Meet Ellen Berman Wasserman!
I grew up in Howard Beach, where my family were active members of the Howard Beach Judea Center. Volunteering has always been a part of my life. My mother was deeply involved in her Sisterhood, organizing its annual Fashion Show fundraiser and also served as a Vice President for Cancer Care. Her example inspired my own commitment to community service.
I attended Queens College, where I earned a degree in Accounting. Although I met my husband in high school, we began dating while we were both accounting majors in college. Today, we work together managing the Lake Success Shopping Center and recently celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary.
We are proud parents of two sons, Zach (married to Rob) and Jacob (living with Brianna), all of whom reside in Jersey City.
For more than 20 years, we have been members of the Conservative Synagogue of Jamaica Estates (CSJE), the Israel Center of Conservative Judaism (ICCJ) and Temple Gates of Prayer (TGP). Throughout that time, I have served on the boards of all three congregations, including as Assistant Treasurer at CSJE. I currently serve as a Holiday Chair at TGP.
Given my accounting background, I have had the privilege of serving as Treasurer of BQLI for the past five years and will soon transition into the role of Financial Secretary. I am also honored to serve as one of the Madrichot for the 2026 Convention alongside Dina Yakar.
Meet Dina Yakar!
I was born in the Bronx and raised in Queens. My connection to Conservative Judaism began at a very young age when my parents enrolled my twin brother and me in nursery school at the Conservative Synagogue of Jamaica Estates (CSJE). Soon after, they joined the congregation, and we grew up immersed in synagogue life through Hebrew School, Kadima, and USY. My parents were active in the young couples group and served on the synagogue board. Interestingly, my mother never joined Sisterhood because she and her friends believed it was “for the old ladies!” Clearly, they were mistaken!
I attended the Solomon Schechter High School of New York, which was located at the Jewish Theological Seminary. There, I had the privilege of learning from rabbinical students and distinguished JTS professors. Through Schechter, I landed a summer job at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires when I was 15 years old, working as a babysitter.
After high school, I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology.
My professional career has been dedicated almost entirely to Jewish organizations. I have worked at Hillcrest Jewish Center, the Schechter School of Long Island, Park Avenue Synagogue, the JCC Association of North America, Temple Gates of Prayer and Temple Beth Sholom of Roslyn. I also spent many years as a USY Youth Director, serving communities at CSJE, Hollis Hills/Hillcrest, Forest Hills Jewish Center, East Northport Jewish Center, Merrick Jewish Centre, South Huntington Jewish Center (now Melville Jewish Center) and the Israel Center of Conservative Judaism (ICCJ).
While working at Temple Gates of Prayer, I began attending Sisterhood events and, through the friendships I made there, attended several BQLI programs. I ultimately decided to join BQLI as an individual member because I did not want to favor one congregation over another by joining the Sisterhood of a synagogue where I worked.
Since joining BQLI, I have served on the Women of Achievement Gala Committee, as a BQLI Board Member and Registrar and currently as Vice President of Communications on the Executive Committee. In the summer of 2025, I attended Leadership Institute and will be attending the WLCJ Convention this summer. I am honored to serve on the Convention Committee as part of the Individual Member Team and as one of BQLI’s Madrichot for the 2026 Convention alongside Ellen Wasserman.
A Fun Fact
Ellen and Dina are unofficially family! Ellen’s husband’s first cousin’s son is married to Dina’s sister, and our families have always considered each other relatives. If that relationship sounds confusing, don’t worry—it takes us a minute to figure it out too!
