Staff and Board - Or Shalom Jewish Community

Lillian Markind
Executive Director lillian @orshalomsf.org

Lillian Markind (she/her), Or Shalom’s Administrator from 2017–2021, is back as Executive Director, bringing a deep understanding of the community along with fresh energy and vision. With a lifelong passion for education and community building, she served for eight years as a Trustee for the Brisbane School District, advocating for strong public schools, student and staff success, and major facilities improvements.

Originally from New Jersey, Lillian has lived in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh PA, New York City, rural Wisconsin, and San Francisco, gaining diverse experiences and appreciation for each place. Now an empty-nester with kids at UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara, she enjoys life in the Bay Area with her husband, Mike, and their beloved dog, Frieda. She is excited to reconnect with the Or Shalom community and help guide it into its next chapter.

Zachary Libow
Membership Coordinator zachary @orshalomsf.org

Zachary (he/him/his) holds a dual B.A. in History and Philosophy from California State University, Long Beach, and an M.A. in International Peace & Conflict Resolution from American University. A proud Oakland native, he has built a career in media and operations, with experience spanning content strategy, business development, and community engagement.

Zachary previously worked as the Circulation Manager for J. The Jewish News and later at one of the leading independent rap record labels in the country as their Business Operations Manager, turning his lifelong passion for hip-hop into a career in digital media and operations. Outside of work, he’s a dedicated reader with a goal of at least one book per month, an avid Golden State Warriors fan, and a devoted dog parent. He rescued Luna, a Siberian Husky, and is training her as a therapy dog while pursuing her Canine Good Citizen certifications from the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Zachary brings his expertise in organization, strategy, and creative problem-solving to his work with Or Shalom.

Sarah Moss Yanuck
Head of Youth & Family Education
sarahmoss@orshalomsf.org

Sarah Moss Yanuck (ze/zir/zirs & she/her/hers) is an educator, facilitator, and songleader in Jewish and secular spaces, both in formal education and in community. Born and raised in Durham and Chapel Hill, NC, ze came of age in Philadelphia, PA, and moved to Oakland in 2022. Since 2014, Sarah Moss has taught in K-12 classrooms, racial literacy courses for adults, Hebrew Schools, and outdoor Jewish education programs. She is thrilled to be joining Or Shalom as the Head of Youth and Family Education, both to steward the community’s vision for the school and to support the students, families, and teachers. Ze is personally interested in the meeting points of justice education and spiritual education, and is excited to explore Judaism alongside young people!

Sarah Moss is currently a master’s student in International and Multicultural Education at the University of San Francisco School of Education. Ze graduated from Vassar College with a BA in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Education. In her free time, Sarah Moss loves to explore forests and rivers, engage Jewish holidays and rituals, learn about reparations and teshuva, sing with loved ones, and write. According to her former 6th-grade students, Sarah Moss always wears warm sweaters.

Rabbi Me'irah Ilinsky, MSW Director of the School of Jewish Living Arts rabbimeirah @orshalomsf.org

Rabbi Me'irah Iliinsky (that is: i-L-i-i-n-s-k-y...three I’s and one L) graduated from Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 2007. She currently leads services for Rhoda Goldman Plaza and teaches Parshat-ha-Shavua at the JCCSF. She is a sometimes teacher for Kavod v Nichum, an organization promoting traditional Jewish practice at the end of life.

In 2023, Rabbi Me'irah established Or Shalom's The School of Jewish Living Arts (SJLA).

She has introduced adult learning and hands on arts projects such as learning how to sew your own tallit, or make your own kiddush cup out of clay.

Rabbi Me'irah has also donated many of her paintings that now proudly hang in our home at 333 Cortland.

As an artist, she hopes to open sacred texts to more people through her paintings. One of her proudest moments is when her Tree of Life is Weeping painting, commemorating the October 27 Pittsburgh massacre, was donated to the Jewish Community of Pittsburgh. Her own path as an adult from being an uneducated Jew to Rabbi included much support along the way. She wants to share that support now with YOU! She has two grown sons, Noah and Alexis. Her cats Leiba and Eden keep her busy. Explore Rabbi Me'irah's website here: www.versesilluminated.com

Board of Directors

The Board meets monthly to make the decisions that guide our community. The Executive Committee is comprised of the President, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer. To place an item on the Board's agenda, contact a member of the Executive Committee.

FY: July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025

Staff Attending Board Meetings
Rabbi Faryn Borella

Lillian Markind

Officers (Executive Committee)

Lisa Garbus
President

Rachelle Resnick
Secretary

Debbie Benrubi
Vice President & Tikkun Olam Committee Chair

Noah Butter
Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair

Board Members

Leslie Roffman
Membership/ Belonging & Equity Committee Chair

Stephen Gerard
Facilities Committee Chair

Max Bernstein
Religious School Committee Chair

Joel Rubinstein
Minhag Committee Representative

Stacey Leyton
Personnel Committee Chair

Sue Schechter
Chesed Committee Co-Chair

Tala Hartsough
Member-at-Large

Angelique von Halle
Member-at-Large

OPEN
Fundraising Committee Chair

Our Staff and Board

Board of Directors

Officers (Executive Committee)

Board Members

Or Shalom Jewish Community