WA.

Seth has been active in the Greater Seattle Jewish Community, participating and serving on the chapter board of Seattle’s USY chapter and spending summers at Camp Solomon Schechter.

After high school, Seth participated in Nativ, USCJ’s college leadership program in Israel, attending Hebrew University in Jerusalem and volunteering in Be’er Sheva.

After Nativ, Seth attended the University of Washington studying French and Law, Societies, and Justice. He was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and served as the chapter’s Housing/Risk Manager and Alumni Relations Chair. After graduating, Seth moved to Washington, DC to explore a career in politics, interning in the House of Representatives and working at the Council on Foreign Relations. Upon moving back to Seattle, Seth started his career in Consulting, working on projects at Microsoft and Meta.

Seth and his fiancée Melanie welcomed their first child, Eli, in 2022.

Jeff is very excited to be a new Board Member of WSJHS. He considers himself lucky to be a 3rd generation Seattleite on both paternal (Ashkenazi) and maternal (Sephardic) sides of his family. This good fortune, and starting out like his grandparents and parents living in the center of Jewish life in the Cherry Street neighborhood, has fueled Jeff's interests and connection to Seattle’s Jewish history. After a career in corporate real estate management at the Boeing Company for over forty years and also being on the board of directors for FareStart, (a Seattle non-profit helping people in our community through food, life skills and job training), Jeff now enjoys a full life in retirement with his three wonderful daughters, partner, and her children, all of whom were born and raised in the Seattle area Jewish community.

Jeremy Wood is excited to join the WSJHS Board as a participant in the Jewish Federation's Courageous Leadership Incubator program. He grew up surrounded by local history in Steveston, BC, and has lived in Seattle for over a decade. His love of the relationship between people and place over time led him to an undergraduate major in history. He has presented on regional history at academic conferences and published on tribal history in various journals. Jeremy's Jewish identity is likewise inspired by his family's experiences in the Crimea, Ukraine, and Montreal. He lived two years in Israel, studied in yeshiva, has played leadership roles in task forces for the JCRC and JDC, and is a member of Kavana. Equally involved outside the Jewish community, Jeremy has served as a Scoop Jackson Leadership Fellow, Chair of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, member of the Seattle Community Policy Commission, and human rights representative on committees of the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department. He earned a law degree with honors from the University of Washington, and works as both an employment lawyer and tribal judge. Jeremy lives in Queen Anne with Karling and a three year old terrier-mutt named Charlie. In his free time, Jeremy enjoys guiding kayak tours, telling the stories of the Duwamish watershed, and hiking through the Cascades.