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The Russian-speaking Jewish Division (RJD) Excelsior Committee hosted a panel of AI experts: Dima Spivak, Vice President of Product at IBM; Kirill Polevoy, Founder at Shiphaus; and Vera Ermolinskiy, Executive, Digital Transformation at Accenture; and moderated by RJD Excelsior Committee Chair Michael Goldenberg. The special guest for the evening was Commissioner Scott Britton, who acknowledged Jewish American Heritage Month on behalf of the 14th District of Cook County. From left: RJD director Sofia Jouravel; RJD board members Michael Iklov and Jane Faynshteyn; RJD Excelsior Committee chair and RJD board member Michael Goldenberg; and panelists Dima Spivak, Kirill Polevoy, and Vera Ermolinskiy.
The RJD Excelsior Committee hosted an AI panel with Dima Spivak (IBM), Kirill Polevoy (Shiphaus), and Vera Ermolinskiy (Accenture), moderated by Chair Michael Goldenberg. Commissioner Scott Britton, representing Cook County’s 14th District, recognized Jewish American Heritage Month.
JUF held events at seven country clubs in the Chicago metropolitan area, including Birchwood, Briarwood, Bryn Mawr, Lake Shore, Northmoor, Ravinia Green, and Twin Orchard. Over 1,700 members participated in this event, which raised more than $5.1 million for the 2026 JUF Annual Campaign. At Bryn Mawr Country Club, from left: BMCC Vice President Brad Gerber; BMCC Country Club Day Co-Chairs Wendy & Jason Olt; featured speaker Debra Messing; BMCC Treasurer Pam Netzky; and BMCC President Rick Gertler. (Photo credit: Robert Kusel)
JUF held events at seven country clubs in the Chicago metropolitan area, including Birchwood, Briarwood, Bryn Mawr, Lake Shore, Northmoor, Ravinia Green, and Twin Orchard. Over 1,700 members participated in this event, which raised more than $5.1 million for the 2026 JUF Annual Campaign.
In June, nearly 90 women gathered for a Women’s City Council Spring Outreach Event—Bagels, Bevies, and Babble—focused on community, connection, and personal and professional journeys. The event featured Rachel Beltzman, Co-Owner of R&A Bagels, and Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart, Co-Founder and President of KOVAL Distillery, in an uplifting moderated conversation led by Women’s City Council Member Suzie Golub, Manager of Frankie’s on the Park. From left: Donna Weichselbaum, WCC Advisor; Susan Morrow, WCC Outreach & Engagement Co-Chair; Rachel Beltzman, Co-Owner of R&A Bagels; Suzie Golub, WCC Outreach & Engagement Committee Member Manager of Frankie’s on the Park; Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart, Co-Founder and President of KOVAL Distillery; Beth Loeb, WCC Outreach & Engagement Co-Chair; Andrea Muchin Leon, WCC Chair; and Shelley Radner, WCC Outreach & Engagement Committee Member.
Nearly 90 women gathered in June for the Women’s City Council’s Bagels, Bevies, and Babble event, celebrating community and personal and professional journeys. Rachel Beltzman (R&A Bagels) and Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart (KOVAL Distillery) joined a conversation moderated by Suzie Golub (Frankie’s on the Park).
A record 153 women, the highest attendance to date, gathered in June for the 2026 Elaine Levy Ordower Women’s Philanthropy Annual Meeting. The group celebrated its outgoing leadership, board, and council members, and proudly welcomed our incoming leaders, new directors, and new members. From left: WB Advisor Cindy Kaplan; WB First Vice President Helene Diamondl and Senior Associate Vice President, Campaign Elissa Kagan.
A record 153 women, the highest attendance to date, gathered in June for the 2026 Elaine Levy Ordower Women’s Philanthropy Annual Meeting. The group celebrated its outgoing leadership, board, and council members, and proudly welcomed our incoming leaders, new directors, and new members.

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